LATE MISS MUNRO

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 August 1940, Page 5

LATE MISS MUNRO

AN OLD PUPIL'S TRIBUTE. The sad demise of the late Miss Isabella Munro (after a rather protracted illness) is and will long remain a matter of deep personal concern to each and every old-time scholar of Central School—from its openingday onward till her retirement from so long and brilliant an association therewith —who today are reminded by the old Central School flag flying at half-mast, that another of its original pioneer teachers has passed away who literally “blazed the trail” to its present greatness, and deserves long future recall for services attaining to that end. Associated with the late Miss Munro's first duties as a pupil teacher, in the writer’s personal memory of her in that capacity, was Miss Mason, another popular teacher who assisted Miss Reimenschneider (infant mistress) in their combined efforts to make all young boy and girl scholars as free from nervousness as could be among a three-hundred enrolment of principally elders who so lustily swaggered their way into athletic, if not scholastic prominence, in higher classes than these. In fact, we infant classers were literally “jockeys” who rode the backs of “giants” when engaged in the conflicts which these staged in the adjoining broom-infested playing grounds—and, greatly to our peril, be it said, at times. Then the matronly services of Miss Reimenschneider, in particular, were called into later play and better fitted us to explain. to our parents, the reason of leg and knee bandages coming into their chagrined review. Thus did Central School's “first-aid” services, in this way, begin. As from the commencement, the life work of the late Miss Munro, was ever one of devotion to good causes in each and every direction to which she applied her hands. Thus grieves one of hundreds likewise helped and encouraged by her example, not only here in Masterton, but a hundred towns elsewhere. To her. who was not only our onceloved teacher, but our lifelong friend, we sadly say "Vale." —N.J.B.