TEACHER’S LIFE
WITHIN SOUND OF THE BELL, by J. Rhoda Barr; Whitcombe and Tombs, published with the aid of the New Zealand Literary Fund, 10/6. RHODA BARR, headmistress successively of three of this country’s most important girls’ schools, has writ-
ten an account of her life’s work as a teacher, and a record of the philosophy which she derived from, and which directed that work. After a brief account of her childhood and of her teaching career from the day when she graduated M.A. from Otago University, Miss Barr drops all pretence at systematic autobiography, and loses herself in the subject she most loveshow, when and what. to teach girls. She has taken the greatest pains to get inside the minds of her pupils, but this seems of less account than the innate sympathy she seems to have for girls of all types, whether good or troublesome, academic or hard-to-interest. "A personal judgment is seldom innocent of prejudice, and may be as temporary as it. is assured." Miss’ Barr offers this little quctation from Walter de la (continued on next page)
Mare on the title page, and it may have sat in front of her as_ she wrote. Certainly her book is enchantingly selfless and undogmatic. Perhaps she has seen too much to be as certain as others are-as pupil and teacher she has experienced almost the whole range of educational method in New Zealand. She has plenty to say about it that is sound and practical, as well as often witty and wise. But humanity and common sense are the book’s shining qualities, and may lead the layman to his own conclusion-that school methods and equipment are trifles compared with the teacher’s personality. Teaching is all, to Miss Barr. "Indeed, there are few careers," she concludes, "that bring such satisfying rewards in their train, or that offer greater opportunities for satisfying work. There were times when, with the parents behind me, the staff working enthusiastically, and with the girls happy and eager, I felt I could have
moved mountains."
D.F.
T.
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 30, Issue 770, 23 April 1954, Page 12
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342TEACHER’S LIFE New Zealand Listener, Volume 30, Issue 770, 23 April 1954, Page 12
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