JEAN COMBS SIGNS OFF

New Zealand Listener, Volume 34, Issue 871, 13 April 1956, Page 21

JEAN COMBS SIGNS OFF

HIRTEEN years after moving in as _ Officer-in-Charge "of Broadcasts _ to Schools, Jean Combs left her office for the last time at the end of March. How did she feel about going? asked The Listener when we called for a farewell ‘word. Well, she said without hesitation, she was sure she'd feel sorry when it came round to the first working day after Easter-she had got as much satisfaction from working with "Schools" as from teachingbut just at the moment she was rather looking forward to doing a job’ she hadn’t been able to give all her time. to till mow-which was taking care of a husband and home. Miss Combs became Mrs. Desmond Buckley about 18 months ago, and that, of course, she said, was her reason for leaving "Schools."

Miss Combs told us she was actually the second person to be in charge of Broadcasts to Schools. She came to the job after training as a teacher in Wellington and teaching in both city and country schools and at the Correspondence School. "At first there was just me and half a secretary in a back room at the Loan and Mercantile Building.. I shared a secretary," she explained, "with Peter Harcourt, who was doing With the Boys Overseas in the room next door. I was there about three years and we _-____- santieatiemnntn ---

came to our present offices-by that time the staff had growh quite. a bitby way of a spell at the Waring Taylor Street Studios." Three years ago Miss Combs also took over Children’s Sessions and became Supervisor of Broadcasts to Schools and Children’s Programmes, and she has also seen in recent years, the development of the new and successful Kindergarten of the Air. "I think the increase in the distribution of our booklet gives a pretty fair indication of our deyelopment," Miss {

Combs said. "Back in the early days we published one music booklet which was distributed to about 3000 teachers, and there was a French booklet every two years. Now there are altogether seven booklets, and the total printing this year was 133,000 copies. Listening time for our sessions, including Correspondence School and Kindergarten of the Air, has increased from three hours and a quarter a week to five hours and a quarter a week." "Reporting," a form of listener research in schools, started about 10 years ago and has gone on steadily ever since. "We're of most help, I think, to the country schools," said Miss Combs, "and in our reporting we watch most carefully for their. reactions. City and town. schools have so. much to | draw on that country schools | have to do without." And, apart from Costin and home, what did she intend to give her time

in future? "I started writing radio plays for children before the days of Broadcasts to Schools, and that’s something I want | to keep on with," Miss Combs said. And other interests? "Theatre and films I love and, outdoors, walking and gardening." And with a pleased smile she added: "We have a section at Otaki where we have a weekend bach and hope to build a Summer cottage, and we'll be there over Easter to plant 100 freesias, | two dozen irises and numerous shrubs."