PRESENTATION TO MR. WAUCHOP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2119, 29 June 1907, Page 1

PRESENTATION TO MR. WAUCHOP.

Standards V. and VI. gatliored togotlior at the main school at 2.30 p.m. yesterday, for the purpose of bidding farewell to their popular and rospected toaohef, Mr. J. S. \Vauehop, who lias been appointed to .the Makaiiri school. Mr. ltowloy opened the proceedings and said that ittj*was a distressing time when they met to say goodbye to one of. their teachers. Mr. AVaucliop had been with them a little over live year's, and arrived just a month or two after himself. Both camo .-from North Canterbury, and .personally ho.' felt more • interest in: •Irflfe departing toacliew, .He had been, li 0 said, prohibited from making > a speech, as the proceedings were to be entirely in the hands of the children. Ho asked Mr. Leslie to get to business. Mr. Leslie called George Fromm, B Gardner, Charles Colley, Hilda Cumming, and Doris Le Quesne to step forward, and the latter young lady, in a strikingly clearly accented voico, read tho following illuminated address: —“Hear Mr. AVaucliop,— Wo, the pupils of the upper classes', arc exceedingly sorry that you are about to leave the Gisborne School, but wo hope that tlio change will prove to your advantage, and that it is only a step in your advancement in your profession. > Wo have learned to lovo. and to rospect you as our teacher, and in after lile, when, with matured minds, we look back upon our school days, we are sure we shall freely realise how much we aro indebted to your teaching. A\ e are girls and boys, and as such aro not to fond of being kept under restraint, or of being forced to learn lessons; yot we venture to say that with such a master wo should havo been indifferent indeed if we had not tried tt> do our best. Wo know that we have not always succeeded, and that wo must havo given you many trying hours for which we aro now sorry, and we regret that we did not at all times do better. We doubt that the children and people of Makauri will appreciate you moro than tho children and peoplo of Gisborne do:, whore you have obtained the goodwill of all .with whom you have come in contact .Wo havo been chosen by Standards V. and VI. to ask vou to accept from us this token as an' expression of the gratitude and love which we have towards you. We hope you may sometimes think of Gisborne School not unkindly, and trust that this gift will remind you that we consider we always shall remain your debtors. Our earnest desire is that wherever you arc happiness will be with you. Again, wp wish you every prosperity, and we trust that you may long be spared to carry on your professional duties.— -For tile, .senior-pupils; we a f' e J dear sir, yours respectfully and sincerely, George Fromm (High School), Hilda Cummings (Standard VI.), Borneo 'Gardiner (Standard VI.), Doris Lo Quesne (Standard V.), Charles Colley (Standard V.).” ■ The reading was greeted with vociferous applause. , The address itself was executed entirely by the children. Fred son was responsible for the illuminated lettering, and Dorothy Borr did tho flower design. The address was written very neatly by Ethel Ellery: The work reflects great credit on the children concerned. The present consisted of a wellfitted travelling bag and companion, and a Morocco wallet. George Fromm, on behalf of the Football Club, asked Mr. Wauchop’s acceptance of a morocco gold-mount-ed tobacco pouch, suitably engraved. (Applause and cheers.) Mr. Wauchop, in reply, said lio could not express liis feelings. It was fivo years since he came to the school, and he assured his hearers that' there had never been any live years in liis life 'that he liad enjoyed so much. This was mainly due to, the good feeling existing between the other teachers and himself and tlio children and himself. Without flattering the children, he could say that the Gisborne scholars were the best behaved he liad ever come across in his life. He would always look back upon the years spent hero with great pleasure, and he regretted, very deeply having to leave the school. touch time, however,. came for all to break asunder from old ways. With regard to tho Football Club, ho hoped they would go on and try to ~et together a team strong enough to enter for the third grade competition under the Rugby Union. If the boys wont against them they may not win, but it would do them,a lot of good. Mr. ltowloy expressed his regret at the parting, but ho added, that there was no toachor worth liis salt who did not try to improve himself. Any teacher who was any good was ambitious, and it was absolutely noccssaiy to bo on the move. They could not expect to keep him always. No time was more inopportune than tho present for liis leaving, as ho was working loyally with tile speaker i n getting funds for the school bath, now nearly approaching a successful issue. They were just coming to the social, which would provide the necessary funds, and then they should have the bath in the, next few months. Mr. AVaucliop was not going verv. far- away, and they lioped to see him. frequently.After another■ outburst of cheering tho children dispersed. Shortly after 3 p.m. the teachers assembled in a vacant classroom tc say farewell to their colleague on their own account. , Mr. Rowley, in the course of Ins remarks, said that that was "tlio tliiic occasion within tho last 12 month: that lie had presided at similar gath erings. No due regretted more tliai ha did Mr. AVauciiop’s departure, bin they recognised the necessity of hi: wishing to got to the top of the ti co They regretted it, nevertheless. Oi behalf of the teachers, lie presonte! Mr. AVaucliop with an easy chair- H hoped that the recipient would spell: many pleasant hours in }t, Mr. AVaucliop briefly return Ci thanks for their gift and for the km: consideration shown him by the mem hers of the staff since he had been a the school. jOuring that time ther l had never been an unpleasant wor f between any toaclier aiul himsell. ri ■ regretted severing liis connectio: with one of the first schools in th colony. . , Mr. Kinder, added liis testimony t the appreciation in which Mr. AA r ai chop was held, and ho felt sure th - school has sustained a great losi The boys would feel it very much, t Mr. AVaucliop had taken a great 11 terest in football, and they wei greatly indebted to him for coachnif Mr. Leslie stated that as first a a sistant lie had been relieved of a h of work with regard to sports. U carried their good wishes for h takes charge of M kauri school on Monday.

closely approximated those of New Zealand. , „ . ' The Chairman (Mr. O. A. Do Eautoiir) introduced Mr. Isaac, Inspector of Technical Education, who is on a visit, to tho district, and. said he would bo able .tq.£enlighten the mooting on what waStdono in other districts. Continuing, the Chairman said the High School Board welcomed this move on the-part of the Education Board as the responsible authority. The High School Board really occupied an anomalous position, and personally he was very pleased that the Education Board was moving to put technical , education, on a proper footing. The High School Board as .tho couHalliug, authority. here had gone to' a lot 'of expense. \ So far results could not he expected to he very great, hut it was gratifying to learn that Mr. Isaac was very well pleased with the work he had inspected . Mr. Tsanc said that so far os the school classes wore concerned—which he had that i day inspected—the resuits wore most satisfactory. Mr. Bright said that the continuation glasses had been ah absolute failure. Mr. Johnston favoured the Department’s scheme for appointing an instructor. He , thought that many in the country would be pleased to attend such agricultural classes. TlioiOhairman said that Mr. Isaac’s advice was to work from below. The principal work must he done in the schools. All recognised that it would bo a very good thing to form classes of young farmers, in.order to enlarge their knowledge of agronomic subjects, but tho difficulty was to induce j them to attend. Mr. Isaac said that the same trou-' hie was experienced everywhere. He quite agreed that the schools must be the medium to work up interest in these subjects, hut much could he done when a director was appointed. The Chairman: The director will guide and enlarge on what we have already done. Ho Will see wlmt classes arc iieeded and what special subjects are suited to the district. Agricultural and dairying subjects were being taught elsewhere with great success, and there was a big field hero. !

Mr. Isaac said ho regarded this as perhaps "the most important of technical education. He quoted the results obtained by the ‘Wanganui Board, the local bodies of the district contributing. The important thing was to make a beginning; the work would soon be adapted to requirements. The lack of training for teachers was a drawback that must be overcome. The Chairman said he quite agreed. Teachers must be trained to .enable them to instruct the children. , It would seem that the work must commence in the schools. At- present the teachers were quite powerless. -'Year by year the Department asked them to take Up these subjects : but they had no ‘ means of complying. He (Mr. Isaac) said,, in reference to the appointment of a director, -that the'.choice should be left to the. Department. ~ , Mr. ITogben was ; not likely to appoint an unsuitable maul Why should Australia or Canada bo stipulated—a j better man might be found in New" Zealand than could be got outside. After further discussion the following resolution was carried, on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Johnston :—“ln the opinion of the Governors the appointment of a- director for technical education

for the Hawke’s Bay Education district will be most beneficial. Practical scientific training in the schools can only ho permanently successful when the teachers‘are able to impart such training in the ordinary school course. Without a director of high standing it is impossible for the teachers, however willing they maybe, to obtain a knowledge of the training they are now being called

upon to qualify for. In a pastoral district such as our own the 'services of an expert man in organising adult' classes for instruction, of utility to our industries and manufactures, would also he of the greatest benefit. The economical production of wool,. butter, cheese, and grasses, etc.,: must, in the opinion of the Board, be greatly stimulated by such an. appointment. The selection of the man must-, wo think, rest with the Department. Technical and manual instruction has for some years had the advantage of special and .sympathetic attention from the Government, while Mr. Hogben’s intimate knowledge of the practical requirements of New Zealand and her industries is a guarantee that no man not thoroughly suitable would bo recommended to the Education Board. Tiie Governors would recommend the County Council to support tlic appointment with a liberal annual grant.’