VALEDICTORY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9651, 7 July 1919, Page 2

VALEDICTORY.

MR. C. D. HARDIE.

At the meeting of the Canterbury Education Board on Friday occasion was taken to bid farewell to Mr C. D. Hardie, who has resigned the position of inspector of schools.

Mr W. A. ( Banks (the chairman) traced Mr Hardies career in itg various phases, in the world of athletics, as a teacher, and as an inspector. Th«r« \v«r« no raports by any inspector that waro treated with more respect than those of Mr Hardie. He had a wonderful record, in that he had been forty-three years in the service, and had tan-or had a day off on sick leave.

'Mr C H. Opie said that in his work at tiio Ashburtou School Mr Hardie had established a magnificent record, which held throughout the Dominion. Many of the scholar's who had passed through his hands had attained the highest nights in the educational sphere. As an inspector Mr Hardie had been very helpfid to the teachers, while having no mercy for the slacker. Mr Opie then moved—"That this board desires to place on record its high appreciation of the. exceptional and very valuable services rendered to education by Mr C. J). Bardic during his long career and in the' cause of education." ■

Mr. Howard said that so far as the present occasion went, they all found it easy to say nice things about Mr Hardie. (Hear hear). He sincerely hoped that Mr Hardie would regain his full measure of strength, and that days of usefulness to education by him wore in store. There was no hesitation in saying that Mr Hardie had been an ideal teacher, and ideal inspector, and an ideal citizen.

Mr Hughes said the main thing Mr Hardie had done was to instil his ideas into the teachers he had come in. contact with. At the Papanui and Ashburton Schools he had done groat work, but it was at West Christchurch that his work was most beneficial, transforming that school into a high school, which had a great influence on the lives of many of the youths of the city. He had very much pleasure in seconding the motion.

■ Mr Hardie thanked the board i'or tie privilege of giving.him an official tarewell. Looking back over the last forty-three years he could see many mistakes he had made, but he had always been imbued with a sincerity of purpose and a singleness of aim. As an inspector he had always kept in [view quality of work instead of quantity. The maxim he had tried to work by and impress upon all was: Whatsoever -thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might. He would like to see that maxim put up in lotters of gold in every school, if an inspector was not vitalising he must be devitalising—there was no midway course between the two. In regard to inspectors' reports he would like to say that the inspectors were the eyes and ears of the board. He thought that wh-tfi the board was considering the *. reports it should associate itself with the senior inspector. In conclusion Mr Hardie thanked the board for its very kind appreciation of his work. App .tust-).

%lr Hurdifl then bade farewell to the members of thy bouid.