INFANT MISTRESS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 108, 9 May 1941, Page 9

INFANT MISTRESS

FAREWELLED BY SCHOOL.

The teachers and pupils of the Wellesley Street School this morning farewelled Mrs. Hilda E. Piper, who has been infant mistress for the past three years, and has been promoted to a similar position at the Parnell School. Mrs. Piper was entertained at morning tea by the headmaster, Mr. 13. W. Hayson, and the staff, who presented her with a framed picture.

Guests of honour were the chairman of the Education Board, Mr. W. J. Campbell, the secretary, Mr. D. W. Dunlop, and Mr. Maurice Priestley, one of the members. A tribute was paid to Mrs. Piper by Mr. Campbell, who congratulated her on her promotion.

Later, pupils of the school farewelled Mrs. Piper, and a small girl in the primers, Lorraine Brown, presented her with a bouquet. Mr. Hayson said that Mrs. Piper had endeared herself to all the children as well as to her fellow-teachers, and that the pupils of the Parnell school would benefit by their loss. Mrs. Piper was at Hamilton West School and then at Ngaio School Wellington, before she took up her position at Wellesley Street School. "I have found the work here more interesting than at any other school at which I have taught," she said this morning. "The Education Board (which is the school's committee), calls the primers my 'league of nations' because there are children of so many nationalities. 'Many of them can't speak English when they come here and I have to use signs at first, and teach them to read and write English."