WORK ACKNOWLEDGED

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 285, 29 August 1935, Page 13

WORK ACKNOWLEDGED

Presentation to School Association Secretary

Warm appreciation of the work done for schools and school committees by Mr. N. A. Ingram, for many years organising secretary to the Wellington School Committees and Educational Federation,.one of the founders of;the New Zealand School Committees’ Federation and chairman of the Island Bay School Committee, was expressed last evening at a “social” in his honour, held in the Newtown School. A presentation of a travelling rug and a case of pipes was made to him. Mrs. Ingram received a crystal bowl. Apologies for absence, accompanied by praise of the work of the guest of honour, were received from several representatives of education organisations and school committees. Mr. E. Turksma, chairman of the School Committees’ Association, presided. Mr. J. J. Clark spoke for the Wei-' lington Education Board. He said that Mr, Ingram was an outstanding personality in education, and his retirement was to be regretted. His knowledge of educational matters was extensive and thorough. In his efforts to improve the education system for the children and better the position of school committees, he had been sincere, persistent and Indefatigable.

Mr. C. H. Nicholls,' another member of the board, spoke of the work of the guest of the evening for the New Zealand School Committees’ Federation, and Mr. L. J. McDonald of the founding of the Home and School or Parents’ Associations. Mr. O. A. Banner, past president of the New Zealand Educational Institute, acknowledged for teachers the keener parental Interest in school brought about by Mr. Ingram.

Reference to the increasing interest taken by parents in school matters was made by Mr. R. McKeen, M.P. The School Committees’ Association had led parents to show a real concern for the affair® of their school. Mr. C. H. Chapman, M.P., and Mr. R. Semple, M.P., also spoke.

Mr. Turksma made a presentation to Mr. Ingram, whose courage of conviction arid perseverance of effort he praised highly. It was remarkable that the associations he had founded or worked for had made such progress in such a short time. His retirement, though , earned, was regretted. He carried the best wishes of all associated with the primary schools.

Mr. A. Parlane presented the crystal bowl to Mrs. Ingram. Mr. Ingram, in his reply, spoke of his gratitude at the increase in parental interest in schools. Sixty-five home and school associations were now operating in different parts of the country, and it was difficult to say just where the influence of such an organisation would end, for it made a real and strong link between the parents and the schools. The proudest moment of his life was when he sat at the conference table of the New Zealand School Committees’ Federation at Palmerston North a fortnight ago when there were delegates from North Auckland to Southland. It was a comforting reflection that there were parents from all over the country assembled to work for the good of their school. ■ Much, however, remained to be done. There was etill urgent need for reduction in tho size of classes. “If you do nothing else in your life but impress upon the authorities the need for cutting down tiie size of classes you will have done something worth while,” he said. Though ho had retired from the' secretaryship of the association, he had not retired from fighting the campaign for the improvement of the primary school system. Unity in effort was essential. There would have to be an organisation of school committees, parents’ associations and teachers’ organisations.