A GREAT PRINCIPAL

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 138, 11 June 1926, Page 10

A GREAT PRINCIPAL

MISS MARY M'LEAN, M.A

TRIBUTES TO HER WORK

A NOTABLE GATHERING

Many warm tributes to the work carried on by Miss Mary M'Lean, M.A., in her capacity as principal of the Wellington Girls' College over a period of twenty-five years were paid by speakers at a large gathering in the Town Hall last evening, held to mark Miss M'Lean's retirement. The large hall was crowded, tho gathering including many past and present pupils of the college. The Mayor (Mr. C. B. Norwood) presided, and those present included Sir Robert and Lady Stout, Sir John Luke, M.P., Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., Mr. T. Forsyth, M.P., Mr. W; H. P. Barber (chairman of the Board of Governors), 'Mr. G. Mitchell (president of the Parents' Association), Dr. E. Marsden (Assistant-Director of Education), Mr. G. L. Stewart (secretary of .the Wellington Education Board), Mr. T. R. Cresswcll (principal of the Boys' College), Dr. W. E. Herbert, Mr. R. Darroch, Mr. R. W. Shallcrass, and many others. Apologies for absence were received from the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. J. G. Coates), the Minister of Education (the Hon. R. A.i Wright),' Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Firth, Mrs. Kane (a member of the College Board of Governors), and others. The Mayor said that in Miss M'Lean's retirement the cause of education had suffered a severe loss. Those who had had daughters pass through the Girls' College knew of Miss M'Lean's many fine qualities, among which was her faculty for endearing herself to pupils and teachers alike. Miss M'Lean must be very proud indeed of the ex-pupils of Wellington College, for they had distinguished themselves in every walk of life. It was a record which might be expected of a college which had had the advantage of such a fine mistress as their guest of honour. Tracing Miss M'Lean's career, the Mayor recalled the fact that it was twenty-five years ago that Miss M'Lean was appointed headmistress of the Girls' College, which at that time was a very small school indeed. Since then, however, the school had grown, and over 8000 pupils had passed through the influence of Miss M'Lean and had become a credit to the school and to the city. Miss M'Lean had been more than a teacher, and had taken a keen interest in the personal welfare of each girl. She had always encouraged healthy sport. In conclusion, Mr; Norwood wished - Miss M'Lean a happy time in her retirement. A GREAT PERSONALITY. j The chairman of the College Board of Governors (Mr. W. H. P. Barber) expressed the appreciation of the board of the excellent manner in which Miss M'Lean had carried out her duties. When Miss M'Lean first took charge of the school the roll number totalled 80. From that number it had grown to 800. Eventually it had been necessary to erect the Wellington East Girls' College. Miss M'Lean had a great personality, and it had been a very difficult matter on the part of the board to refuse any request that she made. Many thousands of girls in New Zealand owed Miss M'Lean a debt of gratitude for the training which she had given them. (Applause.) Miss M'Lean had made it her business to be thoroughly in touch with every pupil in the school, and in his experience he did not know of any complaint having been made by a parent so far as the treatment of pupils was concerned. The Board of Governors deeply regretted that the time had arrived when Miss M'Lean had deemed it necessary to lay down tho responsibilities which she had maintained for so long. AN INFLUENCE IN EVERY HOME. On behalf of the Parents' Association, Mr. G. Mitchell referred to the valuable work which had been carried on by Miss M'Lean, who had left a mark which might well be the envy of others. Miss M'Lean's influence was in every home; and it was an influence that would last for very many years. Mr. Mitchell then handed an illuminated address to Miss M'Lean on behalf of the city of Wellington, the Board of Governors, and the parents and pupils. Tho Mayor then handed to Miss M'Lean a presentation on behalf of the gathering. "ONE OF THE BEST." "One of the best principals we have known here," were the words used by Dr. E. Marsden (Assistant-Director of Education), in paying a tribute to Miss M'Lean. The head-teachers of the big schools had more to do with the future welfare of New Zealand than any other group of persons, and the head-teacher of a girls' school was the most important of all. If they could bring their girls up on right lines they i.need have no fear as to the morals of the country. There were many qualifications which a teacher should have, but he knew of nobody who possessed those qualifications to a greater extent than Miss M'Lean. The president of the Old Girls' Association (Mrs. E. Dawson), in an cloj quent address, referred to the strong : tics which bound old girls of the school >to Miss M'Lean. To all old girls of the ■ college Miss M'Lean had been an in- ' spiration at ( all times, and many girls ! who had taken their troubles to her i had come away with a new outlook on I life. Miss M'Lean had never been a blue-stocking, and the girls who had : passed through the school- held her in j affectionate remembrance. They were i not foolish enough to think that Miss M'Lean's work was done. As long as there was a cause to be pleaded on behnlf nf the women of the Dominion Miss M'Lean would not be silent. On behalf of the old 'girls of the college, Mrs. Dawson presented Miss M'Lean with a silver rose-bowl and a jewelled i badge of the college set in a circle of ] diamonds. j MISS M'LEAN'S REPLY. On rising to reply, Miss M'Lean was 1 greeted with cheers and the singing of 1 '''For She's a Jolly Good Fellow." •' Miss M'Lean thanked them all for their great kindness. Their gifts, their : very valuable gifts, would always j serve as a reminder to her of her I days as principal of the Girls' College. She felt that she did not deserve all the tributes that had been paid her, for she felt that her part had been a small one. She felt that the tributes were due rather to the position which she held, to the profession to which she belonged, and to the steadfastness with which she had remained amongst them. The responsibilities of a teacher were great, for a teacher had tho care of a child when it was most impressionable. She was glad she had chosen the profession of teaching, for it had brought her into touch with women teachers, who had been her nearest and dearest friends, and it had brought her in constant touch with youth. Iv conclusion, Miss M'Lean expressed her thanks to tho Mayor, the Education Department, the Board of Governors, the Parents' Association, the Old Girls' Association,

tho staff of tho college, and the pupils. During the evening acceptable items were provided by Miss Adelaide Van Sfcavcrcn, Miss Sinclair Brcen, Miss Mary Cooley, and Miss Myra Sawyer. Selections on the organ were played by Mr. Robert Parker, one of the original staff of the college.