EDUCATION DIRECTOR

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 68, 22 March 1933, Page 5

EDUCATION DIRECTOR

ME. STRONG- RETIRING

MANY REFORMS ACHIEVED

The retirement of Mr. T. B. Strong aa'Director of Education is announced. During his term of office as inspector and latterly as director Mr. Strong has been associated with the initiation and carrying out of a number of important reforms in the education system of the Dominion. . ' '

Mr. Strong, who was born in London, camo to New Zealand with hia parents as a child, and the family settled at Waimate, -where he received his edu» cation at the District High School.'He then attended Otago University and secured the degree of B.A. while studying at a public school. He continued at the University for tho M.A. and B.Se. ■ degrees. His first appointment in the service of education was as a pupil teacher at the Waimate District High School, and he served in several capacities as a' teacher under the South Canterbury Education Board.

He was transferred in 1901 to Gistiorne as first assistant, la 1902 lie took charge of- the secondary department of the Wangamii District High School, and from that position he was appointed in 1904 inspector of schools under tho Wanganui Education Board. In 1915 Mr. Strong was promoted to The position of senior inspector of the Wanganui district; and in 1920, when tho new position of Chief Inspector of Primary Schools for New Zealand was created, he was selected to fill it.

In October, 1926, Mr. Strong was appointed Assistant Director of Education following Dr.. Marsdon's selection as head of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research; and in 1927 he was appointed Director of Education. . ■

As inspector in the "Wanganui district Mr. Strong introduced the Montessori .system of instruction, and was instrumental in having education officers sent abroad for experience in that phase of teaching work. He was connected with the development of vocational training in agriculture. The system of ( instruction, by correspondence was introduced and organised by him; ho wag concerned with the adoption of tho plan of- exchange of teachers and .with, the establishment of special classes for sub-normal children. Tho organisation of the method of dealing with teachers' appeals" against "classification, or grading, and the introduction of more modern methods of inspection and examination in primary schools owe much to his initiative.