"A GREAT TEACHER"

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 138, 8 December 1945, Page 9

"A GREAT TEACHER"

TRIBUTES TO MR. F. M. RENNER

GIFT FROM PARENTS

The retiring principal of Rongotai College. Mr. F. Martyn Renner, E.D., M.A., was greeted by a crowded audience in the Town Hall last evening. The gathering was the parents' tribute to Mr. Renner, and on their behalf he was presented by Mr. D. C. R. Blake, president of the Rongotai College Parents' Association, with.an easy chair and a writing desk. As chairman of the meeting, Mr. Blake briefly related Mr. Renner's career. After a brilliant record at Wellington College and Canterbury College, he was appointed to the stall of Wellington College, where he taught successfully for 29 years under the late Mr. J. P. Firth. For part of that time he was secretary of the New Zealand Secondary Schools' Association. His keen interest in the School Cadet movement was recognised in 1928-by the award of the Efficiency Decoration. He was appointed principal of Rongotai College in 1928, and the college remained as a testimony to his tenacity of purpose, energy, organising ability, and devotion to duty. Mr. Blake said his association wished to place on record its sincere appreciation of Mr. Renner's counsel, advice, and zeal, which had been an inspiration and encouragement to all with whom he came in contact. PRIME MINISTER'S TRIBUTE. The Prime Minister, who was a former Minister of Education, said that in laying the foundations of Rongotai, Mr. "Renner had built up not only an edifice of bricks and mortar, but a school in every sense of the word, which gave children the opportunity to develop all that they had to develop. He had nowhere seen the principles bi! education adopted and extended more than at Rongotai. Many generations of boys had benefited, not only in school, but in after life. The spirit of true education and co-opera-tion in progress was very evident at Rongotai, and like every great school, it had inspired great ideals and Christian principles. Those who carried on the work would have Mr. Renner's spirit behind them. He wished him everything that was good, and expressed the thanks of the Government, on behalf not only of Wellington, but of the whole of New Zealand. The Mayor, Mr. Appleton, recalling names of men who had achieved greatness in New Zealand, said that some of them had commenced their education under Mr. Renner 46 years ago. The Minister of Education, Mr. Mason, said he was a boy at school in his second year when Mr. Renner came as his master. He had inspired generations of boys and his memory would be everlasting in the traditions of the college. Mr. Mason read a long telegram from the Minister of Works, Mr. Semplc, expressing his admiration for Mr. Renner and "the services he had rendered to the young men of the Dominion. "BEST OF THE OLD AND NEW." j Dr. C. E. Beeby, representing the officers of the Education Department, expressed his pleasure at the large gathering. There was no more important occasion than the coming or going of a great headmaster, because there was no one who could do more to improve the character of the people. Mr. Renner was one of the fortunate few who could sift out the best of the old and the best of the new. He could, where he thought it best, be either a fine conservative or a fine rebel. He was a great teacher, than which there was no higher compliment. Mr. H. M. Patrick, chairman of the Wellington College Board of Governors, conveyed his fellow-members' tribute. What he had admired in Mr. Renner's methods was the taking care of the boys who could not take care of themselves, those without so many talents as the brilliant ones. He had been doing this for nearly half a century. Miss Isaac, principal of the Wellington East Girls' College, spoke for all the other colleges, including the Wellington Boys' College. Mr. H. M. Fathers, first assistant, and one of the eight masters who formed the original staff of Rongotai College (the others present being Messrs. A. S. Farquhar and S. M. Kinross), spoke on behalf of the college, and other speakers were Mrs. Galvin (ladies' auxiliary of Rongotai College), Mr. A. S. Farquhar (college teaching staff), and Captain W. G. Bear (president of the Rongotai College Old Boys' Association). MR. RENNER'S REPLY. Musical honours having followed the presentation, and the boys having given their own staccato cheers, Mr. Renner said that he felt more embarrassed than ever in his life, especially as the function marked the end of his life work. He recalled the influence of that great headmaster, Mr. J. P. Firth, and wont on to speak of the great names in New Zealand's annals in war and the professions that had passed through his hands. Nevertheless, his greatest pride was in having helped thousands of "John Citizens" 'into useful normal lives. He spoke of the many boys who had passed through his hands into the Services; for this there was no prospectus. He thanked his prefects and the principals of surrounding schools and old boys for their help, and said that the loyalty always extended him accounted largely for his success.

A concert programme was given by the school pupils, comprising choral singing and .orchestral music.