TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Evening Star, Issue 19330, 17 August 1926, Page 10

TECHNICAL COLLEGE

RETIREMENT OF MR MARSHALL Mr Angus Marshall, director of tho King Ed wal'd Technical College, is shortly to retire. His connection with i technical education in Dunedin dates from 1895, when, as mathematics instructor, he joined the staff of the evening school in its old home in Moray place. His energy and ability soon marked him as an outstanding man, and in 1898 ho was appointed assistant superintendent of the night school under Mr (now ,'lhe Hon.) G. M., Thomson. "When tho latter gentleman ret-red Mr Marshall was appointed superintendent .of the night school. In 1908, when it was decided to establish a day school, tho board of managers felt that there was but one man for the position of director, and that man was Mr Marshall. ... ~ , , From its inception in the small school in Moray place in 1908 till to-day in tho finest technical school in tho dominion, the college has known but one director—Mr Marshall. The present palatial building is duo in no small measure to Mr Marshall, who, with a foresight denied to others, saw a wonderful future for technical education, and he designed a school which combines the elements of use and comfort. As a tribute to the affection for the director tho scholars of the King Edward Technical School assembled in the Hurt Hall on Friday afternoon last to bid farewell to Mr Marshall on ms retirement from tho directorship ol the college. , . , The proceedings, which wore conducted by-the pupils, opened with a pianoforte solo by Miss Edna which was played in a brilliant manner. Miss Agnes Lowrie then, in a happy speech, wished Mr and Mrs Marshall a long and happy time together now that school work was a thing of tho past. She presented Mrs Marshall with a brown purse wallet, and with a crepe do chine scarf stencilled by the fluid and fourth year girls of the college. Master Boreham then delighted the audience with a> recitation. t Mattel Rao presented Mr Marshall with a pair of binoculars, suitably inscribed, while Miss Dorothy M‘Donald presented _ a beautiful bouquet of violets and frccsins to Mrs Marshall. This was followed by a song by Miss Maisic Grubb, and then the speeches of farewell by Miss Ngata Buswoll and Master Hutton, both of whom referred to the interest Mr Marshall had taken in the physical and mental welfare of every individual member of the college. . Mr Marshall, in the course of his reply, reviewed his career as director. He said that one thing he had learnt early in his experience was to have a high respect for the rights and privileges of the pupil; not to subjugatedhe pupil to the will of the teacher .always, but to allow him a pupils privilege. To show that this had been done in .the Technical College one only needed to consider the present programnm which was carried out entirely by pupils, Mr Marshall concluded by telling the scholars that unless a hoy or girl worked and studied education would be useless. The programme concluded by tue •singing, of 1 Auld Lang Syn.e.’ Mr and Mrs Marshall were afterwards entertained at afternoon tea by tho staff, past and present. Mr Alexander, in his opening speech, eulogised the qualities as director hv Mr Marshall.' Tho King Edward Technical College, which was undoubtedly the best building of its kind in New Zealand, would _bo a lasting monument to him. As director Mr Marshall gave of bis best in time, energy, advioe, and criticism. I/vory teacher received helpful advice, and the fact that so few changes took place on the staff was a tribute to the consideration displayed by Mr Marshall for his teachers. His powers of organisation were truly marvellous, and _ his keen grasp of matters pertaining to management was unequalled by any educationist in the dominion. No one could wish to serve under a hotter emei, for his was indeed a master mind. On behalf of the staff_ he wished to refer to the verv cordial relationship which existed between the director and themselves. Mr Marshall s unobtrusive manner, combined with his qualities of leadership, enabled him to trust Ins staff. This had encouraged each to develop the qualities of originality and tact which woult) have lain dormant under another regime. He _ wished Air and Mrs Marshall long life in which to enjoy their well earned rest, andin presenting to them a casket containing a silver Queen Anno tea service ho expressed tho wish of all those present that whenever they used the gift they would remember tho staff of the King Edward Technical College. On behalf of the ex-tcachers present .—Misses Robertson, MMntyre, Smith, Findlay, Little, and Melville, and Messrs Smith and Reid—Mr Smith joined in wishing Mr and Mrs Marshall health and peace. He hoped Mr Marshall would not lose touch with educational matters, but that he would become one of the great public who work for tho educative uplift of society generally. Mr Reid spoke in a similar straim Mr Scott, chairman of the Technical Board, said he had occupied a position on the board for ten years. Ho could say that no man could have worked harder in the interests of education than had Mr Marshall, He had uphold the interests of the teachers in every respect. Non once had Mr Marshall criticised a teacher adversely, at tho board meetings. At the Wellington conference Mr Marshall’s opinion was always sought and then respected by those present, so that his influence was not a parochial one, but was indeed a dominion one. The present building was largely tho work of Mr Marshall's hands, and he could say it was second to none in the dominion; in tact, the plans of the King Edward Technical College were selected to be sent to Wembley as a specimen of a New Zealand technical college. Mr Marshall thanked those present for the very kind remarks which had been made concerning himself, but assured thorn that much of the praise was undeserved. He mentioned that perhaps to no one was more praise due than'to Mrs Marshall for her practical sympathy and support. He attributed any success lie had gained to a love for his work, and, after some humorous references to teaching life, he assured these present that, although leaving the school as director, yet his interest therein would still continue. He remarked on the whole-hearted support ho. had obtained from his staff, without which his efforts would have boon futile, and he bespoke for his successor similar support. _ I The proceedings concluded with the singing of “For they are jolly good, fellows.” |