HIGH SCHOOL RECTOR

Evening Star, Issue 21639, 7 February 1934, Page 7

HIGH SCHOOL RECTOR

- - WARM WELCOME TO MR H. P. KIDSON IMPRESSIVE FUNCTION IN ASSEMBLY HALL In a brief but most impressive function held this morning, in the assembly hall of the Otago Boys’ High School the new rector (Mr H. P. Kidson) received a warm and sincere welcome to the institution over which, it is hoped, lie will hold sway for many years to come. The hall "was packed with the record number of 810 boys, who are now on the roll, while the platform was occupied by the teaching staff, a large representation of High Schools’ Board members, and representatives of the Old Boys’ Association. The mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox) and Mr W. JMorrell (Chancellor or the Otago University Council and retiring rector) were also, present. Before the addresses of welcome were given Archdeacon Fitchett, himself an old boy ot the school, led the gathering in the observance ot a short religious service. Dr G. E. Thompson (chairman of the High Schools’ Board), who presided, stated that on this, the first working day of the new working year, he desired, on behalf of the board, to extend a hearty welcome to Mr Kidson,

who was now beginning what they hoped would be a long series of happy and fruitful years. (Applause.)’ It was his privilege to extend to both Mr and Mrs Kidson this welcome. To introduce Mr Kidson was really unnecessary. because -to that school he was no stranger. In his capacity as an inspector he had been there before, and, though he might not know it, he had left behind him the reputation of being one of the most efficient inspectors the department had had. Not many of the boys at the school now would remember him as an inspector, but most of the masters would know him. Therefore Mr Kidson would be able to renew his friendship with those masters and make new friendships with the boys. Mr Kidson came to Dunedin and to the school with the same prestige in scholarship which past rectors had raised into a valuable tradition. He was a New Zealand graduate and, for the first time in tbe history of the school, they had. not gone to the older universities of England and Scotland for a man to act as the head. That, of course, was a sign of the times, because, iu the history of the British dominions, education had been fostered fox; several generations by association with the older lands, and the time had to arrive when that fostering must have its effect on education in this dominion, which would more and more be able to stand on its own feet. According to what they had heard of him, Mr Kidson would carry on very well the tradition laid down by his predecessors. (Applause.) He was not entirely a Nexv Zealand graduate, because he had had long experience in Eui'ope, firsthand experience as a master in English secondary schools. Dr Thompson added that Mr Kidson had come to the school when it had established one more record, the attendance at present reaching the total of 810. The board and the rector would have to get together and seek some solution to the problem of accommodation. In conclusion, he would like to say he was sure that, with the co-operation of the pupils, Mr Kidson would carry on the great traditions the school had established for itself. Ho would remind them of the great recommendation in life possessed by every boy who passed through tbe school. If they had been through the Otago Boys’ High School they had a recommendation ns valuable as any written and signed by a prominent individual, and they would see when they left school that an asset so great was worth having. (Applause.) In extending a welcome to the new rector on behalf of the Old Boys’ Association, Mr W. R. Brugh, the chairmart of that body, said that their organisation was quite a powerful one, and each Old Boy in it realised that the school was worthy of all the support he could give it. They were all endeavouring, right down through the years, to do their best for the school, and he trusted that Mr Kidson would find the association as good as they said it was. It was tlio rector s duty and the Old Boys’ privilege to fall in lino in making the Otago Boys High School the best in the dominion. (Applause.) He was sure Mr Kidson would find the Old Boys always ready to help him to the best of their ability. (Applause.) . The Mayor (the Rev. L. T. Cox) added a welcome on behalf of the city, assuring the rector that ho came to a city renowned for its interest in education; there was no city .in the dominion that had a finer record for its educational institutions. Also he came to what they believed was the finest school in the dominion. (Applause.) its scholastic record and the achievements of its ex-students in public hie were known not only here, but also right through New Zealand and in many parts of the Empire overseas. They believed the school’s great traditions were safe in Mr Kidson s keeping; in the moulding of 810 boys he had an opportunity which no other man in the city had to-day. His Worship concluded by saying that, as he looked at the assembly of boys before him, he could see that they were physically fat, mentally alert, and, he believed, morally sound. With such a held f° r his skill Mr Kidson might well be envied by every other teacher m the dominion. (Applause.) On rising to respond, Mr Kidson received an enthusiastic welcome. He said he thanked everybody present for their kind reception. He might say that there were many schools whose boards allowed a new head to take up work without such a ceremony as this. He

thought they were apt to over-ompha-sise the importance of a change from one rector to another, because m a school like that the same fine traditions remained firm down the years. He could discourse many times on the splendid reputation which Dunedin had in the north. The business men of this city had a great reputation for their intelligence and acumen. It was known that many of the greatest business men in New Zealand had come originally from Dunedin and that many of the big business concerns had first of all been established here. Dunedin business men, moreover, were _ specially praised for their business integrity. iifter mentioning the fact that there were 250 new pupils that term, the Rector went on to say that he felt he knew the school fairly intimateiy, not because ho had been down here as an inspector, but because, through its Old Roys, the school was known not only here but also in practically every corner of the dominion from North to South, and, in a sense, all over the world. The school had sent out fine men all through the country—some of them brilliant, some of them not. Some had entered the professions, some the business life, the Public Service, and similar occupations of trust. Wherever they were, they had helped to build up the traditions of the school, and it was when one met such men that one realised that the school was turning out such good stuff. He had been told ho was going to a good school and a good city. (Applause.) Some mention had been made of his supposedly good qualities, but lie was afraid be could not attain the scholastic standard set by the previous rector. He would like to have half of Mr Morrell’s scholarship. However, with the help of the High Schools Board and the fine teaching staff which he knew he had, as well as that of the Old Boys’ Association and the boys themselves, he was sure he would be able to carry on the good work. (Applause.) The function terminated with a rousing haka from the boys.