KAIKORAI HEAD MASTER

Evening Star, Issue 21960, 21 February 1935, Page 13

KAIKORAI HEAD MASTER

FAREWELL FUNCTION GOING TO BIGGER SCHOOL At the Kaikorai School last night the head master, Mr Horace Fawcett, who has been appointed head master of the Carterton District High School, was accorded a farewell by members of the School Committee, the staff, and exteachers. Mr J. A. Armit, chairman of the committee, occupied the chair. The chairman said he was very pleased to see such a large number present to say farewell to Mr Fawcett. As most of them knew, Mr Fawcett was the sixth head master of the Kaikorai School, those preceding him being, first, Mr M'Lachlan, and then Messrs Allardyce, * Allnutt, Buchler, and Williamson. He was sure they would all agree with him that Mr Fawcett had upheld the high ideals associated with the head mastership of the Kaikorai School. One of the features of his service at their school had been his fine team work with his staff, and no doubt this had played a great part in the success he had achieved at Kaikorai. —(“ Hear, briar.”) They were sorry to lose Mr Fawcett. I'hey had always been a happy, family, hut their loss would be Carterton’s gain. Mr Armit added that Mr Fawcett had been an old pupil of the Kaikorai School. He then presented Mr Fawcett with a chiming clock inscribed as follows;—" A parting gift to Horace Fawcett, M.A., as a token of esteem from the committee, the staff, and ex-pupils. Kaikorai, 1932-1935.” 1 Mr W. Sinclair said that he had been chairman of the School Committee when Mr Fawcett had been appointed to Kaikorai. The Kaikorai School had been extremely fortunate in regard to its head masters, and Mr Fawcett had always maintained the high ideals set in,their school.—("Hear, hear.”) Ha had endeared himself to the School Committee, the parents, and the children of the district, and they felt his departure very much. He hoped he would have just as happy a time in his new sphere as he had had at Kaikorai. (Applause.) Mr Sinclair referred in conclusion to the fine organising ability of Mr Fawcett.

Mr Brown, first assistant at the school, spoke of the excellent relations which had existed between Mr Fawcett and the teaching staff, and said that he had set a splendid example to the young teachers especially. He paid a tribute to the worth of Mrs Fawcett’s services in connection with the school, and presented Mr Fawcett with a fire screen on behalf of the staff. Mr James Wallace, chairman of the Education Board, said he was present that night ia a dual, capacity—as chairman of the board and as a personal friend of'Mr and Mrs Fawcett. Mr Fawcett had, in his commencement as a teacher, proved a splendid country head master, and he had not had the advantage of a Training College career. He had always worked well with his committees, his staff, and the parents. He could tel! (them that a very good opinion could be. formed of a teacher by the outside appearance of his school —whether the head master was a " goer ”or not. Mr Fawcett had been a “ goer ” all the years of his service. And he had not only _ been a good teacher, but a good citizen. ‘ On behalf of the board, I wish Mr and Mrs Fawcett a very, very successful and happy time in Carterton,” concluded Mr Wallace.

Mr Fawcett, in reply, said he had to thank them from the bottom of his heart for the kind things they had said of him. He was very sorry to leave the Kaikorai School—-he had hoped to serve the rest of his school career at Kaikorai—and it had becn_ from no desire of l|is that he was leaving Otago. It was very seldom that a man came hack to bo the head.master of a school where he had been a pupil. , He had enjoyed every moment of his association with the committee, and he appreciated very muck Mr Brown’s reference to the happy relations which had existed between himself and the staff. He thanked them on behalf of himself. Ids wife, and his children for their splendid send-off. ;

Mr Falvcett was accorded musical honours as he resinned bis seat. A musical programme was then submitted, 4nd later in the evening refreshments were handed round.