POPULAR HEAD MASTER

Evening Star, Issue 21974, 9 March 1935, Page 4

POPULAR HEAD MASTER

MR JOHN BOWIE RETIRES OVER FORTY YEARS AS TEACHER Mr John Bowie, 8.A., lias resigned the head mastership of the Macandrew Road School to enjoy a well merited retirement. Mr Bowie received his primary education at Lovell’s Flat and his secondary education at the Tokomairiro (■Milton.) District and Otago Boys’ High Schools. From 1889 to 1892 he was pupil teacher at Kaitangata, and the next two years ho spent at the Dunedin Training College and the Otago University, where he commenced his B.A. degree course, which he afterwards completed as an extramural student while teaching in Hawke’s Bay. Mr Bowie’s actual teaching career was commenced under conditions of depression. For fifteen months after he left the University all the teaching he could obtain was a fortnight’s relieving at Mornington, under Mr Kyle, and two months at George Street, under Mr M'Nicoll. The work

available was then rationed as at present; some received constant relieving, others very little; and so Mr Bowie perforce obtained very practical experience of farm work under both summer and winter conditions. Then in February, 1896, he began over a quarter of a century’s teaching in Hawke’s Bay—lß96-1900 as a third assistant in Hastings, 1900-04 as head inaster at Matamau, 1904-21 as head master at Wairoa. In 1920 Wairoa was raised to the status of a District High School, and it was from this post that Air Bowie was appointed in 1921, to succeed Air Walter Graham ns rector of the Tokomairiro District High School. Ho remained there till 1924, when he commenced duty on May 1 as head master of the Macandrew Road School. The history of the Tokomairiro District High School from 1856 to 1931, published on the occasion of the seventy-fifth ajiniveiyary, contains the ' following comment: —. “Believing that the playground offered special advantages to both pupil and teacher, Air Bowie reorganised the .school games, as to inculcate the spirit of teamwork and sportsmanship. It is true that teams sent to Dunedin did fairly well in competition with other schools, and successful local gatherings paved the way for the South Otago schools’ athletic meetings. But more than these outside successes Air Bowie valued the moral benefit which superiority in games brought to boys and girls who were backward in class.’’ In his student days Mr Bowie was a keen Soccer player, from 1893 to 1895 playing with Tommy Ashton in the Rangers’ Club, before that stalwart began his long association with the Southern Club, in which Mr Bennett was also deeply interested. In Hawke’s Bay and Milton he had a long connection with hockey and cricket as coach ami umpire. During his head mastership at the Macandrew Road School he was content to allow the younger and more energetic members of his staff to carry on this branch of tho teacher’s duty, while he assisted with encouragement and advice. . Outside his school responsibilities ho has devoted time and attention to church work especially. For sixteen years in Wairoa he conducted the choir at tho Presbyterian Church, and since coming to Dunedin he has continued church and Bible class work at St. Clair. He is also an ex-president of the Dunedin Burns Club ami of the Dunedin Head .Masters’ Association. From the inception of the .Macandrew Road Ex-pupils’ Association Mr Bowie has taken a keen interest, and on more than one occasion tho association has recorded its appreciation of help and assistance rendered by him. In making the initial arrangements for the recent jubilee of the school Mr Bowie devoted considerable attention, and his booklet of the history of the school from 1883 to 1933 brought welldeserved praise to him from many expupils. As a member of the executive of the Ex-pupils’ Tennis Club Air Bowie rendered valuable service and assistance. Air Bowie’s work at Alacandrew Road School is to be recognised in a striking way, as arrangements arc well under way by parents, school committee, staff, and ox-pupils to fender Air Bowie a fitting farewell.