A POPULAR TEACHER

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 29 August 1919, Page 4

A POPULAR TEACHER

CHILDREN'S PRESENTATION TO MISS LANYON.

Yesterday afternoon Miss Lanyon was farewelled by the pupils of the Hawera District High School. The central hall was packed with scholars; there was a record attendance of pupils in the infant department 250 being present, in addition to 500' pupils from the standards. Mr Strack spoke in eulogistic terms of the excellent work done by Miss Lanyon. During her six years' teaching in Hawera School she had not missed one day from duty. Six days in the week she had devoted her energies to the work of the infant classes. The inauguration of morning cocoa and biscuits for the infants and the introduction of .Montessori methods of teaching were due to Miss Lanyon's efforts, ably supported by the assistant mistress (Mrs Anderson). Three years ago the Wanganui Board, on the recommendation of the inspectors, made Hawera School an observation * school for infant room work. The increase in attendance at school was due chiefly to the regular attendance of a big infant department, where the little scholars were happy in tfieir work, and where they made excellent progress. Mr Strack said he was voicing the feelings of pupils and parents when he said all "were eorry Miss 'Lanyon was leaving Hawera, but it was a compliment to Miss Lanyon when, from a large number of applicants, "the Auckland Education Board had appointed her to the position of infant mistress of Hamilton West School. Miss Lanyon had always interested herself in the work and the games of the senior girls. The headmaster said it was the wish of the senior girls, the old pupils, and especially of the infant department and teachers, that Miss Lanyon should take with her some tangible proof of their gratitude to her, and therefore, on behalf of the three divisions, he asked her to accept a bookcase and escritoire combined, and made of New Zealand oak—taraire—from Coromandel.

Miss Lanyon was loudly cheered as she rose to thank the scholars for their | very handsome present to her. It was good of the senior girls and the old pupils to join with the happy little ones of primer classes to show their appreciation of her work. School life should not be toilsome—neither for teacher nor scholar; happy work always brings pleasure and sound progress. If the pupils in the infant department had been happy and successful in their work, it was not only by her own efforts, but also by the hearty co-operation of the headmaster and by the loyal and capable support of her assistant (Mrs Anderson) and the junior teachers. Miss Lanyon wished especially to thank the parents for sending the little ones so tidily and regularly to school. It was a pleasure every morning to see such a large attendance of clean, tidy, smiling, healthy children. She would carry with her always liappy memories of her work with the children of Hawera, and she wished continued euccess for the old school.