MR AND MRS STRACK.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLIV, Issue XLIV, 8 March 1924, Page 6

MR AND MRS STRACK.

FAREWELL FUNCTION

EXPRESSIONS OF APPRECIATION. ~ I The larrje assembly hall of the Hawera School was packed to the doors last night when o'd boys imd gins of the school, present pupils, citizens of the town a:<d visiting triends gathered to say fart well to Mr and Mrs Strack on the occa.-ion ;>i Mr SLrack's refcirement fri>ui the posiiie.-n oi headmaster, a post which he.hni heiil at Hawera lor the past 29 years. Mr J. W. Harding occupied the chair, and was supported on the platform by men prominent in public and educational affairs, all ot whom delivered speeches during the evening. Moosman's orchestra was present and contributed a number of excellent musical items, songs being also contributed by Mrs Dryden and Messrs Laidlaw and Renwick. Apologies for absence were ?«< eived from Messrs H. R. Kemp, W. and F. Hutehins, H. D. F. James, W. Sheat, Monsignor Power, Hon. C. J. Parr (Minister of Education), Jno. Caughley (Director of Education) and J. A. Hanan, M.P. .Mr J. W. Harding (chairman of the School Committee) was the first speaker. He said he did not know how to express the feelings of gratitude he felt at seeing such a large audience. Considering the inclemency of the weather, and also hearing a few pessimistic remarks, he was overjoyed at seeing the hall packed. The committee had felt that they could not let Mr and Mrs Strack depart without first calling together old and present pupils in order that they could show their appreciation of the long and faithful services rendered to the children and the town. To be successful a teacher must have love for the teaching profession and the children, this having been proved by Mr Strack's work at Hawera for the past t\v<s" generations. Thirty-nine years of service from both Mr and Mrs Strack meant a good deal to this .town. Continuing, Mr Harding said that when they came to analyse the teaching profession they must realise how hard it was to please everyone. The only way was to please the majority and attain the best results by encouraging discipline. The speaker then produced an old record book, the first entry in which had been made on April 1, 1875, by the inspector on the occasion of his first visit to the Hawera School, then conducted in the old blockhouse. In his entry the inspector saic that this was his second visit to the Hawera School held in the old blockhouse, where there"" was no suitable furniture. In fact the state of the school was primitive. There were 2boys and girls on the books. This entry, said Mr Harding, confirmed his opinion that the jubilee of the school did not take place until May of nexi year. The first building on the present school site was built by Mr Syme, and it was worthy of mention thai there was some controversy at the time as to whether the school should be erected on a site somewhere near where St. Mary's School now stands, or or the present site. Eventually," in view of the fact thei there was not enough . accommodation for horses on the firstmentioned site, tLe present site wai chosen. When Mr Strack came te Hawera there were 300 pupils on the roll; to-day there^were 800. Mr W. H. Collins, chairman of the Wanganui Education Board, said he had felt it his. duty to come, "as Mr Strack had been many years under the Wanganui Board. He agreed with Mi Harding that a teacher's calling was » noble one, and stressed the responsibility which was theirs in buiiding up the characters of the children. A teacher could either make or mai characters. Mr Strack had done marvels in developing character in the rising generations. Turning again tc the teaching profession, Mr Collins said that if a teacher did not love his or hei work they might just as well'"get out." In conclusion, he described Mi Strack as a character builder, who should be very proud to look around and see the results of his Characterbuilding was a great thing in this life, book-learning not being everything. H« hoped that Mr and Mrs Strack's future would indeed be a happy one. Mr A. Lees, chairman of the Taranaki Education Board, said he was pleased to note that' Mrs Strack had been included. If Mr Strack were asked who it was through his trials and tribulations had been the greatest help to him he would name Mrs Strack. In his capacity as chairman of the Board he was able to see behind the scenes, as it were, in that he saw the confidential reports of the inspectors. They had to have people looking; after the teachers as well as people looking after the boys and girls, and consequently there was a good inspectorial staff in New Zealand. Taranaki was exceptionally fortunate in having an inspector of such ability and integrity as Mr Valentine. When that gentleman went round the schools he threw .. no bouquets away, and it meant a lot _ when he said that the reports on the ! Hawera School were some of the best 11 ir would be possible to obtain anywhere. Mr Strack was an enthusiast who never lost his enthusiasm. He expressed the appreciation of the Board at Mr and Mrs Strack's services in Hawera. and he hoped they would enjoy good health for many years, so that they would be able to look upon the results of their good work. A very neat and eloquent speech was delivered by Miss Corrigan on behalf of the old girls of the school. She referred to the old school days when they little dreamt that one day they would be asked to assemble to say farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Strack The very name "Strack" seemed synonymous with that of the Hawera District High School, and it seemed impossible that there could ever be a dissolution. She always remembered the awe caused by the presence of the headmaster, hut looking back on those days it did not seem that that state had been caused so much by his presence as by "the notes of that dreaded little whistle." However, wherever he was, whether the whistle was present or not. there was always discipline. Miss Corrigan referred to the kindness and generosity of Mrs Strack. "If Mr. Strack excelled in geography," said the speaker, "she excelled in caring for the welfare of the girls." There was no Dr. Gunn then, and if someone developed toothache, or some other ill, Mrs. Strack's warm room and hot cocoa had the desired effect. It was rather a fine tyne of womanhood that had come from the , school, a type which could not have J established itself had not the head- ; master had the influence of some pure woman behind him. That influence was the influence of Mrs. Strack. In conclusion. Miss Corrigan extended to Mr. and Mrs. Strack the heartfelt appreciation of the old girls of the school. Mr. H. L. Spratt, representing the old boys of the school, said his first sight of Mr. Strack was 28 years ago in old standard I. in the front of the school. In those days Mr. Strack wore a small smoking cap which he frequently moved backwards and forwards on his head. His first really lwely recollection q£ Mj\ Strack was

in stanadrd 11., when the speaker received "eight cuts." Mr. Spratt described the old school building ac he first knew it, and traced the alterations and additions up to 1901, when the district high school was founded and the building took its present form In the old days the school was the only one m the district, and children came from, as far as Manutahi to attend it. He remembered Peter and Colin Campbell having to ride the ten miles to school. The boys in those days used to play football with pigs' bladders, used to fight with sticks and turf, and play hockey with gorse sticks. They had their own special game of marbles,, but that was all stopped when Mr. Strack came and introduced the^very excellent game of "toe." Going further back again, v „bP ratt Mld be understood that ™c "I st schoolmaster in Hawera was Mr. Kerney, an old war veteran whose joy it was to parade with his medals fastened m a glittering row across his chest. Mr. Spratt said that the first inspector to visit the school was Mr. Lee. The next inspector was Mr Foulis, followed by Mr. Bindon Mr* Milne, Dr. Smythe, Mr. Gray and Mr Strong. Next, the speaker recalled the first pupils of the school, and in this connection he mentioned the names of Syme, Fantham, Muir Douglas, Messana, Winks, McLean, Tait Adamson, Livingston, Campbell, Hobbs, Tocker, Hunter, Brown, and others. Then there were the Fryers Johnstones and Ogles. He did not believe that during the past forty years tfiere had not been a time when a representative of those families had not been a scholar at the school Messrs. Warden, Payne and Nairn, the first male assistants at the school were mentioned, together with Mrs! Horniman and Misses Brunette and Ans, the first lady assistants. Characters dearly beloved in memory were Messrs. Goldsmith, Colli© and Niven Messrs. S. Poole and W. Gibbs were two teachers who now lie "somewhere m France." The first headmaster at the mam school was Mr. Dunne, he being followed by Messrs. Harre, Chamberlain,, Thompson and Mair. Then came Mr. Harrison for . a f«w months, followed by Mr. Strack. That was 29 years ago—a long span of time. During those years 7000 pupils had passed through Mr. Strack's hands, and Mr. and Mrs. Strack had children of school age. Referring again to old school days, Mr. Spratt told of the "ragging" which went on amongst the bpys in the old shed, and made casual m£ntibn of Dive's orchard and the two ponds. Mr. and Mrs. Strack would also remember the trip to Parihaka and the other trips to the mountain, the Christchurch Exhibition and the camp -at Chistchurch at the time of the visit of the Duke of York. Mr. Strack would have lively recollections, too, of the old school concerts, and perhaps more sober ones of the old examination days. "Here at this school," said Mr. Spratt, "wo have had many happy times, and it is very sad indeed to have to lqpe Mr. and Mrs. Strack from our midst. It is all very well to talk and pass the moment away with a laugh, but they will live in the memories of all old scholars. It is indeed the laying down of their life's work.'' Mr. Strack's work as a teacher was wide, 'and the speaker, told of the headmaster's teaching his pupils punctuality and a good wholesome respect for constituted authority. He hoped that the lives of both Mr. and Mrs. Strack would be spared so that they should live long and happily and would be able to take up some work pleasing and enterprising to them both. His Worship the Mayor, Mr. L. A. Bone, said he was present in a threefold capacity. Mrs. Bone and he were present first and foremost out of love for Mr. and Mrs. Strack, and he was also present as Mayor, as well as by reason of the fact that he had for some time been a member of the committee and his two boys had commenced their education at the school. Mr. Bone recalled that the first night he slept in Hawera he slept in Mr. Strack's house. Speaking of Mr. Strack's work, he considered that Mr. Strack had served the people of this town with a devotion which was almost unique, he having been a most wonderful and valuable servant. He had spent 30 years of his life—the best years of his life—in building the boys and girls up to become good citizens. They, as parents, realised the great responsibility which was a teacher's in training children during the ten most impressionable years of the children's lives. - He considered that both Mr. and Mrs. Strack had done their duty by the children who had passed through their hands. Mr. Strack had not done very much in public life because his work had precluded him, but he had taken a deep interest in the Chamber of Commerce and the Winter Show Company, and had thrown his whole heart and sole into anything which was for the welfare of the town. He would like, on behalf of the citizens of the town, to express sincere gratitude for their services. Their loyalty to the town and country had always been great and unbounded. Mr. J. R. Corrigan, member for the district, said they were present to pay a tribute to a man and his wife who had put the best years of his life at the disposal of the public of Hawera. A man who had spent 29 years educating the children of the district deserved the appreciation of every resident of the district. There might be some who would be inclined to say hard words—that he was paid for it— but that did not detract from the fact that he had given his life's work in the interests of his fellow men. Mr. and Mrs. Strack had the appreciation of the majority of the citizens of the town and district. "It was a noble work that you entered upon," concluded Mr. Corrigan, "and it was nobly done." Amidst applause Mrs. Bone then presented Mrs. Strack with a bouquet. Mrs. Strack, in replying, said it gave her great pleasure to see so many friends gathered together to do honour to her respected husband, especially as she had caught some of the reflected glory. She extended thanks for the gifts and expressed sorrow at having to say farewell. Mr. Corrigan, on behalf of the citizens of Hawera, then presented Mr. Strack with a Rotheram gold watch and chain and Mrs. Strack with a three-diamond ring. The singing of "For They are Jolly Good Fellows" followed, after which Mr. Harding, on behalf of the committee, presented Mr. Strack with a framed photograph of tbe school, the scholars and the members of the committee. Mr Strack, in replying, said that by their very kindness they had made his task difficult, and consequently his remarks would probably be a little disjointed. First of all he wished to thank the members of the orchestra and the singers who had assisted in making the function so enjoyable. "But, Mr chairman, members of the Board, members of the School Committee, ladies and gentlemen, and last, but not least, you dear old scholars —boys and girls of long ago," said Mr Strack. "I thank you with a full heart. It is hard to know how to thank you." Continuiug,

Mr Strack said lie was glad that th© speakers had so quickly discovered the secret of his success. It had taken the local speakers to sense the.secret; the power behind the throne—his good wife, Mrs Strack. All the words in the iictionary could not express the assistance which she had been to him. The speaker said that those present had taken an interest in one who only too well knew his faults. However, he had always endeavoured to do his duty to> the best of his ability. He said he felt, that night as the Scotsman felt whea. he said "My foot is on my natives heather, and my name it is McGregor.'* "He felt among friends," said Mr Strack, "and so do we." A friend to» the school was a friend of his, but it it were an enemy to the school, then, look out for Strack. Continuing, Mr Strack said he would like to mentions, how much he appreciated the holding, of the function in the school —in his" school, his home school, where he hadt spsnt nearly 30 years, doing his little^ best for the welfare of the 7000 boys; and girls who had passed through his-. hands. The hall they were in had witnessed many scenes, troublesome andi otherwise; the troublesome ones he hack forgotten. They could understand what, a pang it would give him to part with* this his home school. Someone hadt said, "Oh, well, you have had a good. innings!" "I have," said Mr Strack,. "but I have not been bowled out, an<E I have been up against some demons bowlers, and have carried my bat for--45 not out." The speaker said he had the happiest memories of the old scholars. Parents could not be more loving: than tbe boys and girls of the present", time, but the boys and girls of to-day cemld not in some respects -compare with some of the old boys and girls.' He referred to the home-work done in?. those days. He was not, however, a believer in excessive -homework. Oneh hour for seniors and half an Hour for; juniors was ample. Nevertheless, the* homework of to-day could not comparewith that of 20 or 35 years ago, and*. some of the work to-day was not as* thorough. M,r Strack then referred to« the reminiscences of Mr Spratt, he mentioning many a choice little anecdoteof by-gone days. In joohclusion, hd assured those present" that he would1 come back again to Hawera! He and Mrs Strack were to spend this year visiting their fzfinily "in itheir homes, and they would decide during the year what they were going to do afterwards. The bond of friendship with Taranaki was strong, and the bond of friendship held Hawera very dear to them. In conclusion, Mr Strack recited: Old lads and lasses, . Lang Syne in my classes, You were bonny and true, I was happy with you. And now, adieu! Tlie function ended with tbe singing; of the National Anthem and Auld. Lang; Syne, after which supper was servect by the ladies.