HAWERA MAIN SCHOOL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLIV, Issue XLIV, 1 April 1924, Page 5

HAWERA MAIN SCHOOL.

WELCOME TO HEADMASTER

A very happy thought it was that prompted the enthusiastic chairman (Mr J. W. Harding) and the committee to meet the new headmaster (Mr A. F. Bates) and to give him a cordial welcome to the school and to the district. The whole school was assembled in the common room, from the infants to the oldest in the top standards. In a short and happy speech, Mr Harding expressed the pleasure of the committee and the teachers at meeting to welcome Mr Bates. He said he hoped that the children would all do their part in the work of the school, hoth in the class rooms and on the sports ground. It was the aim, he added, «f the committee to Make the school life as happy as possible, and he hoped all would take a keen and enthusiastic interest in the welfare of the school, in its lessons and in its sports. .

At his call hearty cheers were given for Mr and Mrs Bates, and then Mr Harding said he had the greatest, pleasure in officially handing over the care of the school to Mr Bates.

Mr Nairn: added a welcome on behalf of the teachers. He said that toMJay wag a xed-letter day in the history of the school, and that an event was tailing place in which none of them had ever taken part previously, that was in the welcome to a Hawera headmaster. Mr Nairn added tfeat they were really welcoming an old friend, because thirteen years ago Mr Bates was a member of the staff. . He coiuld assure them that the" teachers as well as the scholars would always give hearty support in the work" of the school.

In reply, Mr Bates said he felt it was an nonour to be back in Hawera, where he used to teach, and now to take charge of the school where he had heen formerly a master. He knew it would be a difficult matter to take up the work after Mr Straek and to keep up the high standard of work in moulding the characters and minds of so many children, but, with the help of the teachers and of the children, he would endeavour to do so, and if possible to go further still in the work. He considered that sports made one of the most important sides of a school life, and that the question of games should b& vigorously pursued, so that the body as well as the mental faculties of the children could be improved. If the children did not play games and so keep fit they were missing one of the most important points in school life. He wanted to see not only senior and junior teams, but every boy and every girl taking part in games, so that every corner of the grounds could be occupied. He deprecated all ideas of playing only for shields' and trophies, and stressed the need of playing for the sake of the honour of the school. If they were beaten they must be able to take the licking and go forward determined to try again. He urged every pupil to work for the good of the school, not for themselves, and so work as to make themselves useful to the town and the school. In conclusion, he once more urged them all to> work well and to play well, and at all times and so make their school life as full as it should be. He expressed again his great pleasure at meeting teachers and nuDils.

Mr Harding again expressed his confidence that the school work would proceed well, and that the children would all uiay the . game for their school. He eulogised the good work done by Mr Nairn since Mr Stra«k left, and the and appreciation felt in that work by the committee.

Cheers were then given for Mr Nairn and for the other teachers, antl an interesting gathering terminated, as the children in regular well-drilled order filed away to their class rooms, and the school work of the day began. Yesterday afternoon at the school the members of the staff entertained Mr and Mrs Bates at afternoon tea. The gathering was most cordial, and the kindlv welcome of the teachers thoroughly appreciated.