Girls' High School Principal Resigns

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 43, 21 February 1936, Page 11

Girls' High School Principal Resigns

EXTENDED TRIP ABROAD Mrs M. Rhodes, the principal of the Palmerston North Girls’ High School, has tendered her resignation to the High Schools’ Board of Governors, to become operative at tho beginning of the second term, on May 26. At a meeting of the board tho resignation was accepted with regret. In tho course of her letter, in which sho advised that she wished licr resignation to date from the beginning of tho second term, Mrs Rhodes stated: —“I intend leaving New Zealand in May for Europe, to meet my sou, with whom I shall spend some considerable time. It nnty be years bet'oro I have another opportunity of seeing him. “My years in Palmerston North have been very happy and I hope that my work has contributed in some measure to the progress of tho school. I feel that it is now definitely moving on after the long depression, and wish both school and pupils every success in tho future. I should liko to thank the chairman and members of the board of governors for tho great kindness and help always extended to me. I am forwarding this early so that as little dislocation as possible may be caused in the school work."

The board accepted the resignation with deep regret and placed on record its deep appreciation of the excellent services Mrs Rhodes had rendered to the school. In 1927 Mrs Rhodes eamo to the Palmerston North Girls’ High Sckooj from the Nelson Girls’ College, taking up the' position of acting first assistant to Miss F. J. Hodges, who was the principal. On Miss Hodges’ illness in 1928 Mrs Rhodes was appointed acting principal, and, following the former’s death, was confirmed as principal at tho beginning of 1929. In tho period of her tenure of that office Mrs Rhodes has raised tho school to a very high standard' and her resignation will be regretted not only by the authorities but also by former pupils, the present scholars, and others who have a keen interest in the school’s welfare.

Mrs Rhodes explained to a reporter that her son, Mr F. W. Rhodes, w'ho is a member of the staff of the Rangoon University, would bo on extended leave. He was an expert linguist and the opportunity of visiting England and Europe with him was too good to be missed, as he had previously travelled extensively. Her future plans were uncertain and she wished to be free of ties on that account.