Dominie George MacMorran, of Wellington.

Free Lance, Volume XVIII, Issue 987, 4 June 1919, Page 14

Dominie George MacMorran, of Wellington.

.An Old Terrace School-boy's Appreciation. As a class teacher Mr MacMorran had all the craft of the experienced angler. The most artful "trout" in the class had to be on his "guard, for sooner or later he would he hooked -by a simple question and fall in up to his neck. The Head had a very quiet way with him. A quiet voice and a seemingly- unseeing but surprisingly vigilant eye. He would Tamble on for a few sentences, then pause, stroke his chin with a characteristic gesture, and say: "Am I right, Smith?"

Smith would suddenly come to earth, start, stammer and make an ass of himself generally and then the Head would rub his chin and say "H —m, I thought so." Upon which the unfortunate Smith would -collapse like a squashed worm and the work would go on. "Mac" was not much of a believer in the strap or the cane, probably because he found that his own particular methods achieved satisfactory results—and few who sat under him will deny it—but they do say that when there was nothing else for it he performed with the science and finish that, left nothing to be desired on the part of the victim. i/> ****** ■In the old pupil r teacher days, when up-to-date training colleges were still ia the dim vista of the future, Mi MacMorran used to instruct the pupil

teachers in school-management and many a teacher to-day can trace his success to the thoroughness with which this preceptor of the art had grounded him for his work. He was an ardent and constant advocate of thorough preparation before, facing a class with a lesson. "Sooner or later the children will find out if you scamp your work," he would say. And he was right, for there was no more unerring judge of a man than the youthful critic who studies his habits and moods day after day from his desk in the class-room. > * * * * * * Mr MacMorran's services to education went far beyond the confines of the school fence. He was for years a- prominent member of the Educational Institute and one of its past presidents. He took on active though un-

Of Brooklyn, Wellington, winner of soprano, mezzo and operatic solos at the recent?' Napier competitions,obtrusive part in the various movemenjts for the improvement of the education system and the salaries and: general betterment of the. teaching, profession. His was the "restraining hand that tempered the zeal of the more ardent spirits to the resources . of the time and taught them to creep before they walked.