SERVICE TO EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20537, 11 April 1930, Page 12

SERVICE TO EDUCATION.

LONG TEACHING CAREER.

MR. R. E. RUDMAN RETIRES.

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WORK

The retirement is announced of Mr. R. E. Rudman, principal of the Kovvhai Junior High School. Following 41 years' teaching service, Mr. Rudman will retire at the end of May.

Mr. Rudman commenced his leaching career as assistant master at the Napier Boys' High School, where ho was educated. He was for a time in charge of (lie Poraiigahau'School, Hawke's Bay and was later appointed science master at Wellington College. He acted as lecturer in physics at Victoria University College, and was appointed an inspector of secondary schools. For 11 years he was principal of the Thames High School.

When the Kowhai Junior High School was opened seven years ago Mr. Rudman was selected as the principal, and he has since held that position. It was the first junior high school established in the Dominion, and is at present the only separate junior high school. Special interest attaches to the retirement of Mr. Rudman in' view of the pending announcement regarding the future of the junior high school system. To Mr. Rudman fell the task of laying the foundation of junior high school work in' New Zealand. A firm believer in the junior high school, he has sought to make a success of tho school and to justify the experiment. Members of the Auckland Education Board have frequently had cause to remark upon the excellent results achieved by tile school, and it is recognised that a. large measure of the success is due solely to Mr. Rudman himself. When the school was established it was strongly opposed by a large number of parents in' the district, but later a complete change was noticeable in the attitude of parents toward the school. At present parents and pupils are most enthusiastic about the school, and many applications for admission from children outside the school':; district are received every year. Prominent educationists throughout New Zealand have watched the growth of the school, and it has been favourably commented upon by visitors. Referring to Mr. Rudman's retirement., Mr. A. Burns, chairman of the Auckland Education Board, said last evening that lie had been chosen from many applicants to do the " spade-work " in the inauguration of the junior high school system. How successfully he had carried out his duties was reflected in the success achieved by the school. The school had at first been regarded as a somewhat, doubtful experiment, but it had fully justified its existence. Its success was due mainly 1o Mr. Rudman, assisted by a speciallyselected staff of teachers.