A POPULAR HEADMASTER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11292, 18 August 1922, Page 3

A POPULAR HEADMASTER

FAREWELL TO MR BENNETT PRESENTATION TO BERHAMPORE SCHOOL'S PDJNCIPAL. FIFTY YEARS* SPLENDID SERVICE. The popular Wellington headmaster, Mr F. Bennett, upon the occasion of his retirement from the position of principal of the Berliampore School, was officially farewelle-d at the school yesterday afternoon Mr E. Burd (chairman of the school committee) presided, and besides a largo attendance of Berhampore residents and school children, there were also present:—The Mayor (Mr R. A. Wright, M.P.), Colonel G. Mitchell, M.P., and Messrs H. A. Parkinson (secretary New Zealand Educational Institute), T. Forsyth (chairman Wellington Education Board), E. Dixon, M.P., -T. -T. CJ&rko' (Education Board), Rev. Rich, and Mr E. T. Bailey (secretary and treasurer of tho Berhampore school committee). UNFAILING SUCCESS: UNREMITTING DEVOTION. Some apologies for ncn-attendance wore received. In each case the writer spoke of tlie valuable services rendered by Mi Bennett and of his loyalty and devotion to tho cause of education. Mr F. K. Bnkewell, chief inspector of schools, wrote as under:— “May I add my personal regrets to those of tho board on tho occasion of your retiring from active service. Both, as your fellow-teacher and as an inspector I have had for nearly thirty years the privilege of the closest intimacy with, you in your school work, and there is no one more competent than I to testify to your unflagging zeal and your exceptional ability as a teacher. "Every stage of your career, right up to your present responsible position as headmaster of on© of tho largest schools in the Dominion, has been marked by unfailing success and unremitting devotion to duty. “I regret, I assure you, the severence of so long and so cordial an association. The benefit from the co-operation and example of men of your stamp _ is one of the most important factors in tho successul management of such a district as this, and while my official reports have always shown my appreciation of your value in these respects, I could not let tho opportunity pass without expressing to you my sense of personal obligation. "I wish yen' every enjoyment of the ease and comfort to which your long and arduous services so justly entitle you, and I should be indeed glad if, when my own time comes (which it will next yedr) I could leave such a splendid record behind me.** "A FRIEND AND ADVISER.” In presenting Mr Bennett with a handsome marble clock, on behalf of the scholars and staff of tho school, Mr Duncan said that they y felt that they were losing a friend and * an adviser Tho 6jeaker then congratulated Mr Bennett oq his long and meritorious service and wished him and Mrs Bennett every happiness in the future Mrs Bennett was presented with a beautiful bouquet by one of the tiny tots of the school. MR BENNETT’S REPLY. EDUCATION: "THE GOLDEN AGE” TO-DAY. Mr Bennett said that to suitably roply to Mr Duncan was a very difficult duty. Two of the teaching staff, Miss Scott and Miss Hurley, had been attached to the school since it was first opened. Miss Scott, who was indisposed, was unable to be present at the function, hut the speaker emphasised the fact that she was in the front rank of her profession. Mr Bennett did not dispute that he had a very long .service, and looking back ove the fifty years many things came into his mind. In his vouth, about the year 1872, tho educational system was not as it is to-day. At his old school, the headmaster was a Crimean veteran anti a very competent man, but the peculiar part about the school was that the pupils were obliged to pay for their tuition, and one who paid the most money was at the top of the class. At tho next school which he attended, even though only thirteen years of age, tie was called upon to be a teacher. At this time he did not know very much—not even wliat an atlas was—so the boys and pirl9 present could understand what an advantage thev bad over the pupils of those days. The boys and girls of the present period were living in a golden age—an age of great privileges, and if thev tried to make their work a pleasure, tlieir efforts would surelv bring a suitable reward. Amid loud cheering Air Bennett then thanked Mr Duncan, os representative of the scholars and staff, for their very useful gift. HELD IN HIGHEST ESTEEM. Called upon by the chairman, Air R. ; A. Wright, M.P., said Mr Bennett was held in the highest esteem by his present pupils as ‘well as the pupils whom he had instructed in the past. Schoolmasters, continued the speaker, often had unpleasant duties to perform, but it was by fearlessly performing his duty, as Air Bennett had done, that teachers earned the respect of their pupils. THE INFLUENCE OF THE TEACHER - . Mr G. Mitchell, ALP., endorsed the statements of tho previous speakers as to Mr Bennett's long and excellent record. The speaker himself had not had a long scholastic training, being obliged to leave school at the age of ten years. Apart from a child’s parents, no one exercises more influence over him than his schoolmaster, who is largely responsible for the pupil's Tise or tall in the future. The speaker continued that no human being who ever knew Mr Bennett could do other than esteem him, and Mr Alitchell expressed the hope that on the retiring headmaster and Airs Bennett should -descend all the good gifts which God gives to liis people on this earth. EDUCATION BOARD’S CHAIRMAN. Air T. Forsyth expressed his pleasure at being present at the function, and 6aid that liis only regret was at iosing such a man as Mr Bennett. He congratulated Airs Bennett, since, he said, to a man's wife must go the greater part of the credit for any successes achieved. Mr Forsyth went on to say that he quite believed that Mr Wright had been a bad boy at school, but he (the speaker) on the contrarv had been an exceedingly well-behaved boy. He had often done wrong, but, unlike AH* Wright, he had never been caught. That, however, was the fault of the teachers. Fifty years’ service was a wonderful record, and the speaker expressed the hope that when Mr Bary, Air Bennett's successor retired, he would also leave behind him a record such ns this. AN OLD PUPIL'S APPRECIATION. An old pupil of Air Bennett's, Air E. Dixon, AI.P. for Paten, said it was fortyono years since he had been taught by Mr Bennett, and yet he remembered being instructed by this splendid master. Leaching was a noble service, since it laid the foundation of character and the foundation of one’s country. Being one of tho highest and noblest professions it should be treated ns such, and steps were being taken to so increase the salaries of school teachers ns to bo an inducement to the cleverest and most competent scholars. Teachers did not engage in their occupation because of the salaries they received, but a person, however, could not be expected to undertake such a responsible dutv at a small remuneration. Speaking to the pupils, Mr Dixon counselled them not to despise a child who was poorly clad, for underneath a ragged garment* might beat a heart of gold. Through life they should always look for tho person who was "down and out'' and give him a helping hand. Each citizen had three

duties, first to God. then to King, and finally tu country. The persons who fulfilled those three requirements would not hare lived in. vain. Mr Dixon then expressed his admiration of both Mr and Mrs Bennett, saying that when Mr Bennett had chosen his wife he had been a good “picker.” PERSONAL FRIEND AND FELLOWTEACHER. As an old personal friend and as a fellow-teacher, Air Parkinson congratulated the retiring headmaster on his unparalleled record. The speaker had often heard of men retiring after twenty, thirty, and forty years' service, but fifty years was almost without equal, since loner before serving that lime the average man had broken down, and. like the speaker, was “on the shelf.” Air Bennett was also about to take up his situation “on the shelf,” and Air Parkinson expressed the hope that he would have a very good time there. Mr Clark, who at one time had been a pupil of Air Bennett’s at Newtown school, spoke briefly of liis experiences at that institution, and on behalf of Air Bennett’s old pupils wished the retiring headmaster and his wife every success and a happy life in the future. The .chairman then spoke in glowing terms of the feeling of the Berhampore residents towards Air Bennett, on behalf of whom he presented the retiring master with a handsome silver tea service, suitably engraved. A FINAL "WORD. In conclusion, Mr Bennett said that he knew his successor, Mr C. Bary, very well, and he was certain that his position was being filled by a capable and experienced man. He had not needed any tangible token of the goolwill of the Berhampore residents, but all the same he thanked them from the bottom of his heart for their handsome gift. The proceedings were then terminated by the singing of “God Save the King.”