THE LATE JAMES REID

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18463, 26 January 1922, Page 3

THE LATE JAMES REID

UNYEIUNG OF MEMORIAL TABLET,

The ceremonial of unveiling a tablet erected to the memory of the late Mr James lic-id, rector of the Tokomairiro District High School, was held in one of the class rooms, Milton, yesterday afternoon, Mr ,T. Bowie, the present rector, presiding. The attendance, which was a fairly large one, was chiefly composed of ladies. The Chairman said that they were assembled as a mark of respect for one who had perhaps had more influence with the lives and characters of cx-pupils of that, school than they knew of. For about 26 years the late Mr Reid had had the guidance and control of the pupils at Tokomairirb District High School, and had been termed a pioneer of education. The Milton School was one of the oldest high schools in Otago, and it was to Mr Reid that credit had to be given for the introduction of technical education. They remembered with pleasure the introduction of classes in woodwork and science. He thought it was perhaps more Mr Reid’s personality than bis ability as a teacher that bad had an effect upon the lives and characters of the bovs and girls who had passed through his hands. He took it that the meeting was fairly representative of old pupils of the school. He was pleased to see so many representatives of tno, diseased gentleman’s family present,- andLpfcgretted that Mrs Reid's illness. ■ pre.verfted her attendance. They all -sympathised, with the family m their anxiety over,A®ts Reid’s illness, and hoped for her speedy /’recovery. He was sure they would remember the influence Mrs Reid had hud upon the work of tho school. Part of the late Mr Reid s success as a teacher had been due to the sympathetic co-operation he had received from his helpmate. They had present old pupils from quite an extended area. Dr Guy Scofield was the originator of the movement to erect a tablet to the memory of Mr Reid, and had come a long distance to bo with them. They had also present representatives of Mr Reid's old staff. Mr J. S. Inglis read a great many apologies for' unavoidable absence, also expressions of appreciation of the deceased gentleman. ' . Dr Guy Scofield, who was received with applause, said they were there to do honour to the memory of their late school teach©!’Most of those present had passed through the school when Mr Reid had been head master, and their recollections of him were of the . pleasantest description. It was now fully realised what they owed to Mr Reid. The majority of those in the room had passed throught the school between 1880 and 1905, and none of them had gone anywhere else filter leaving Tokomainro High School. It, said much for Mr Reid that they had gone away so well equipped—as well equipped us if they bad come from any other school in the dominion. Most of tho education used in - life was obtained after school was left behind, but most of that obtained previously had the power to make or mar people. Mr Reid’s influence hud acted upon 1 those who passed through his hands in a most advantageous manner It was stated on the tablet that Air Reid had been a' Courageous pioneer of modern education. The , practical education Mr Reid had been expected to teach fwas acquired from books, and they now recognised wiiat an exceptional man Mr Reid had been as head master. They wanted their appreciation recorded in some, practical manner, and had asked the school committee for permission to erect a tablet in the school expressing appreciation of the deceased gentleman as rector. They bad also asked the committee to accept a prize to be awarded ■annually, and to be known as the James Reid Memorial Prize. That prize would be for competition amongst the whole of the upper room. They did not want the dux to carry it off every year. The dux medal was otherwise provided for. Under tho arrangement a first year pupil would have an equal chance with the others. The ex-pupils desired that Misa M’Laren should unVeil Uio memorial tablet, not alone because she was an ex-pupjl, but because she had, been associated with Mr Reid on tho staff. The funds for tho memorial had, been contributed by the ex-pupils from all over Now Zealand. Pupils bad gone away to other parts of the world and if they could hove reached them they could .have Collected a much larger sum They had, however, sufficient. Speaking, of self-made men. Dr Scofield said it was a poor man who would not admit what ho owed. to those who ii id trained him. and ex-pupils of the school would admit what they owed to Mr Reid. Mr W. M’Elrea sajd that as an assistant to M Reid he had derived much benefit ■“from that gentleman. He was a. youthful beginner in the teaching protossion when he arrived at the school, and hud a great deal to learn from Mr Reid. Mr Reid had always seemed to take time to consider any matter that came before him, and was a thorough teacher. Reference had been made to nis influence .over the generation over, which ho reigned. The secret of that influence was to lie found in Mr Reid’s devotion to duty. Duty was understood to mean compliance with the civil law of the country and that Mr Reid had carried out excellently. He had made the ■ school one of the foremost in tho country. 116 had been an example %> his pupils in' ewery vvay. He had a wider sense of duty than most people, and had not confined his efforts to the, curriculum prescribed, ” because' he had considered it his duty to give of his best to his pupils. He had recognised that education was being carried on on narrow lines and had introduced technical education without receiving any encouragement' from the Education Department;, He had carried on this outside worlj;, and had provided niany things himself, and he (the speaker) thought he was right in saying that ' the inspector had overlooked the matter altogether. ® That showed that Mr Raid had a wider idea of duty than some people had. . Mr M‘Elrea went on to speak of the interest- Mr Reid had taken in the affairs of the town of Milton, how he hud been superintendent of the Sunday School, and of his ability as an organiser. • The Rev. James S. Reid, of Dubeandel, said he thought it was a privilege to have inherited tho name they were honouring, and on behalf of the family he desired to thank those present for the honour which had been done to tho late Mr Reid. The erection of the tablet would bo a’ groat gratification to his mother. He trusted that tho tablet was not onjy a tribute to his father’s ability _as a teacher but also to the power of his beautiful personality, .Most of his pupils had gone out into tho world and had “made good.” Miss M’Laren, who was formerly mistress ~A the infant department of the school, then unveiled the tablet which boro the followi rig i ascription : Tokomiairira District High School.—ln grateful memory of James Reid, 1838-1920, Rector of this school, 1880-1905. a courageous pioneer of modern education. - Tacot, seel tamen per alios dicet—Erected by old pupils of the school. At the coinclusion of the ceremonial afternoon tea was partaken of.