MORAY PLACE SCHOOL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21215, 22 December 1930, Page 3

MORAY PLACE SCHOOL

FINAL BREAK-UP. MR JAMES MOIR RETIRES. The final break-up of the Moray Place School was held on Thursday evening, when there was a large assembly of parents and past and, present pupils, who were welcomed by the chairman, Mr O. R. Cooper. The company was entertained with an'attractive programme of songs, recitations, dialogues, and dancing, which displayed to advantage the efforts made by the staff to train the pupils. During the evening the chairman called upon Messrs M‘Gill, Sligo, Payton, Hughson. and other ex-pupils and committeemen to speak. Much interest and amusement were created by many of their reminiscences. dating back to the foundation of the former Normal School. Many people would find it difficult, it was stated, to believe that at one time there were over 800 pupils attending the school. After the removal of the Normal School the numbers gradually decreased, especially in recent years, as so many of the older residences in the district had been removed to make way for factories, warehouses, and shops. Although there were some regrets at the closing of the school, the present site in the midst of the busy city area was agreed to be an unsuitable one. The Education Board’s decision to close the school would enable the needs of the children to be much better catered for in the more spacious and bettersituated schools outside the business area. The break-up was attended by the Mayor (Mr R. 8, Black) and the Mayoress, who presented the dux and swimming medals.. Various members of the committee assisted in presenting the prizes, attendance certificates, and swimming certificates to the recipients, who were in happy mood. . On behalf of the pupils and staff, the headmaster presented Dr W. Boraman with a reading lamp, and wished him success in hiff new appointment to Caversham School. Dr Boraman, who was the last to leave the school’s permanent . staff, suitably responded and acknowledged the pleasant times he had had in the school. During the proceedings the headmaster (Mr James Moir), who is retiring on superannuation, was the recipient of a clock on behalf of the pupils, while the committee and householders presented him with a gold pencil and fountain pen. Mr J. Beattie, a former teacher, also paid a tribute to the progressive methods of the retiring headmaster. In acknowledging these tokens of respect and esteem, Mr Moir recorded his gratitude for the cooperation of parents, pupils, Committee and his loyal staff, and wished the pupils success in the schools they would go to next year, Mr James Moir received his early education at Hillend, where the establishment of a school was mainly due to the efforts of his father. After attending the Tokomairiro District High School, he entered the Dunedin Training College, from which he obtained a scholarship to attend the Otago University, but unfortunately he had to resign the scholarship later. His first appointment was as sole teacher of the Circle Hill School, and after 16 months there he went to Mount Cargill. This proved a very strenuous position, for at one time he had sole charge of over 70 pupils in nine classes, including a post-primary class. In 1893 he was appointed headmaster of Pukeuri School, which flourished under his able methods. While in this school Mr Moir's enthusiasm for cricket enabled tbe school team to , hold its own with teams from the principal Oamaru schools. After 14 years at Pukeuri, Mr Moir took charge of the Wakari School. During the 17 years, he, taught there the school grew both in,size and influence. He was largely responsible for improvements in the grounds and for the enlargement of the school hall. In 1924 Mr Moir was promoted to be headmaster of the Moray Place School, where for the last six years hia work has been much appreciated. Although he was due to, resign last June, he acceded to the special request of the Otago Education Board to continue until the school closed.