DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 50

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION.

MR T. B. STRONG APPOINTED WELLINGTON, March 4. The appointment was announced to-day by the Public Service Commissioner of Mr T. B. Strong as Director of Education. The appointment is strongly ap- _ proved by the Minister of Education (the Hon. R. i\. Wright),' who states that he is satisfied Mr Strong will prove to be an efficient and capable director. Born in London in 1871, Mr Strong came to New Zealand with his parents as a child, and the family settled at Waimatc. where Mr Strong received his early education at the Waimatc District High School. He'- then attended the Otago University. Like other teachers. he secured the University degree of B.A. by studying while teaching at a public school, and he continued at the University for tl.: M.A. and B.Sc. degrees. His first appointment in the service of education vfas as a pupil teacher at the Waimate District High School, and he served in several capacities as a teacher under the South Canterbury Education Board. Subsequently he was removed in 1001 to Gisborne as first assistant. In 1902 he took charge of the newly-established secondary department of the Wanganui District High School, and from that position lie was appointed in 1904 inspector of schools under the Wanganui Education Board. At that time he was the oungest man who had been appointed to the inspectorate. His experience was broadened while lie was at the Wanganui High School by the fact that l.e was also in charge of the science and commercial department of the Technical Scl 001. In 1915 Air Strong was appointed senior in charge of the Wanganui Education District, and in 1920, when the new position of Chief Inspector of Primary Schools for New Zealand was created he was selected to fill it. Last October Air Strong was appointed Assistant Director of Education. As inspector and organiser in the Wanganui district he was the first to introduce the Montessori system of instruction, and was instrumental in having education officers sent abroad for exiieriencc in that phase of teaching work. t He was also responsible for the organising teacher system. Mr Strong was associated with the initiation and development of vocational training in agriculture. Since he entered the departments service he has introduced and organised the system of instruction by correspondence, and other reforms with which Air Strong has been directly concerned are the organisation of the system of exchange of teachers. The introduction and organisation of the system of special classes for sub-normal children, the introduction of the system of a supplementary model school for the training of country teachers, the organisation of the present method of dealing with teachers’ appeals against classification or grading, and the introduction of more modern methods of inspection and examination in primary schools. He also set on foot the Education Gazette.