A POPULAR TEACHER.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1919, Page 5

A POPULAR TEACHER.

MRS. DOWLING FAREWELLED. < Kawaroa Park was crowded last night* when the parents und ex-pupils as« sembled to honor Mrs. Dowling, on her retirement on superannuation from the position of headmistress of West End School, a position which she has occupied with distinction for the past nineteen years. Mr. \V. W. Thomson (chair* man of the school committee) presided. Mr. 11. Trimble (member of the Board of Education) referred to the record achieved by the West End School under the control of Mrs. Dowling, who wai held in very high esteem by the board. Mrs. Dowling had held a unique position; having charge of the largest school ever, controlled by a lady in New Zealand. As a member of the Education Board. Mr. S. G. Smith, M..P., said Mrs. Dowlinj had rendered to the children and parent* of the district and the Dominion generally a life of service, and she was leaving the teaching profession with a record of which any teacher might well be proud. Mrs. Dowling's name appeared, highest on the list of graded lady teach* era throughout the Dominion—a record, indeed. Her work as a teacher had been indelibly stamped on the many hundred! of pupils who had passed through tht school, and no doubt many of the old boys of the school who had taken theii part in the great war remembered witt gratitude Mrs. Dowling's work as their teacher.

The Mayor referred to the great work Mrs. Dowling had done, and felt aura that all pupils and ex-pupils would remember the guidance they had received at her hands. He considered a teacher was the most important member of thecommunity, owing to his or her influence over the children.

Mr. A. J. Morton (senior inspector) said that the fact that Mrs, Dowling was first aong the ladies on the Domsqnm grading list, which ,was compiled partly ffam inspectors' reports, indicated the opinion the inspectors held of Mrs. Dowling's ability, and he was pleated to «ee from the honor paid her on her retire-i raent that parents, ex-pupils and pupils all held that high opinion. Mrs. Dowling held a unique position in being headmistress of such a large school, as ladies were ignored when making such appointments. People who deprecated the organising power of ladies had their answer in Mrs. bowling's success.

Mr. H. Dempsey (assistant inspector) said a school largely depended upon its head teacher. He touched on the healthyrivalry that had existed between the two schools.

Miss Barr, principal of the New Plymouth Girls' High School, recognised the good work that had been done by Mrs. Dowling, as it was reflected in the girls who came to the High School from the West End.

Mr. H. A. Stratford (Central) said it was easier for a teacher to create enmity and excite criticism than friendship. Mrs. Dowling, therefore, had cause to feel gratified in having retained the goodwill of all. Mrs. G. E. Jilanchard, on behalf of the mothers, wished Mrs, Dowling a long and happy rest.

Mrs. Ward also spoke briefly of the splendid work Mrs. Dowling had done, and- remarked that every mother wouh' be sorry Mrs. Dowling. was leaving. Mr. W. A. Collis* who was chairman of the West End School Committee when Mrs. Dowling was appointed to the. charge" of West End, which had .been a sideschool, having previously been a school for infants, also paid a trMulo to her work, as did Mr. Howarth, an ex-teacher, of West End School. The 'totter .expressed the appreciation of the teachers who had been fortunate enough to work under Mrs. Dowling.

The chairman referred in eulogistic terms to Mrs. Dowling's career, and in expressing the hope that she would long enjoy her well-earued retirement, asked, on behalf of the committee, her acceptance of a lady's dressing ease and travelling case. (Applause.) On behalf of the ex-pupils, Miss May Smart handed Mrs. Bowling a handsome bouquet, and Miss Reva Thomson, in a few appropriate words, presented, her with a magnificent set of furs. The presentations were applauded by the audience.

Mrs. Dowling (who appeared much r.ffected), in replying, said she had much to be thankful for. She had started Ufa in a good home, with good parents, and had attended school under a good schoolmaster, and she often looked bade to her school days with pleasure. When quite young she had gone in for an examination, and had come out top for the province. In those days girls were not given scholarships, and while the boy who came top wan sent to Nelson College for two years, she received a book. Before she was fourteen she was appointed a pupit' teacher, and to the headmaster of that school she owed a good deal of her success in life, and she thought if that teacher could now look back and see how successful some of the teachers he bad trained had been, he would leel he was well repaid. Pupils, she said, could never fully repay their teachers or their parents, but they could repay them to a great extent by passing ou the knowledge they had gained, and making men and women a little better thereby. This she wanted them always to remember. Not only did this apply" to teachers, but also to those with anyone working under them. They should not be jealous of those who did better tlmn they did. Look at Professor Rutherford. Did'they think the schoolmaster who had taught him was jealous of his success? No, he was pleased to think that ho had had something to do with making one of the best educated men in the world. She pointed out that the day was divided into three parts—eight hours being for -work, and eight hours for sleep. But, what about the other eight hours? Say they took three hours out for meals; what about the other five hours? They must not look on education as turning out purely wage earners, from a utilitarian point of view, but they should educate the pcoplo to use every leisure hour in the right way by helping others, tight hours were to earn a living for themselves and families, eight hours were for sleep to restore waste energy, and if the other eight hours were not used to tho boat advantage then the education system was not what it ought to be. That was why sha felt sorry when parents said they only wanted their children taught read-i ing, writing and arithmetic, as that was all they themselves were taught. This however, was not everything. She wanted tc teach them t/> use every leisure hour in tho right way, and then they would become good citizens. Tn conclusion, she thanked them all for their kind gifts, and was pleased sheVssessed their goodwill. She had had a splendid* staff, whom she thanked for their assistance, and she remarked that her successor would find he had a good stnti to work with, and she hoped thej. would extend the same sympathy to him as they had to her. She concluded by sav■■ Wg that she would visit the sehoolWw :"£^i preßentattl,eo A dura,g m gvS am?le W * B *"**'