POPULAR TEACHER TO LEAVE

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1932, Page 7

POPULAR TEACHER TO LEAVE

TRIBUTES TO MR. A. D. N. TRAIN-

ABILITY AS SPORTS ORGANISER.

The early departure of Mr. A. D. N. Train for Devenport after being nine years first assistant at the West End School was the subject of special mention at the end-of-the-year ceremony in the gymnasium last night. There was a large attendance of parents and pupils.

The headmaster. (Mr. J. Shimmin) said that upon his arrival at the school he was gratified to find Mr. Train in charge: of the school sports and allied activities, and he had been satisfied to leave him in control of those departments. The records achieved .by the school in sport had been -mostly due to the coaching and supervision of Mr. Train, who had devoted a great deal of time to those activities. The school acknowledged its indebtedness to him for what he .'had done both on the sporting and scholastic sides. On behalf of the staff and pupils of the sixth standard, the chairman of the school committee (Mr. W. H. Jones) presented Mr. Train with a metal-top card table. Mr. Jones said he was pleased to associate himself and members of the school committee, representing the house-. holders, with Mr. Shimmin in his remarks concerning Mr. Train’s abilities. Most of those present had known Mr. Train since he had been associated with the school and all would be very sorry to lose his services. He was specially qualified to conduct the sports activities of a school. At the meeting of the- Taranaki Education Board that day the senior inspector had paid a high tribute to Mr. Train for his capabilities as a school sports organiser. .

Mr. Jones handed to Mr. Train a resolution by the school committee, acknowledging that-the consistent success of the school during the past nine years in swimming and other sports was due to the organising ability of the first assistant, and recording his valued work both inside and outside the school. He and Mrs. Train had the best wishes of the committee for their future. Mr. Jones’ opinion that parents and pupils would readily endorse the sentiments of the resolution was unmistakably confirmed by the applause and by-the cheers given by the boys and girls. Mr. Train said that ■ while, he had looked forward to his move to Auckland he was beginning to feel pangs of regret at having to leave the school in whose interests he had become increasingly wrapped up during the past nmfe : years. .He had sometimes felt he was not flattered when reminded of his interest in sport-,, ing activities, he said, because he once heard a man say that “sport” was a pohte name for “mug.”. But he was., satisfied that school sport was a material influence in character-building. • ! ’ At gatherings attended by the; pupils of West End and other schools he always felt proud that fie was associated with West End because it had a good reputation not only in sport but also tor the general bearing of its boys and girls. Looking around, he was aware of many old pupils who passed through the school in his day who were now doing weU and were a credit to themselves and the school. He thought their interest in sport while at school had had something to do with their success in after life. In this connection he commended the fact that the conditions for the Berg Clip stipulated that a candidate must not only do well in the proficiency examination but must also be a member of a senior team and a leading-player. Endorsing Mr. Train’s remarks concerning the influence of sport on characterbuilding Mr. Shimmin mentioned that at the Auckland Grammar School all the boys in the sixth form who had done best scholastically were those who had also taken a keen interest in sport.