INFLUENCE OF TEACHER

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1935, Page 7

INFLUENCE OF TEACHER

MISS ANDREWS RETIRES 23 YEARS’ SERVICE AT FITZROY. RESIDENTS’ FAREWELL TRIBUTE. Popular infant mistress at the Fitzroy School, New Plymouth, for 23 years, Miss Elsie Andrews, who retired yesterday on superannuation, was the subject of many expressions of admiration and affection last night in Knox Hall, where a large number of ratepayers interested in the school gathered to bid her farewell. Mr. G. A. Lyall, former headmaster and present chairman of the committee, presided and those present included the deputyMayor (Mr. P. E. Stainton), Messrs. J. A. Valentine and W. H. Insull (chairman and secretary of the Taranaki Education Board), Mr. R. E. Thomas (headmaster of the Fitzroy School), Miss D. N. Allan (principal of the New Plymouth Girls’ High School), Mesdames W. H. Insull and G. A. Lyall. On her arrival Miss Andrews was presented, with bouquets by Mrs. Lyall on behalf of the school committee. Apologies for absence were received from the Mayor, Mr. E. R. C. Gilmour, Messrs. Parkin, Guy Matthews, V. George and Burr (former chairmen of the school committee), Milne and H. Cave, and Miss K. Day (formerly a member of the school staff). Congratulatory messages were read from Misses J. Park and Lee (Wellington), Mesdames Day (Hamilton), Green (Wellington), R. Brewster (Pembroke), from Mrs. Buzz (Fitzroy) and from women teachers’ institute branches at Waimea, South Canterbury, Manawatu, Wanganui and Marlborough. From humble beginnings Miss Andrews had forged ahead to the topmost rungs of the educational ladder, said Mr. Stainton. She had devoted herself through a long period of years to moulding the life and character of the young and she had discharged her obligations faithfully and well, enriching the experience of those under her. On behalf of the citizens of New Plymouth, Mr. Stainton wished her happiness and health. Mr. Valentine said that as a school inspector he had .often visited Miss Andrews’ classes and there he always saw educational principles properly applied. Miss Andrews Lad the right grip of education and saw in a child more than the ability to say that twice three were six. The Taranaki board was grateful to her and Mr. Valentine Wished for the younger teachers that her mantle would fall on them and that they would profit by the example she had set. Quietly thoughtful, weighing issues carefully and not accepting blindly what people said, Miss Andrews had been of great assistance to him. He had not had anything to do with infant work' until he was about 40 years old when he was sent to improve conditions in Taranaki. On account of the advice and help of teachers like Miss Andrews it had been possible to raise infant teaching in the province to a very fair standard. With a smile, Mr. Insull said Miss Andrews had been appointed to the staff of the Fitzroy school on April Fool’s Day in 1912. Many thousands of children had passed through her hands but of the tributes paid to her the sweetest was that expressed on Wednesday by Jean Scott, a senior girl at Fitzroy school. He wished he, too, could voice his regret at Miss Andrews’ departure in as charming a manner. “GUIDE, PHILOSOPHER, FRIEND.” For teachers, particularly for the young teachers when they were probationers, Miss Andrews had been “guide, philosopher and friend.” Mr. Insull quoted some of the tributes which had been paid to her strong character, her gift for teaching and her power of organisation. He desired to associate himself and the staff of the board offices with the recorded, appreciation of the board for her efficient service. Mr. Thomas congratulated Miss Andrews that she had reached retiring age after a long period of excellent work. Nevertheless the staff at Fitzroy regretted her departure and the feeling of the children was expressed in their touching farewell. He himself was sorry that Miss Andrews was going so soon after his own arrival. In common with other headmasters and with parents he had always known there was nothing to worry about in the infant department when she was in charge. He expressed admiration of her ability in controlling and holding the interest of large classes, “those bugbears of to-day.”

Mr. Lyall said he was afraid to voice what he thought lest it should sound insincere or flattering. Fitzroy was the richer for the 23 years Miss Andrews had spent there. His observations of teachers could be summed up, said Mr. Lyall, in one sentence: “It does not matter so much what a teacher knows as what a teacher is.” The unconscious influence a teacher wielded over pupils was a thing not in the syllabus, but it could be felt. It was felt in Miss Andrews' classes.

Her main consideration was “What is the ultimate child to be?” She knew she could put nothing into it but with her skill she could develop what was already' there. Frequently, Mr. Lyall said, he had watdhed Miss Andrews’ pupils at work and they, had taught him much. About 15 years ago a change came over infant teaching and his first reaction had been the thought, "What a din! Noise, noise, noise, all day.” Soon, he found method in the noise—it was wholesome and healthy. Instead of cramped stillness and there was among the children a new “busy-ness.” Miss Andrews had a faculty for helping the lame dog and her best efforts were devoted to the child least endowed with intelligence.. She had wonderful powers of concentration, thoroughness and determined effort. In her classes the spirit of help-the-other-fellow developed quickly. She was unselfish in giving up her l.jhdays to children and parents by attending teachers’ institute conferences every May. On behalf of the residents of Fitzroy Mr. Lyall presented Miss Andrews with golf clubs and bag and with an eiderdown. HONEYED MEMORIES. Miss Andrews said her central thought that evening was a sentence spoken by Sir James Carroll, the great Maori orator: “My path is like a hive to which a thousand honeyed memories are homing.” Children had flitted in and out of her life and left a trail of happy memories. Parents would be surprised, continued Miss Andrews, if they knew how much, through their children, she had entered into their lives. She had been to their weddings; she had gone away with them on holiday trips all ever New Zealand; she had a fair idea of how old they were; she had shared their sorrows and known when grandmother was ill or father in the hospital. Hearing so much from the lips of the children had made her feel part of Fitzroy. Since her arrival at Fitzroy 23 years ago 3148 children had been admitted to the school. To think that a small fraction of herself had gone into so many gave her a feeling c; awe. Speaking from her own experience, she gave to parents two pieces of advice: “Do your level best to keep your children’s confidence because once lost it can never be regained,” she said. “Teachers spend months and years trying to win that confidence. You parents, especially mothers, have it: keep it.” Sec-

ondly Miss Andrews urged parents to encourage children in usefulness. Naturally active, children wanted to feel useful and even at the sacrifice of a few broken cups that desire should never be destroyed. \ Miss Andrews thanked pupils of the Girls’ High School for a pleasant concert they staged earlier in the evening; she envied them their training in music. She thanked, too, the school committee for continued courtesy and consideration to herself and all the staff; her fellow teachers for lightening her labours by friendship and co-operation; the parents for many acts of kindness and messages of appreciation; and the children for being a perpetual joy. Those who gave 'items at the high school entertainment were: Emily Chapman, song; Edna Marsden, recitations; the choir, songs; Rachel Mawhinney and Emily Chapman, vocal duet; Lesley Wood, dance;- Agnes Aburn, pianoforte Solo; Rachel Mawhinney, song; D. Humphries, S. Curtis, B. Bamham, B. Gruszning, M. Steven, N. Logan, P. Donnelly, P. Davidson, Cornish mumming play. Miss N. Langley, ...R.C.M., played accompaniments, and Miss E. M. Duff was stage manager for the play. Mr. Lyall moved a vote of thanks to the girls for their performance, and it was carried by acclamation.