LADY PRINCIPAL RESIGNS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20894, 25 November 1937, Page 6

LADY PRINCIPAL RESIGNS

TRIBUTES TO MISS J. R. BARR

LOSS TO GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL

One of the best known figures in secondary education in the Dominion, Miss J. R. Barr, M.A., principal of the Timaru Girls’ High School for the last 14 years, has tendered her resignation to the Board of Governors. The resignation, which is to take effect at the commencement of the second term next year, was accepted with regret by the Board at last night’s meeting, when tributes were paid to Miss Barr’s outstanding services. Miss Barr’s letter was as follows: “It is with regret that I tender my resignation from the Board’s service to take effect at the commencement of the second term in 1938. I should like to take this opportunity of thanking the members of the Board for their assistance during the 14 years I have been in Timaru for the interest they have always taken in the welfare of the girls and for the consideration they have shown me personally—particularly In granting me sick leave on two occasions. I should not otherwise have been able to retire from the teaching service in the good health I now enjoy.” In moving that Miss Barr’s resignation be accepted with regret and that her fine services to the School be placed on record, the chairman (Mr H. H. Fraser) said that as one prominent educationist had described her, Miss Barr was the lady teacher of the Dominion, and the profession was losing a great asset. Miss Barr would indeed be hard to replace at the School, as the Board and the School were losing an outstanding teacher and a friend.

Mr Fraser i-ecalled that he was a new member of the Board when Miss Barr was appointed, and he had remarked at the time that it would not be long before it would be necessary for the Board to increase the School buildings. Since then six classrooms and a home science department had been added while the hostel accommodation had been considerably increased. Miss Barr had played a vital part in the progress of the School and her loss would be keenly felt. Widely Known and Respected Dr. L. S. Talbot, who seconded the motion, paid a tribute to Miss Barr’s modesty. She had become an institution of Timaru and was undoubtedly one of the finest secondary school teachers in the Dominion, her name being widely known and ’ respected. Miss Barr had raised the School to a very high place amongst the secondary schools of New Zealand. Apart from the high position it held academically, the School now had the benefit of beautiful grounds, and that happy position had been largely due to her very keen interest throughout the years.

There would be general regret in South Canterbury at Miss Barr’s resignation, said Mr W. Scott. Mr J. W. Preen praised Miss Barr’s work as a teacher, and sail that the fact that many of her past pupils were taking an interest in education was a reflection of the splendid example that had been set them. He had heard nothing but praise of Miss Barr during her association with the School. It was a matter of great regret that both Schools should lose their principals within such a short time, said Mr W. G. Tweedy in recalling the retirement of Mr W. Thomas. Both schools held an outstanding place in the educational life of the Dominion, and Miss Barr had contributed in no small measure to the success of the Giris’ School. It must be gratifying to Miss Barr to know of the esteem in which she was held by ex-pupils, said Mr Tweedy. It was a tribute to her fine qualities. The retiring principal had played an important part in the life of the community, and it was impossible for him to estimate the extent of her influence in the lives of the girls of the town and in their development as citizens. The resignation was accepted with regret. Before her appointment at Timaru, which was made on October 4, 1923, Miss Barr was principal of the lona Girls’ College, Havelock North. Earlier in her career she was junior assistant at the Southland Girls’ High School, senior mistress at the Dannevirke and Gisborne Girls’ High Schools, and headmistress of the New Plymouth Giris’ High School.