THE LATE MR T. S. FOSTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12418, 9 September 1918, Page 6

THE LATE MR T. S. FOSTER.

A LEADING TEACHER. LOSS TO EDUCATION. Deep regret was expressed throughout Christchurch when tho death was announced of Mr Thomas Scholficld Foster, for many years closely associated with tho scholastic institutions of the city, and who enjoyed wide popularity throughout' tho province, his work as a school inspector having brought him into close touch with all parts of Canterbury. It was only at Friday’s meeting of tho Canterbury Education Board that his resignation of the position of principal of the Nor-

mal Training College was received, to take effect as from January 1 next, the reason assigned for retirement being ill-health. Tho chairman of the Board, Mr W. A. Banks, in moving that the resignation should be accepted with the keenest regret, said that the College was to lose the services of one who had achieved much success while in tho position of principal. Ho eulogised tho splendid work which Mr Foster had done as a teacher during his long and active career. Other members -of tho board spoke in a similar strain, and it was decided to draw up a minute expressing appreciation of Mr Foster’s services. . The late Mr Foster was a native of London, and when still a child landed 'in tho Dominion with bis parents aboard the ship Philip Laiug, which reached Wellington on December 31, 185u. The family came on to Lyttelton and settled in Canterbury. Tho late Mr Foster spent his early school days at the Rangiota Church school, where he showed marked ability as a scholar. This was evidenced by the fact that he won the Somes scholarship, which necessitated hU removal to Christchurch to attend Christ’s College, whore he spent six years under the headraastership of tho late Archdeacon Hams, Immediately after leaving school he was appointed to the mastership of the Church school at Addington, and in 1874, when that with other schools was taken over by the West Christchurch School Committee, Mr Foster was appointed to the position ol assistant muster ot the nauu school. In May, 1681, he joined -the staff of the Boys’ High School, but a year later returned to the West-Christ-church School in the capacity of headmaster, and during the years that’followed till his appointment to an inspectorship under the North Canterbury Board of Education, that, school hold a foremost place among the schools of the city. In 1881 Mr Foster obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree at Canterbury College, and in the following year tho Master’s degree with firstclass honours in languages and literature. In the educational activities of the province ho had for many years taken a foremost part, and there were few if any positions in the gift of his follow' educationalists Which he did not hold during hu long and varied career. On leaving the West Christchurch School Mr Foster became an inspector under the North Canterbury Education Board, and eventually, on the death of Mr Watkins, ho was appointed principal; of the Normal Training College. Ho was long a member of the Now Zealand Educational Institute, having served for many years as a member of the executive, and occupied the position of president in 1898. For a period ho also held the position of president of the North Canterbury Educational Institute, tlu> Canterbury Dialectic Society,: and of the University Court of Convocation. He was a member of the Board of Governors of, Canterbury College, chairman of the Canterbury Graduates’ Association, and a Fellow or member of the governing body of Christ’s College. In the Masonic Ordoi hr, belonged to tho Lodge St Albans, and was a Past Warden of tho Grand Lodge of Canterbury. Mr Foster was a patron of the Albion Football Club for many years. The late Mr Foster married in 1882 a.daughter of the late Mr W. Guise Brittan, who predeceased’ him twentyone years ago. Mr Foster is survived by a son and two daughters. The funeral will leave, the deceased’s late residence. 19, Cashel Street, tomorrow' morning, at 10.45, for St Michael’s Church, thence to the Papa-, nui Cemetery.

AN APPRECIATION. SCHOOLDAY MEMORIES. (By AN OLD BOY.) - The passing of Mi- T. S. Foster, removes from the educational circles of Canterbury in particular, and New Zealand in general, a personality which will live long in the memory of thousands of the citizens of the Dominion, who are in many spheres moulding the destinies of this country. It was, perhaps, as head master of the Most Christchurch that Mr Foster did bis greatest work, and during a portion of the time of his control there that school was the principal in the North Canterbury educational district. As head master he had a wonderful control of the pupils, and a masterly ability in regard to his staffs. He was a disciplinarian, perhaps of the martinet type, but the boy to whom he was meting out due punishment for an offending ever had the satisfaction of knowing that ho was 'getting what he justly deserved. “Tony,” as he was ever known to tho pupils, was a shrewd judge of tho artifices to which the genus schoolboy would resort to cover up a wrongdoing," and he could quickly discern when a genuine case was being made out.. “There was no question about it.” remarked a school chum to the writer, when they heard of the death of their old-time dominie, “if he gave you a thrashing he gave you a. real sporting one.” “ I attended the 1 West,’ as it is termed, in tho late eighties and early nineties, and many years afterwards I recollect meeting Mr Foster in another part of the Dominion- I introduced myself, and quickly he recollected incidents of over two decades previously, and said that he always took a keen interest in the doings of the boys who had passed through his hands. “ Wherever I go in New Zealand,” he said, “ I run across an old boy from the West Christchurch School. They stick me up in all sorts of out-of-way places, and the pleasure they have in a talk about the old school 1 really appreciate.” Which is strong evidence of the esteem those men had for their schoolmaster, a respect which was the greatest testimonial possible to his knowledge of his calling in life. Recently n well known business man

in this town, met Mr Foster, and after rtho preliminary greeting the hood master said; "Do you remember, Mr ~~—, that day I laid you across my desk and B throw an inkbottle at. my hcadr ’ They were serious monionwj at the time of happening, but m the much later day tlio victim of iho chastisement and his “ tormentor’’ thoroughly enjoyed the recital of the incident.

In ihoso days many of the scholars were as big as Air Foster and just as weighty, hut no matter what pranks wero being played _ in tho classrooms, ns soon as “ Tony ’ cnino in through 'the door the proverbial mouse could not have been d.iiotor. He had a. way with him, inside and outside of the school, of never seeing things, hut there was little that lie missed. His power lay in the fact that he knew 'the schoolboy .better than the schoolboy knew himself. Towards parents with grievances he was firmness itself; to the schoolboy in trouble he gavo a sympathetic hearing, and the lad leaves to go out into other fields was tendered the best of advice.

many stories can he told about tho happenings in a hip school, but there arc several that aptlv show Air Fosters shrewdness. There was one lad who had passed all his examinations, and was gently drifting along m the partial Seventh Standard. Ho was acting, ns ho is now fond of rcln.inig, on the advice of an elderly neighbour.- who had told him to stick to school as long as be could, “for," said the old toiler, “ the school tin vs are the happiest of your life.” Ho decided there must, he something in the advice and he tried -to stick. Jn those times, as is the case now also, business people wanting smart lads sent a notice to the head masters. Afr Foster got such an application from the post and telegraph office, and sent for the lad. A good onnrirj- and a good chance, he said, hut the hoy declined it, .saying that his'father wanted him to stav at school -a Utile longer. Shortly afterwards a prominent solicitor, advised that he wanted an office hoy. Again tho lad was sent for, and tho prospect put in front of him. No. ho said, his father wanted him to stop at school. „ ln p I-will.see your, father,” said Mr Foster. The hov saw the end of tlie buys of school idleness and nnswered that he would see his father himselt. Aly old man never heard about the matter from me,” states tho principal actor in the little drama, “for tho next day Itook the job.” Mr roster s astuteness captured the cita-

JKto* * ll \ Foster was keen upon tho athletic side of a schoolboy’s life, especially the gymnasium and swimmmg. _ In regard to tho latter sport nis quickness of action in the baths saved at various times several boys T . got into difficulties. One year, dmmg a Royal Humane. Society’s competition, there was a noted swimmer v/liowas very anxious to win the medal tie had easily annexed the first two sections, diving to the end of, the bath, and rescuing the “ dummy ” which had been sunk in position. For the third section the competitors were enclosed in a bathing house, and then success depended upon tho quickness with which they discovered the “dummy,” which had been sunk in an unknown spottho swimmer arranged with a pal to indicate by his presence immediately on Ins emergence from the bathouse where the dummy was located. The trick, worked all right, and the recovery, of the submerged wooden man was prompt. But Mr Foster was not satis-fied-—the trick was too neat, apparently. , the/ competitors in a shed, blindfolded them, and then led them to a starting point. Heads bent down, and eyes in the direction of the water, so that no-one could get the tip, the bandages were removed, and in they plunged. The finding of tho “ dummy ” that time Tras a **fair go. 55 y , “Playing the wag” was a. prevalent practice of tliose days, and Mr Foster had some ticklish problems to solve. One offending lad had a dugorit among the gorso in a paddock on the South Belt, and there he secreted himself during school hours. At last an aunt found him out, but the lad cajoled bis mother to give him a note excusing his absence, which he wrote himself.. It ran:—"Dear Mr Foster, —Please excuse Walter for being absent froin school ” That did not suit Mr Foster, who wanted days and dates, and sent ithe note back for these particulars to be filled in. Walter attended to this, and wheedled a further signature from his mother, but lie confesses now that the moments' between the tendering of the note and its acceptance were anxious ones. West Christchurch School has two ontrnnoes, from Lincoln Road and Stewart Street, and at these points, after play ; and dinner hours,; Mr! Foster .would wait at times for the- arrival of late comers. One day a number of the boys < of the Sixth, who had the “soft side” of the men in a big grain store, which, they used as a playground for all manner of games, had ,in the excitement of the “fox and hounds ” over the mountains of grain sacks and wool hales, lost count of time, and when they had declared the winners, and thought, it about time to return to ■school, found that they were half an hour late.- A scout was sent out and ho reported all clear,'but immediately the band commenced to scuttle through the big gate.Air Foster appeared from nowhere, to all seeming, and the “ hiding” was taken there and then. Numerous are tho stories that .could he told about the days of Mr T. S. Foster’s regime at the West Christchurch School, and the news of his death will refresh these memories to countless old boys, scattered far and wide in these days, memories which will he tinged now with a, sincere and deep regret at the passing of the Old Head Master.