“THE OLD ORDER CHANGETH”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18163, 27 April 1921, Page 10

“THE OLD ORDER CHANGETH”

SCHOOLS COMMITTEE'S FAREWELL. A RETROSPECT. On Monday night the schools’, committee came to the end of its career. In the course of the report for the past year presented to the householders. Mr. V’in. Bruce said:-To-night Is a memorable night to those members of the Wanganui Schools’ Committee who, in season and out of season, for something like four or five decades, have borne the responsibility of guiding the destinies of the schools of the town. As the oldest member of that committee, may I, speaking for the past and present members, not merely for myself, express a few thoughts that have passed through my mind during the last day or x two. To-night we may appropriately say “The old order changeth, giving place to new.” And as we realise that—and confess that we can see no reason why the ways should be parted—our thoughts go back over the years. Before the mental eyes there passes a long procession of the men—-and women, too —who have sat at the committee table. Included in that procession are some of the ablest men the district has owned, one and all filled with a desire to make the school days of the children and the lives of the teachers as happy and successful as possible. To-day the majority of that procession are scattered over the Dominion. Many are still in our own town. They have done their

"bit” in the cause of education, and they now watch with a friendly eye the efforts of their successors. And there is that company who have passed to “where, beyond these voices, there is peace.” We bow our heads in memory of them. And while the procession of old committees passes on, there falls in another company —the teachers, who have served under the committee. Some of them gave their lives to the cause of education in the town. Outstanding among them is the shade of the dear old lady from whom a great host of Wanganui boys and girls, now aging men and women, received their first impression of school life. Other head-mistresses with long and valuable services also pass by, and then we see our old friend who guided the destinies of the Avenue School for the great space of twenty-nine years. We are glad to see him with us to-night, and we hope he will long be spared. Behind the teachers comes a notable band of men who have filled the role of inspectors, and then, bringing up the rear, comes the deathless army. The honours boards in the various schools record the names of those who now pass before our eyes. They march at the rear of the column to-night, for, when everything else has passed through our minds, the sacrifice of .hose who have been boys in our schools remains the biggest and most enduring remembrance. What those honour boards, and the soundless march Of the heroes, mean to the parents we do not need to emphasise. This is Anzac Day, and it is fitting that we should rise and bow our heads to the memory of the brave lads who gave their lives in defence of our homes and our liberty. And to-night is the end of the old committee’s association with a glorious past. To-morrow a new committee -will reign in our stead. We wish them well, and we trust that the cause of education in Wanganui will continue to advance and prosper exceedingly.