SCHOOL JUBILEE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 91, 17 April 1929, Page 6

SCHOOL JUBILEE

QUEEN’S PARK RECORD A LINK WITH THE PAST Queen’s Park School celebrates its jubilee this year, and, looking back, there is traced down the long period since its inception a fine record in scholastic attainment, in sport and in laying the foundations of citizenship. It is something of importance for a school to claim a fifty-year record and this fact was not lost sight of at tho annual meeting of householders on Monday. Tho chairman (Air W, Bruce) said that the occasion should not pass without some effort being made to commemorate tho reaching of the jubilee year. Others present concurred, and the matter is to bo discussed by the newly elected Northern Schools’ Committee, ’and something in tho nature of an old pupils’ and teachers’ reunion is likely to eventuate before 1929 closes.

Queen’s Park School is closely linked. with the early days of Wanganui. Originally it was known, as tne Girls’ High School, and Aliss Blythe was the first headmistress. She camo originally from one of tho girls’ colleges in Australia specially to take charge of Queen’s Park, a position which she held for 26 years after commencing duty in 1879. Associated with her at the time the school was established, were the lato Aliss McNeil, tho Alisscs Hoey, Aliss West and Aliss Sim, a sister of the late Air Justice Sim. Aliss Blythe’s record lives to-day as a lino example of the worth of the teachers of earlier times, and, scattered to the four corners of the Dominion, are pupils who passed through Queen’s Park during her term in charge. They are women of the world to-day and realise, in full measure, the value of the grounding they received at the school which is fifty years of age this year.

Aliss Blythe resigned her position and the lato Air 11. Af. Payne was appointed to the vacancy. Simultaneously with the change in control the scope of the school was broadened and both boys and girls were admitted as pupils, a similar widening of scope taking place at the Victoria A,venue Boys’ School which enrolled girls as well as boys as from that time. Aliss Blythe removed later to Wellington and passed away there some months ago at the ripe old age of 94. Right up until the last she retained fond memories of Wanganui and just before her death had messages conveyed to friends here showing her interest in tho welfare of many of the pupils who had passed under her care.

Air Payne held office for twelve years, during which time the school carried on the record begun by Aliss Blythe and, at Air Payne’s death, the institution ranked high in the lists of primary schools of the Dominion. In more recent times staff changes at Queen’s Park became more numerous this being largely brought out by the grading of schools which makes it encumbent upon the teacher to keep pace with the grading lists or forego promotion. Air P. G. Jackson succeeded Air Payne, and in turn he was succeeded by Air C. H. Warden. Air Jackson is at present headmaster of Victoria Avenue and Air Warden holds a similar position at Wanganui East. Air R. Irwin, now on the retired list, but removing temporarily, came after Air Warden and quite recently the present headmaster (Mr C. H. AfcLean) took up the post. He is now under transfer to Dannevirke. It is worthy of note that, for a period of 38 years of tho 50 it has been in existence the school had two changes in head teachers and that for the remaining 12 years there have been four changes all within a few years of each other.