DEATH OF FORMER SCHOOL INSPECTOR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 6, 8 January 1946, Page 4

DEATH OF FORMER SCHOOL INSPECTOR

MR. B. N. T. BLAKE, WANGANUI

DID A GREAT DEAL FOR EDUCATION

Mr. B. N. T. Blake, former senior inspector of schools in the Wanganui Education Board’s distr.ct, died yesterday morning. He was in his 63rd year. Mr. Blake retired only last September from the profession, after more than 40 years' service.

Born in England, Mr. Blake came to Australia, where he began his teaching career. Later he came to New Zealand, residing in Wellington. He graduated from Victoria University College, gaining his M.A. degree with first-class honours. He taught in schools under the Wellington and Auckland Education Boards, with dist.nct success. In 1927, when headmaster of the Normal School, Wellington, Mr. Blake was appointed staff inspector of schools in the Auckland district, a position he held until his appointment to Wanganui, as senior inspector of schools, in March, 1941. While in Wanganui he was actively associated with the Wanganui Board's sub-committee on Character Training and Child Delinquency, acting as deputy chairmaq. He was also chairman of the Ministerial Committee set up by the Minister for Education, Mr. Mason, to enquire into the teachers' grading system. Mr. Blake did a >ast amount of research with a view to assisting the committee in its deliberations. He was a past president of the New Zealand Educational Institute.

Mr. Blake was the possessor of a genial personality and was highlyesteemed by members of the teaching profession throughout the district. He is survived by his wife and three daughters. The daughters are Mesdames Phillips (New Plymouth), G. Blake (Hastings) and R. Anderson (Wanganui).