Waiwhare School 1969 Bill Taylor’s Final Report

Description

Bill Taylor’s final report

I have recently forwarded my resignation from the position of Head teacher at Waiwhare School to the Education Board and to the (Chair)man of the School Committee. By the time I leave I will have served some four and a half years in this position, somewhat longer than has been usual.

I need not mention how much my family and myself will regret leaving Waiwhare and how much my wife and I imagine we are going to feel somewhat ‘homesick’ for a while.

Waiwhare School has much to commend it as far as teaching is concerned. The school is well equipped and successive committees have made it their business to maintain the facilities provided and to extend on these. The committee willingly assists in many ways. The children attending school are pleasant and well mannered. I hope I leave the school in as good order as I found it. Without being unduly modest I feel I do. During my time here the children have been catered for according to their varying abilities and according to the requirements of the many areas of the present curriculum. However, any curriculum provides only the bones of activity and there have been many ways in which the pupils have had their interests and their knowledge extended.

The position of a teacher in a largely isolated community such as this is not always easy. Those who accept such positions immediately place themselves largely outside the sphere of their colleagues. As it is up to the incumbent to understand and know the community he or she serves so it is up to the parents of the district to understand and to appreciate where possible the extent of the teacher’s role. Where there is mutual understanding between home and school the children cannot help but benefit. The prime purpose of modern education is above the dissemination of mere information; rather it is vitally concerned with people and their well being. The world in which we live is not static; education is not static. If we lived in an unchanging society we would still be burning witches. If there is any thought I would like to leave with you it is this.

I have enjoyed my time here and feel I have contributed to the best of my ability. I trust my successor will feel the same when the time comes for him to leave.

Finally, my sincere thanks to all those in the district who have served on the school committee while I have been here and also to the many parents who have contributed in very many ways towards the benefit of the school and the children of this community.

WR Taylor
December 1969