Description:Watched by pupils and members of staff, Miss E M Harvey (centre) is presented with the children’s gift, one of many she received, to mark her retirement after 30 years as Headmistress of Tenterbanks County Primary School, by Mr A Packman, Chairman of the School Managers. Please contact us if you recognise anyone else in the photograph.
A double strand of pearls was the gift made to Miss Harvey by her pupils, Mr Packman also handed her a chair and a cheque from members of her staff, a set of jugs from the Canteen staff, and various presents from friends and pupils. She also received a bouquet of red roses from a pupil, Barbara Pellington, and a box of chocolates from Michael Dale, both on behalf of the staff and pupils.
A tribute to Miss Harvey’s service over many years to Stafford school children was paid by Mr Packman and also by Mr C T Botham, a former member of staff. Miss Harvey responded saying that during her career there had been many changes in the field of education and today teachers were guided by the three “A’s”, age, aptitude and ability, whereas when she started it was the three “R’s” that were the guiding principle. She added teachers still believed in them but today they looked further to an all-round education of the child. She always maintained that the fourth “R” religion was the first necessity, for, without it, no character training was possible.
Miss Harvey’s successor was Mr T W Blake, from Forebridge School, of which he was Headmaster for some 17 years.
This photograph was published in the Staffordshire Newsletter on Saturday 10 May 1952. Reproduced by kind permission of the Staffordshire Newsletter who retain copyright.