HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1977-06-15, Page 12PAGE TWELVE
THE LUCKNOW SENTINEL, LUCKNOW, ONTARIO
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1977
Stuart Collyer Retires This Year, Principal Of
Lucknow Public School Since 1951
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From A Former. Student . .
STUART E. COLLYER
MR. COLLYER:
FROM A FORMER STUDENT'S
POINT OF VIEW
Young people can be said to be a
community's, most valuable natural
resource, as they are the products
of its past, the spark of its present,
and.the hope for its future. In an
community, then, the people who
influence its young will indirectly
influence its future. We in Lucknow
Wave undoubtedly been fortunate to
have had Stuart Collyer as principal
of our public school system for
many years. He has devoted his life
to the benefit of youth, and I am
proud to salute him as he retires.
When Mr. Collyer chose teach-
ing as his life's profession, he
made a wise decision. The pride he
must feel in knowing he has been
an influencing factor in many
scholars' successes must make his
memories of a fine' career happy.
ones. Of course, not all of his
students have been "whiz kids",
but his encouragPment and guid-
ance have never gone amiss.
When I think of Mr. Collyer, I
always remember his special
"knack" for story telling. In his
Science class,' we would never tire
of his tales about war, thp air force,-
one-rooin schools, and many Other
experiences which were foreign to
It's five o'clock in the morning!
Awakened by an icy blast of wind
whistling around the bedroom.
window, Mr. Stuart E. Collyer,
principal of Lucknow Central P.S.,
peers into the snow-laden darkness
and wonders, "Will the buses run
today?" Pacing the floor from
phone to window and back,
wearing a track in the -rug, he faces
the responsibility of sending driv-
ers and children out in,, dangerous
driving conditions, or cancelling
buses, and listening to irate
comments because he did! or did
not! Listening to the radio - "storm
warnings continued" - he has to
trust his own judgement to make.
the right decision. Thus begins one
of the daily winter worries that
makes the office of principal less
than envious!
But let's take an average,
normal, working day, if there is
such a thing in the history of
teaching, and see how Mr. Collyer
spends his 'day. Our principal is a
kind, understanding person, ready
to listen with patience to children's
squabbles, teacher's problems,
and endless telephone calls, besid-
es teaching the senior grades
Science. Often he is seen
bandaging the knee of an injured
child, or "laying down the law" to
some miscreant; popping into
One who smiles 'though he's
angry,
One who laughs although he's sad,
One who greets the little children,
Taking time to understand.
Truly has the essence of a great
teacher.
One who will devote his life.
To the guidance of the young.
One who's trusted with many,
And finds love for everyone,
Truly the essence of a great
teacher.
You Have listened so patiently
our short and somewhat sheltered
lifetimes. I can now see that this
was a great gift; he could educate
others by simply sharing his own
experienees.
Mr. Collyer always seemed
genuinely interested in the pro-
gress of each student,, on an
tiemic--basis-, as well as
extra-curricular activities. It was
clearly evident that this man
believed in eirery student fully
developing his or her potential,
whether it be in sports, music,
drama, writing, public speaking, or
any other persuit. Even after you
have left public school, it is not
uncommon to meet an interested
Mr. Collyer around town, asking
about your plans and progress.
Even though my classmates and
myself may not have realized it
when we were younger, we were
very fortunate to have such a
capable man organizing otir im-
pressionable public scho91 years.' It
has taken the maturity of growing
up, and the polishing of fond
memories to bring this to our
realization. I'm sure if we had the
chance to relive our public school
years, we' wouldn't change a thing!
So, from a former student, on
behalf of all former students,
"Thank You, Stuart Collyer!"
classrooms to observe children
working, praising the effort of both
pupil arid teacher in their displays;
observing with pride the sports
teams and band performing. He
has a fund of humorous stories to
amuse and entertain the listener;
yet he is always ready with
pertinent knowledge on any subject
when asked for advice:
There are many such incidents
that make up an album of
memories that we of the teaching
staff will have, to remember, our
principal.
Yes, Stuart Collyer, our princip-
al, is retiring after 26 years on the
job. After so many years of
dedication to a task he plainly,
enjoyed,. a new life of relaxation
lies ahead for he and his wife, Kay.
As teachers who have worked
under ,Mr. Collyer for many years,
we , face this time with mixed
feelings - happiness for the
culmination of many years of
service, hope that they will enjoy
many years of fun and good health,
and sadness, that a man who has
been -not just a principal, but a
friend, is now leaving us. We know
you will be missed, Stuart, - but we
wish you with all our hearts -
Happy Retirement - enjoy your
fishing!
About our troubles and our joys
You are thought to be a hero
By many little girls and boys.
Have you the essence of a great
teacher?
Your sense of humour and your
care
As you teach us right from wrong.
Your tactful ways and cheerfulness
Clearly shows that to you belong
The very essence , of a great
teacher.
(You know we'll miss you when
your gone!)
Marilynne Maclntyre, Grade 8
Builders . . •
A Builder builded a temple,
He wrought it with grace and skill;
Pillars and groins and arches
All fashioned to work his will.
Men said, as they saw its beauty,
"It shall never know decay;
Great is thy skill 0 Builder!
Thy Fame shall, endure for aye."
A-Teache
With loving and infinite care,
Planning each arch with patience,
Laying each stone with prayer.
None praised her unceasing ef-
forts,
None knew of her wondrous plan,
For the temple the Teacher
builded
Was unseen by the eyes of man.
Gone is the Builder's temple,
Crumbled into the dust;
Low lies each stately pillar,.
Food for consuming rust.
But the temple the Teacher builded
Will last while the ages roll,
For that beautiful unseen temple
Was a child's immortal soul.
The Great
Science Lesson
A tall slim man walks in the room.
room.
The class takes out their books;
He tells them where to begin,
And sees their searching looks!
There seems to be a lot of noise,•
"Do I hear talking?" he will say;
The science peridd has begun,
On this busy school day.
A half an hour soon slips by, ,
The lesson is proceeding;
But woops, yottng Jim is acting up,
And interrupting with the reading.
The science lesson is over now,
The class is at the door;
"Good-bye Mr. Collyer, - Good
luck to you"
Is their wish for ever more.
Doug Clark, Grade 6
A RETIREMENT
PARTY FOR ALL
THREE TEACHERS
WILL BE HELD
THIS SUNDAY,
JUNE 19, 2 - 4 p.m.
AT THE SCHOOL
THE PUBLIC IS
INVITED TO ATTEND
More than half a 'century ago, in
Thurso, Quebec, a third son born to
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Collyer, was
named Stuart Earl.
As a very young boy, Stuart
moved, with his family to Lucknow,
where many years later he was to
become the principal of the
Lucknow Public. School, a position
he held for twenty-six years.
Stuart attended school in Luck-
now and upon graduation from
high school he 'was employed, for
three years, as a salesman in "The
Market Store" owned and operated
by Mr. Wm. Hornell. In 1938 he
attended Stratford Teachers' Col-
lege and received his teaching
certificate. He later furthered his
education through courses at the
Western University in London and
the Waterloo Lutheran University,
from which he received his
Bachelor of Arts degree.
"Stuie" as he was respectfully
referred to by many of his pupils,
began his teaching career at S. S. #
9, Kincardine Township, near
Bervie and then moved to West-
wood, in Peterborough County,
where he taught for two years.
In 1942 he enlisted iri the
R.C.A.F. receiving air crew train-
ing in Western Canada at Brandon,
Saskatoon and Dafoe, graduating
from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
as a Commissioned Officer. For
several months he was an air crew
-instructor at the R.C.A.F. Station,
Jarvis, Ontario,, before proceeding
overseas where he served in Six
Group Bomber Command at Skip-
tonon - Swale in Yorkshire,
.England.
Following his discharge from the
Air Force in 1946 he resumed his
teaching at S. S. No. ,7 Kinloss
Township, and later as principal" at
Victoria Public School, Tecumseh,
Ontario before accepting the posi-
tion of principal of the Lucknow
Public School in 1951.
Mr. Collyer has been closely
connected with many organizations
in the community. He is.a member
of the Masonic Lodge,' the Lions
Club, the Canadian Legion and is
secretary-treasurer of the Lucknow
Fire Company. For several years he
was chairman of the Lucknow
Library Board. He served some
fourteen years as Scout master of
the Lucknow Troop and for a time
was Assistant District Commission-
er of the Saugeen District Boy
Scout Association. For many years
Stuart taught a class of teenage
boys in the United Church Sunday
School. Later he filled in as a
supply teacher whenever needed.
As well as teaching in the Sunday
School he has served on the Official
Board of the Church as a member
of the session.. He was active in his
chosen profession, too. He is a past
.president of the Bruce County
Teachers' Institute and the Elem-
entary 'School Principals' Associa-
tion.
He is married to the , former
Kathleen Thom of St. Helens. They
have three sons - Ted, who with his
wife Sandra and children Chris and
Lisa, lives in Lucknow, Thom, who
with his wife Sandra and children,
Scott and Karen, lives in Orange-
ville and Tim, who with his wife
Dianne, lives in Campbellford.
The closing of a successful career
will long live in the memory of
hundreds of children who were
privileged to come under the
tutelage of .a kind teacher, a
judicious principal and a devoted
friend. Success could be attributed
to his devotion to teaching. The
efficient manner with which he
transmitted his enthusiasm to his
pupils resulted in this success. The
students responded to his firm yet
kindly manner, to his intellecutal
competence, his objective humour
and his' wealth of experience.
Through his teaching, he impart-
ed not only his subject matter but a
large part of himself, his philos-
ophy of life. He demonstrated his
ability to work effectively with
people and secure their co-opera-
tion. He assisted both teachers and
pupils in evaluating themselves.
Stuart.E. Collyer was an Educat-
or. That chapter of his life now
closed but like the immortal his
footsteps will remain on the sands
of time. All farewells have an
element of sadness, of regret, and
of nostalgia. Yet, too, there must
be the excitement of the anticipa-
tion of what the future holds. All
his friends, his former pupils and
the members of his staff join in
wishing Stuart, health.and happi-
ness in this new chapter "The best
of life for which the first was
made". We trust that his hobbies
of fishing, hunting and horticulture
will bring him happiness and
contentment and• help to , fill the
days of leisure that lie ahead.
Happy Retirement • • •
Essence Of A Great Teacher . . .