Hagley College

In his haste to put down College and School as johnny-come- lately Mike Crean (Jan 20) insufficiently considered the distinction between primary and secondary schools.

There are a number of primary schools around Canterbury with more than 150 years of tradition behind them. Mike Crean would have noticed their reunion boards around the district in his drives to out-of-the-way places.

Interesting connections between West Christchurch School and the older secondary schools could have been made and I would hope that Mr Amodeo has done so in his book. One is that the lady principal of Christchurch Girls’ High School who succeeded the internationally famous Helen Connon in 1894 was the headmistress of Christchurch West School.

While Helen was a university graduate Mrs Foster (Emily) was a qualified Class B certificated teacher, home schooled in Latin and French by her College brothers and in Greek by her father, W. Guise Brittan.

She had been headmistress of Christchurch West School for 19 years and won her appointment to the smaller secondary school by ballot. Her experience of organisation at West was of great benefit to her new school.

C. NEWMAN Strowan

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