Miss E. D. Robertson
With the retiral of Miss E. D. Robertson, Infant Mistress of Madras
Primary, there has gone from the staff of Madras College a teacher,
friend and adviser of infant pupils and parents alike.
During the years she has been in the school, Miss Robertson has shown
herself to be a teacher of high ideals and strong enthusiasms — one who
was ever ready to fight for the
improvement of education in her department. As an admirer and follower
of Madame Montessori, she wished to offer to her little pupils, with
bountiful arms the beauty of the world in all its forms as if to say
"Here's richness." Ever mindful of the importance of the introductory
years of schooling, she tried to inculcate in the children an enthusiasm
for learning by means of the happy approach to school-work.
Miss Robertson was a staunch believer in the Parent-Teacher Association.
The under-standing gained when parents and teachers could meet to talk
over their children's problems was, to her, invaluable. The monthly
meetings in the Infant Room will long be remembered by all the many
mothers who attended them.
Ever ready for new ideas, Miss Robertson attended several courses for
Infant Teachers during her holidays. She found, too, a great interest in
Nursery School Work, for which she attended a lengthy course of
training. It is not improbable that, if the authorities had thought fit
to provide St. Andrews with a Nursery School, Miss Robertson would have
been its ready and willing Head.
An infant teacher's work is highly exacting, and the conditions under
which Miss Robertson worked left much to be desired. Her room seemed to
overflow with its many little desks and their numerous occupants. Yet,
in addition to routine school-work, she found time for, and took great
pleasure in presenting concerts in the School Gymnasium. These were
greatly enjoyed by parents and children alike. The big event of the year
was the School Concert, in which the Infants' item was one of the main
attractions. What exquisite pleasure these little plays gave the
audience, and how much they were appreciated !
But her last play with the Madras Infant pupils as actors has been
performed and we — pupils, staff and parents — have said "Farewell, Miss
Robertson, and thank you for these faithful years in Madras Primary."
