Dick Habershon - last of the 'old school' | Taranaki News | Local News in Taranaki

On Sunday September 10, former Stratford High School principal Richard 'Dick' Habershon (80) passed away at Maryanne Hospital, Stratford, after a long courageous battle with illness.

Mr Habershon was a staff member at Stratford High School from 1960-61, became the Head of Department for English in 1962-67. He was made deputy principal in 1968 and held that position until 1983 when he was promoted to principal for the coming year. He held that positionuntil 1991. Fellow teacher at Stratford High School David Rogers took time to reflect upon the days when Dick Habershon ran the school.

Each day, as I recall, while Headmaster of Stratford High, Richard 'Dick' Habershon would walk around his school during the lunch hour rubbing shoulders with the students, talking with them and listening to what they had to say.

He seemed to know each student by name (the school roll was significantly higher then than it is today) and usually a good deal about them.

Indeed, while timetabling, a responsibility he preferred not to delegate, he would ensure that all students ended up with a programme of learning tailored to meet their needs. The timetabler was there to serve the interests of the students rather than the other way around.

In this and many other ways, in his determination to do the best for every single student, Dick adopted practices that seem now years ahead of his time. In the course of one of his lunchtime peregrinations, for instance, he fell in with a student who shocked him deeply by declaring that he was learning little of value at school.

He came to school to 'eat his lunch' and so 'Integrated Studies' was born in Dick's mind.

Students with learning difficulties and perhaps low self-esteem, who in those days would have left school at 15 with few skills and fewer qualifications, were to be provided with a programme of work that would enable them to reach their potential, developing sound, basic skills and a positive attitude. Nor was this a token effort on Dick's part. Some of the best minds in the school, including his own, dedicated themselves to realising this dream. Such ideas are being explored today as a way ahead for today's disenchanted youth. Thus, generations of students at Stratford High were well aware that Dick had their best interests at heart as over the years his gowned figure strolled through their crowded recreation areas. The 'caped crusader' of his physical prime became 'Great Uncle Bulgaria', while assorted miscreants gambolled around him picking up litter to atone for their offences, but Dick's dedication to the school, students and staff remained constant and unwavering throughout.

Indeed, generations of teachers also will remember Dick with gratitude and affection, as I do now. How many teachers did he tap on the shoulder and say, 'Why don't you have a go? I believe in you. You can do it."

Headmaster, but first among equals, his confidence in his teachers created a most positive working environment as people realised that his trust in them was well founded, and yes, they could do it.

In his personal quest for knowledge and self-fulfilment, Dick set an example that few of us could equal, but it seemed to give him as much pleasure to unleash the qualities he recognised in us, that we were often ourselves unaware of, and watch us grow and prosper.

Family man, naval officer, scholar, historian - Dick filled many roles which others are better able to speak of.

I shall remember him as the quintessential headmaster whose love of learning and devotion to his school enriched my life and the life of those fortunate enough to be associated with Stratford High School during the Habershon years.

Our thoughts are with his wife Margaret and his family at this sad time. Brian Darth Funeral Services are organising Mr Habershon's funeral, to be held at the Stratford High School Hall on Saturday at 1pm. All welcome to attend.