COLUMBA COLLEGE

Evening Star, Issue 21518, 16 September 1933, Page 9

COLUMBA COLLEGE

NEW PRINCIPAL APPOINTED MISS C. M. ASHWORTH, OF ADELAIDE Miss Clarice Mabel Ashworth, principal of the Methodist Ladies’ College, Wayvillc, Adelaide, South Australia, has been appointed principal of Columba Girls’ College, Dunedin, in succession to Miss Grace Mackintosh, who has accepted a position in Sydney. A graduate of tho Universities of Sydney and Adelaide, Miss Ashworth also holds a teacher’s certificate from the Education Department of Now South Wales. She was trained at the Sydney Teachers’ Training College, and is specially qualified to give instruction in English and history, with French, Latin, and mathematics as subsidiary subjects. She has had extensive experience in primary and secondary school work, both as assistant and as head mistress, and she has also worked in the primary and secondary departments of State schools in New South Wales. For lour years she did organising work in missionary schools in Fiji. From 1027 to 1928 she was head mistress of Mayenswood College, Gordon, New South Wales, and in Juno, 1925, she received the appointment which she at present holds as principal of tho Methodist Ladies’ College, South Australia. This college is one of the most important private schools for girls in South Australia. In addition to its other activities, it provides a three-year course of training for kindergarten teachers, which is supervised by Miss Ashworth. Certificates and testimonials of the highest order are presented hv Miss Ashworth. An extract from the minutes of the hoard meeting of the Methodist Missionary Society expresses the board’s high opinion of her work and character, and puts on record “that tho thanks of the board bo convoyed to

the Now South Wales Department of Education for the valuable services rendered to our Fijian mission district by Miss Ashworth during the past four years.” The Rov. W. Jib Bennett, of Leigh College, Sydney, writes: ‘‘She will, J. know, enter into the. educational, religious, and sports life of the girls and enthuse (hem with (he highest ideals.” The Rev, J,. C. Parkin, of North Adelaide Congregational Church, writing as a member of the council of Wayvillo College, states; “She has won the affection and esteem of the girls, and as a Christian woman lias herself taught them the Bible and Christian truth. Thus she has fulfilled the object of a ehureli school. From conversation with others and from observation I know that she has considerably enhanced the standing and reputation of the .school in the city. While she has been hero the school has done well in scholarship and in sport.” Mr A. D. Sutherland, president of the Parents and Friends’ Association of Wayville College, states: “The tone of tho school to-day is of a high order. Her scholastic attainments have produced satisfactory results in examinations, and in the field of athletics tho school holds a foremost position.” The Rev. Norman L. I). Webster, 8.A., minister of Scots Church, Adelaide, writes: “Miss Ashworth is a lady cf striking personality, and has done excellent work iu her school, winning golden opinions from the parents and public, and affection from her staff and pupils. I. understand that Miss Ashworth is a candidate for the prineipalship of Colmnba College, Dunedin. As ore who knows Coliimha College and the city of Dunedin, I have no hesitation in saying that ,1 believe that .Miss Ashworth will (ill the position with credit to herself and great satisfaction to the college council.” These opinions of Miss Ashworth are endorsed by the Rev. A. E. Davies, exModemtor of tho Presbyterian Church of South Australia; by Mr G. R. Thomas, director of education, New South Wales; by the Rev. E. S. Keek, of Parken Congregational Church, Adelaide ; and by Mr IT. Rutherford Purnell, librarian, the Public Library, Adelaide. Mr Thomas, director of education, -New. South Wales, sums up Miss Ashworth’s qualities of scholarship and character thus:—‘‘l can confidently recommend her as a woman of sterling worth, of attractive and gracious personality, equipped very adequately with those qualifications of scholarship, professional aptitude, and administrative ability which are essential (o the position of head mistress of a proprietary school or college.”