NEW LADY PRINCIPAL

Otago Witness, Issue 3526, 11 October 1921, Page 57

NEW LADY PRINCIPAL

OTAGO GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL. M.ISS M. 11. M'G. KING APPOINTED A special meeting of liie Otago High Schools Boa i d of Governors- was lie:d on the 4 rii inst. to consider the appointment of a iad.v principal of tile Girls' High School in succession to Miss Flora M. Allan. Dr Fulton (chairman) presided, and there were also present Professor Thompson. the Hon. D. T. I'iemmg. Messrs 1. J£. Aidey, M.P., H. Webb, J. C. Stephens, J. M. Gu 11away, and Vi 1 . R. Brugh- The board considered in committee eleven applications for the position, and the candidate finally selected was Miss Mary Flarliet M Gawon King, the present principal of the Southland Girls’ High School. Miss King, who will succeed Miss Allan at the beginning of next year, had an exceptionally brilliant career as a student, and is generally acknowledged to have secured the highest record ever made by a lady student at Otago University. She is now 37 years of age, and her first, teaching experience was gained at relieving work at the YVaitaki Girls’ High School. Siince leaving Otago University .she has been for over 15 years on the staff of the Southland Girls’ High School, for three years as assistant, for ten as first assistant, and for the lust two and a-half as principal. She has also taught night classes at the Southland Technical College for three years, and acted for six years as tutor to the Workers’ Educational Association literature class. Her academic career may be, summarised by saying that in 1896 she was dux of the Oamaru North School, and won the First Junior Education Board Scholarship. In 1838 she was dux of the Waitaki Girls' High School, and won the First Senior .Education Board Scholarship. In 1901 she came first on the Junior University Scholarship list, and in 1904 she took her B.A. degree (with diploma in 1S05), anil secured the Senior University Scholarship in English and French. Next year she took her M. A. degree (diploma. 1906) with first-class honours in English and French. The University class certificates she holds are second-class in Latin, and first-class in English and French (senior, advanced, and honours), and in mathematics, mechanics, physics, and chemistry. Over and above her numerous other qualifications. Miss King is a remarkably fluent and effective public speaker. The holds the highest testimonials front leaders with whom she has come in contact in the educational world.