CHANGES IN THE STAFF

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1935, Page 10

CHANGES IN THE STAFF

TEACHERS IN 50 YEARS MOULDING MIND AND CHARACTER’ SCHOOL’S SEQUENCE OF FORTUNE. Teachers have so great a share in moulding the minds and characters of the children under their control that a school may almost be said to stand or fall by its staff. The New Plymouth Girls’ High School has been fortunate, therefore, in obtaining the services of women who, in the majority of .cases, have looked upon their work not as a means of livelihood only but as.an intensely interesting profession. Not mere instructors, they have been willing to make the personal sacrifices that, divide the good from the indifferent teacher and that in the school lives of the children change drudgery to happiness. When Miss H. M. Ramsay was appointed in 1885 to the high school she was put in charge of the girls under the headmastership of Mr.. Pridham. About

the time ; when she left and was succeed-' ed by Miss M. Montgomery in 1887 the girls began to take classes with the boys, competing with them on equal tenns. Their lessons were given by the masters as well as by Miss,Montgomery. When' the Technical School opened in 1907 the girls went 1 there for cookery, and dressmaking classes under the tuition of Miss McDonald , and Miss Dempsey. Mr. D. E. Hulton visited the, school to give instruction in drawing. f In 1894 Miss G. A. Drew, M.A., who had taken her degree at Auckland University College, was appointed to the Staff. Probably no mistress has exerted so great and continuous an influence as Miss Drew, who taught at New Plymouth for 28 years. Known intimately by a long succession of pupils she represents to many the strongest link with their old school and holds pride of place in their hearts. She was unswerving in her loyalty to the headmistresses under whom she worked and gave them invaluable assistance in every possible way.’ As a teacher she was excellent, possessing the desire to impart knowledge and the ability: to do it. Her personality, genfie and sympathetic although" firm, impressed itself on all those with whoift she came in contact. When she retired in 1921 it was as though the school had lost an integral part of itself, although Miss Drew continued to live at New Plymouth and- takes active part in old girl activities. In 1897-Miss'Cr D. Grant was appointed to fill the-vacancy created by the departure "of Miss* Montgomery, then Mrs. Baker-Gabb. When Mr. W! ,H. Moyes took up the control of the boys’ school' in-1912 she became the first headmistress and another woman teacher, Miss F. R. Livingstone, M.A., was added to her staff.

The roll number at the beginning of 1913 was 67 and rose to about 80 during the year. It was seen that an additional mistress was required, the board selecting Miss B. D. Cross, M.A., as the new science mistress. Miss Cross had been dux of Timaru Girls’ High School, and during her university career had won a senior university scholarship and first-class honours in botany. She demonstrated in the biological laboratory of Canterbury College and was later awarded a Government research scholarship. A brilliant scholar, Miss Cross awoke enthusiasm in others, so that during her stay every pupil became absorbed in botany and its problems, going on various excursions to collect material. Miss Grant was succeeded in 1915 by Miss J. R. Barr. At the end of that year Miss Livingstone and Miss Cross left, the latter to marry Captain Jennings, who was afterwards killed in the war. The two vacancies' on the staff in 1916 were filled by Miss A. Aitken, B.Sc., and Miss P. M. P. Clark, M.A. Miss Clark remained seven years at New Plymouth and gave splendid service, encouraging the girls in sports as well as work.

In 1917 the roll had increased to 126 and a- preparatory department, attended by 19 pupils,-was established under the charge of Miss F. N. Fairbrother. Miss Aitken, who - stayed at New Plymouth barely two years, left in the third term and Miss D. .V. Burrows, B.Sc., took her place as science mistress. An extra mistress was required and finally, after Miss Baker and Miss Menzies had relieved for a sort time, Miss J. M. Smith, 8.A., joined as a permanent member of the staff. The only addition in 1918 was Miss M. Lennon. In 1920 Miss E. Park, assisted by , Miss ' Barnett, took charge of the preparatory school in place of Miss Fairbrother, and in the main school Miss L. Sheat, M.A., replaced Miss Lennon.

In 1921 Miss E. M. Mclntosh became principal. The departure of Miss Burrows k>ft a vacancy which was filled by Miss J. H„ Wilson, B.Sc. Miss Mullpn

assisted in the preparatory department instead of Miss Barney:. At the end of 1921 Miss Drew retired. When school opened the next year there were two valuable additions to its staff. Miss N. I. McLean, M.A., a mistress of quiet dignity and high ability, was chosen to be first assistant and Miss A. Tizard, M.A., took charge of science in place of Miss Wilson. Miss R. Day replaced Miss Mullon in the preparatory school.

An old girl, Miss H. Valentine, M.A., was appointed in 1923 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Miss P. M. P. Clark. Miss F. M. Urquhart, 8.A., who had arrived from Canada accepted a relieving position for one year before she returned. Miss M. Sladden assisted in the preparatory school instead of Miss R. Day. -

The year 1924 saw numerous changes In the staff. Miss F. E. Kershaw, M.A., acted as principal during Miss McIntosh’s absence on leave. Miss Urquhart and Miss Sheat, who had been a very popular teacher, had resigned and with the school roll increased three mistresses were appointed in their place. Miss K. M. Stewart, M.A., and Miss L. A. Hurle, M.A., an old girl and one of the most brilliant scholars the school has produced, were appointed.

With the arrival of Miss G. McMullan, E.A., B.Sc., from Auckland Grammar School, the school gained the services of probably the best mathematical mistress in the Dominion. Her value soon became apparent in the scholastic records, the percentage of passes in outside examinations increasing considerably, principally because the great stumblingblock of mathematics which lowers the average in most' girls’ schools was removed or at least reduced to surmountable proportions. •

Miss D. N. Allan, the present headmistress, was chosen in 1925 to succeed Miss Mclntosh. Miss M. Michael, B.Sc., relieved for the year for Miss Tizard, who was on leave.

In 1926 changes were made in the control of the preparatory school, the roll of which had been steadily falling. Mrs. Stafford, . who conducted a private kindergarten at New Plymouth, agreed to an amalgamation with her school. She still managed the junior classes and the board appointed Miss L. A. Smith *to teach the higher standards. In the senior school Miss M. G. Johnstone, M.A., replaced Miss H. Valentine as senior English mistress and another old girl, Miss C. D. Fox, 8.A., was appointed an additional teacher.

In 1927 the staff increased considerably on account of the amalgamation of the technical and high schools. Miss E. M. White, 8.A., an old girl, and Miss E. Wright were the new members. At the same time Miss A. C. Finlayson, Dip. in H.Sc., who had in. the previous year been warden of Studholme College and had instructed in sewing, joined the staff as an assistant mistress. Miss M. A. Michael returned as Miss A. C. Tizard was appointed head of the girls’ boarding department at Hamilton High . School. .During the few years which she had spent at New Plymouth Miss. Tizard had made a deep impression on pupils and parents and her departure was a great loss to the teaching strength of the school. Miss J. M. Smith also left in 1927, her place being filled by jyiiss B. A. Jackson,- M.A., who came from Wellington College. Miss L. A. Smith left the preparatory department and Miss G. Day was appointed. The amalgamation of technical and high schools was working smoothly by 1928.

. Miss L. Jensen and Mr. G. H. White joined the high school staff from the technical college. Miss L. Hurle qnd Miss K. Stewart left and. Miss G. McMullan went on leave. The three vacancies were filled by Mrs. R. D. Baker, 8.A., Miss C. Seale and Miss A. M. Downes, M.A. Three excellent mistresses, Miss E. M. North, 8.A., Miss E. M. Bruce, 8.A., and Miss M. J. Clarke, M.A., were also appointed. Miss Gwen Day left the preparatory school and Mrs. Stafford took- charge of the higher standards with Miss K. Day as her assistant. . : . .

In 1929 Miss Allan went on leave, Miss McLean acting as principal. Miss E. M. North,'who had only been relieving, Miss E. Wright, Miss M. Michael, Miss D. Fox and Miss K. Day from the preparatory school, and left; Miss E. K. Ryburn, M.A., and Miss M. Campbell, B.'Sc,, were appointed. Miss M. Brodie'was put in charge of the junior class-room in the preparatory school and for the first time a full-time sports mistress, Miss O. J. Taylor,, joined the staff. In 1930 Miss Jackson went on leave and Miss Finlayson, Miss Johnstone and Mrs. R. D. Baker left, the new mistresses being Miss E. Duff, M.A., Miss C. M. Gillies, M.A., and. Miss K. Liken, Dip. in H.Sc. Both Mrs. Stafford and Miss Brodie resigned from the staff of the preparatory school which was fortunate in securing the services of a fully-train-ed graduate, Miss A. Sheat, M.A. Miss Sheat taught for' two years until the board decided to close the preparatory school. -

Miss Jackson remained at New Plymouth only a few months after her return from leave, leaving 'to take up a position at' the Wellington Technical School. .Miss M. M. Durward, M.A., was appointed her successor. Miss A. M. Downes left at the end of 1930 but as hers was a relieving position there was no new appointment. In 1932 Miss J. Riach, M.A., joined the staff and Miss C. Gillies and Miss M. Clark left for Otago and ..Canterbury respectively. Miss Duff went to England on leave in 1933 and Miss M. L. Smith, M.A., accepted the relieving position. Mr. G. H. White had retired in 1934 and Miss M. Graham, 8.A., took his place. The vacancy caused by the departure of Miss Liken was filled by Miss M. B. Stewart, B.Sc. This year the staff consists of Miss D. N. Allan, Mr. A. L. Moore, and Misses N. I. McLean, G. McMullan, E. Duff, M. Durward, E. M. Bruce, J. Riach, M. Csmpbell, E. K. Ryburn, L. Jensen, M. B. Stewart, S. McMillan and M. Graham. Visiting are Misses A. W. Crawford, S. Rolfe, J. Taylor, v E. Holden, M. J. Fearn and Mrs. P. J. Frederic.