1974 Annual Report

TIIE I\INETY.I\INTTI AI\NUAL REPORT OF THE BRISBANE GIRLS' GRAMMAR SCHOOL In presenting the report this year we can say "99" fumly and cheerfullywithout anypromptingfrom adoctor, andwithout anymorbid fears that diagnosis may be other than sound. Preparation for the Centenary Year, especially everything associated witl the erection of the Library Complex, now completed, and the Humanities Block, well and truly begun, have dominated most of our tlinking and planning in 1974, and it is only fair to say that builders' paraphernalia and safety barricades, trenches, pneumatic drills and compressors have disrupted our organisation, hampered our movement and reduced our comfort. I cannot say that we have borne the inconvenience with characteristic fortitude; rather, witi characteristic inconsistency we have complained bitterly wbile working in major and minor efforts to add much needed dollars to the building fund. In this we have been inspired by the indomitable spirit of Mrs. Yvonne Bain, the Convener of the Appeal Comnittee. There havebeenmany timeswhen mostof us havewondered whether Centenaries are worth celebrating and times when the results of our efforts have seemed pitifully small in comparison with ttre amount needed, and even the $100,(X)0 atmost within reach is only a token of the whole: nevertheless we are very grateful to all who have contributed. Next year will provide the opportunities to express our thanks more adequately. The year did not have an auspicious beginning. I do not think we know tle full extent " Grammar" families were affected by the floods' We were able to give assistance to a few girls but there were probably many more who took the attitude, "We can manage; there are otlers worse olf', and have battled it out. Certainly everyone in the school was involved to some degree in community effort. Enrolment The school opened on February 4th, one week late, with an enrolment of710: Grade L2:136 in 4 Forms. Grade 11: 145 in 5 Forms. Grade 10: 147 in 4 Forms. Grade 9: 151 in 4 Forms. Grade 8: 131 in 4 Forms. Our present enroknent stands at 705, including 77 boarders. Some of the Forms are larger than we should wish. Maintaining a balance between desirable educational goals and economic feasibility is always a problem; nevertheless, we have decided to take in next yearfive classes of 30in SecondForm.If they grow to 32 or33, asislikelybyreason of interstate and international movement of parents, return to the State of "Old Girls", then those numbers are less unwieldy than the 38's and 39's we have had in some of the Third and Fourth Forms. Some of these groups, unwieldy in any subject, were positively unmanageable in Science iaboiatories builtfor32, so that therewas are-division of ThirdForminto five groups for science teaching, and the appohtment of an extra part- time teacher to take charge of the additional class. Staft There were many new faces in the staff room this year, and there will be even more new members next year. Although greater stability might seem to be very desirable it must be borne in mind that "Future Shock" is already with us in the much greater mobility of society; more opportunities for travel and career advancement, with the attendant freedom and restlessness only to be expected. Those of you who were educated atB.G.G.S. remembermany teacherswho gave lengthyperiods of devoted service to the school. We honour their memory and acknowledge our debt to them, but those days are no more' Our girls of today musfaccustom themselves to more constant adaptation to a much greater variety of people and modes of thought. New appointments at the beginning of1974: Full-time leachers: Miss H. Forster, B.A., Dip.Ed.-English. Mrs. V. Sharma, B.Sc., Dip.Ed.-Biolog5r. Miss L. Rogers,8.A., Dip'Ed.-Music; English. Mr. D. Winkel-Biology; Junior Science' Prrt-time teechers: Miss J. Cockburn, B.Sc.-Junior Science. Mrs. H. Marson-Art. Resignetions during the yean Mr. J. Timmermans-Art. Mrs. S. Barrow-Art. Miss L. Williams, B.A., Dip.Ed.-French: German' Mr. R. Brown, M.Sc.---Subject Master in Science. Mrs. B, Barnes, B.Sc., Dip.Ed.-Part-time Science. Mrs. L. Skubij, B.A., Dip.Ed.-English. Mrs. J. Salzman, Dip.Phys.Ed.-Physical Education' Appointmentc during the yean Mr. P. Bell, B.A.-Art. Mrs. J. Porter-Art. Mr. M. Bocquet, L-es-L. Dip.Ed. (Paris)-French: German. Mr. G. Stewart, B.A.-Part-time Science. Mr. N. McBrien,8.A., B.Sc'-Subject Master in Science.

Mrs. J. Siddle, B.Sc.-Part-time Science. Mrs. W' Hoog-Antink rejoined the staff after a lengthy period of absence after her unfortunate car accident. Mrs. R. Moodie returned in July to take her handwork classes after a year's sojourn abroad with her husband. During this time she took refresher courses with the Embroiderers' Guild (London) and the Inner London Educational Authority. We thank Mrs. E. Clark, who held the fort during Mrs. Moodie's absence, introducing the Second Forms to spinning and weaving, and also extending tiis instruction to Friday afternoon activity groups. Herstudents gavemostuseful assistance in the Craft Section of the Queensland Festival of the Arts. News of tbe deeth of ltilr. J. Timmermans on 17th June, soon after he had taken up his new position as Director of The Brisbane Galleries at Moorooka, came as a great shock to all his friends at the school, and to the many former pupils who had had their interest in art awakened and their talent developed by the stimulus of his teaching. As the sole male member of the staff for fifteen years he had maintained his unusual position with whimsical humour and no little diplomacy. His resignation in April was much regretted though his desire for a change of scene was appreciated. We all feel very keenly with Mn. Timmermans and the members of her family. We learned also during the year of the death of Mrs. Ida Woolcock, in whose memory the Ida Woolcock Challenge Cup for Public Spirit has been awarded annually since 1931. "Woolcock" is a Grammar name and we are pleased again to have a representative of the family on our roll. Acedemic Results: Details of Junior and Senior Certificates awarded in 193 are set outin this Report. These girls are to be commended on the excellence of their performance: Senior Certificate Results taken over five subjects (four semester units) out of a possible 140 points- 140 Helen Gehrmann, Janette Hayes. 135 Heather Torney. 133 Margaret Culpan. 132 Linda Maloney. 131 Ruth Venton. 123 Janet Cook. 122 Christine Dawes, Barbara White' 121 Sandra Billard, Trina Swaney, Pamela Van de Hoef, Leigh Wishart. Junior Certificate Results taken over seven subjects---{ut of a possible 4gpoints-49 Rosalie Conomos, Caroline Thew. 4SClaire Ferguson, Mary Knyvett, Elizabeth Taylor. 4TSusanae Hergenhan. rt6Robyn Abbey, Helen Archibald, Lisa Cantamessa. 45Carolyn Curtis, Julia Fielding, Helen Phillips, Jennifer Shannon, Wendy Shaw, Diana Thacker, Cynthia Uhlmann, Catherine Voysey. The Radford Systemis still afavourite target of criticismby teachers, parents and students. Many who hoped for spectacular changes from the old public examination system are disappointed or disillusioned' Those who fiercely defended the public examination system speak sadly of the decline in standards. Parents and students still complain oI the pressures imposed by the system' One disappointing trend which continues is absenteeism prior to and during the course of semester examinations. We have experimentedwith many kinds of tests of varying lengths, and aimatmaking thema normalpartof thesemesterprograryme: The panic and hysteria, a remnant of the old system, should beplayed down and the whole issue put in perspective.For parents to condone or encourage girls to stay home to study---and it happens even among Second ind Third Formers - when they should be at school having lessons, seems to show that it will take a whole generation to educate both ttremselves and their parents to adopt a more sensible attitude, but I think we must do more next year at meetings with parents to clarify our aims and procedures. I would say that we are only slowly accepting the professional implications ofthe report; thatitwill take anew generation bfstudents growing up with progressive assessment to learn to organise their work accordingly, but, at the same time, we are still dominated by University requirements and there will be little change for the student hoping to continue at the tertiary level while she must accumulate her pointJ semester by semester. There is little heed taken of individual -

Mrs L. Hadgraft, B.A.-English (temporary)' Mrs. M. Lathouras, Dip.Phys.Ed.-Physica