1988 School Magazine

PR$NCIPAL'S ANNUAfr- REPORT: '$987 Usually the school's annual report is principally concerned with matters of the school itself. However, from time to time, we are reminded that events which occur beyond the school affect its life in ways that may concern us all. 1987 was such a year, when decisions taken at Commonwealth and State levels touched our lives and caused us great concern as educators and parents. So this year's annual report will address both the school's own progress and achievements as well as those external factors which do so much to shape them. The 112th year of the school commenced on the 29th January with an enrolment oI 829 girls, which included ninety-six boarders. The school's historic purpose of providing our students with educational opportunities of the same standard as that available to their brothers also imposes, I believe, the responsibility to keep that provision continually under review, to ensure that we are responsive to change, as the needs of society and of our students change. One major feature of Australian education over the last few decades has been an increased emphasis on the need for education in Science for all students. As f uture managers of an ever-changing technological society, our young people must be fitted with knowledge and skills to enable them to make decisions. lt is important that each individual can enter into a career which will provide personal satisfaction, whilst contributing to the development of the nation. The plans for our original school building included space for one Science laboratory. That this was located in a corner of the second floor with one door, and was carefully shielded from classrooms by a music room and servants'rooms may prompt speculation more sociological than scientif ic. Nonetheless, Senior Medals in Botany and Physiology were being won by our students over a century ago, so we may properly say that Brisbane Cirls'Grammar School has always had provision for Science teaching. This has been maintained to the extent that the school was one of the first to benefit from the gift of school laboratories by industry in the 1950s. Later assistance from the Commonwealth Government enabled expansion to meet the growing demand for scientific education at all levels in our increasing secondary school age population. Over the past 100 years laboratories have been developed for the teaching of Junior Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, although until recently the Science area was somewhat pressed for space, in common with the rest of the school. The opening of the Cehrmann Building enabled further expansion, which was most welcome, and over the past eighteen months two extra laboraties have been developed, one Biology laboratory and another suited to the teaching of Senior Physics. lt is interesting to note that one of the new laboratories and the new staff area for Science were once combined as "the School Laboratory". We now have nine well-equipped laboratories within the school, all Iocated within a Science Block - a far cry from the sole laboratory with which we started! 4

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These progressive changes have made it possible for classes to be conducted in surroundings which are not only pleasant and conducive to learning, but also are adequately equipped in specialist areas, and inclusion o{ computing technology in Science next year will give students access to the latest techniques. During the Christmas vacation period a number of other major works were also commenced. These included the development of improved sporting facilities. The