Grammar Gazette- Issue 2, 2010

B R I S B A N E G I R L S G R A M M A R S C H O O L

apply the principle’, and maintain that such expectations made a lasting impression on them. The balance of evidence would suggest that if students remained at the School into V and VI Form, they received the necessary broad and balanced foundation to be deemed ‘educated’ in the Lilley parlance. They also received very specific skills which gave them access to the world of work or to tertiary educational institutions. There were few curricular innovations or changes in the Lilley era. This was not so much a consequence of conservatism but stemmed mainly from a wish to avoid the dissipation of scarce financial resources. Commercial subjects continued to be offered, despite Miss Lilley’s low opinion of their ‘academic’ worth. Botany disappeared in 1929, and Biology was replaced by Zoology in 1940. Reflecting the growing cachet of science as a career, and developments in tertiary education, Physics was introduced in 1940 initially at a ‘Junior’ standard (the minimum requirement for entry into some university faculties) but to be taken by Senior students. An extra levy of 5/- per quarter had to be paid for this subject. The first students (3) to receive passes at Senior level appear in the 1945 Senior examination results, but the School struggled to find Science teachers to cater for the rising interest in this field. While Miss Lilley was no great lover of Science she appreciated that the developments in technology during the War pointed to different curricular imperatives for schools in the future. Physical Education was a very important element within the formal curriculum of the School. All girls had to attend classes as part of their school programme, as Miss Lilley (a talented gymnastics prize winner when she was a school-girl) considered sport not only important in developing co-ordination and good health but a potent force in building character and providing a ‘rounded’ education. In keeping with this philosophy, Brisbane Girls Grammar was the first female school in the state to appoint a full-time sports mistress in the 1940s. Girls were encouraged to participate in inter-form and inter-school competitions and the School, despite certain limitations in relation to facilities such as the absence of a swimming pool or generous playing fields, nevertheless acquitted itself well. Although Miss Lilley liked her girls to win sportsmanship was even more important though than winning itself.

Record Book: ‘During the inspection the pupils were attentive, obedient and responsive; it was very pleasing also to find that many of them held to their own view-points sturdily during oral discussions connected with their subjects of study’. Opinions on this matter differ greatly amongst former students; some found the environment intimidating and were reluctant to express an opinion, others were adamant that they had been encouraged and challenged to think for themselves. A number of Old Girls have repeated what they claim was Lilley’s favourite aphorism, ‘Define, define, define! Isolate the issue, evaluate the objective,

1977 – 2001 JUDITH HANCOCK

1971 – 1976 NANCY SHAW

1952 – 1970 LOUISE CROOKS (MACDONALD)

2002 AMANDA BELL

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