Objects of Substance – Confidential Report Book

1913 Miss Lothian with Miss Annie Mackay

The curriculum included English, Greek, Latin, French, German, Mathematics and Arithmetic, Physics, Botany, History (English and European), Ancient History, Geography, Physical Exercise, Gymnastics, Drawing and Painting, Music, Needlework, and commercial skills including bookkeeping and shorthand. The 1911 Inspector, Mr Reginald Roe, delved deeply into this curriculum, highlighting issues ranging from Latin classes to the Gymnastics class. ‘In the highest form in revision work in all the language subjects, the teacher makes the mistake of doing all the talking, translating and telling the pupils again all the chief points instead of making the girls themselves reproduce and expand what has b een given them before … The Gymnastic lesson of the Fourth class seemed rather weak. The proficiency of the girls was poor and the teacher did not appear to be alive to the importance of keeping all the girls going for most of the time’ (Confidential Book, 1910 – 12, pp 5 and 7). The second Confidential Book spans from 1913 to 1958. It is a substantial and significant manuscript. This record’s importance cannot be underestimated. It explores the status of the School in Queensland, provides candid assessment of individuals, appraises the curriculum and its delivery, and challenges teaching methods and the effectiveness of these methods. In these years we see the comments of five Headmistresses: Miss Mary Atkinson Williams; Miss Jane E Walker; Miss Annie Mackay; Miss Kathleen M Lilley; and Miss Louise Crooks. There were nine inspectors including Mr Roe and Mr John George who inspected the School 14 times.