Promising lives: First placegetters in the Queensland Scholarship examination 1873-1962 A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics at the University of Queensland in December 2006. Marion Elizabeth Mackenzie BA, BSW, PGDip(Arts) Statement of originality I certify that this thesis is original and my own work, except where the work of others is quoted and acknowledged as such in the text. This material has not been submitted, either in whole or in part, for a degree at this or any other university. Abstract The Scholarship was an external examination held at the end of primary school when students were generally aged thirteen or fourteen. It dominated Queensland education for ninety years from 1873 until 1962. For much of that period, passing the examination was the only opportunity for most children to enter secondary education. It was at first a competitive examination for limited places in the early grammar schools, and later a qualifying examination for entrance to any secondary school. The principal focus of this thesis is the early promise displayed by 186 young Queenslanders who were ranked first in the state in the examination. It draws conclusions about the impact of education on individuals and society through longitudinal research, by examining the influence of family, school, community attitudes, world events and personal choices on the outcomes for those successful students. It investigates how early success was translated into their later lives, how they dealt with the opportunities and barriers they encountered, whether females and males had different outcomes, and in what ways they differed from their peers. It also examines how their lives impacted on the Queensland community and beyond through their professional lives and community activities. By employing case-study methodology and a biographical approach it was possible to recognise not only commonalities among the Scholarship winners, but patterns of resistance and accommodation to community expectations. The long time-span under investigation made it possible for slow changes to be revealed, particularly in community attitudes to secondary and tertiary education and the education of girls and women. In a complementary case-study the same methods were used to trace the careers of the teachers of students placed first in the Scholarship. This revealed high levels of ambition, dedication and innovation among that group of educators. Teaching families figured prominently in the backgrounds of the successful students, although they were from a wide range of family circumstances. Their school experiences were varied, but demonstrated little change in curriculum and teaching methods over the ninety years of the examination. Females faced contradictory expectations and attitudes to education, family formation and career development. Although males continued their education in an anti-intellectual climate, their choice of occupations and prospects was much more extensive than for females. While successive Queensland governments failed to address the educational needs of the state, resulting in very low participation at secondary levels, the majority of Scholarship winners sustained their early success by completing their secondary education and graduating from universities. From there they entered professions and took up leadership positions in the community. It was not always a smooth path to success, particularly for women, who faced what seemed insurmountable difficulties. Men, while less encumbered by social constraints, encountered the dislocation of military service. Those who were unable to proceed through the education system for a range of social, political and economic reasons were frequently able to negotiate alternative routes to fulfilling their early promise. This study is significant for the growing understanding of the influence of education on those who participated as students and teachers. It demonstrates, in a Queensland context, the consequences for learners with ability when opportunities were provided and restrictions were removed. It also reveals the personal fulfilment of those who were guided by strong and passionate interests and sense of purpose. Acknowledgements The nature of this project was one that involved the assistance of a great many people. I would like to give special thanks to Dr Rod Fisher, my principal advisor, for his inspiration and guidance over many years; Dr Geoff Ginn, my associate advisor, for his assistance; and my husband, Malcolm, for his encouragement and support. In addition to the following people who have assisted in many ways, a number of people were more directly involved as informants. They are acknowledged in the text and the Bibliography. Berenis Alcorn Megan Lyneham, UQ Archives Sylvia Bannah Cameron McKee, IGS Archives Pam Barnett, BGS, BGGS Archives Rosemary Mammino, EQHC Peg Bolam Don and Tricia Marshall Jenny Bolton, Scots College Sydney Dr Douglas Mercer Dr Graham Bond Ellen Morosin, TGS Kate Bottger, Somerville House Therese Murtagh Dr Elaine Brown Judy Nissen Lorraine Cazalar, QWHA Welwyn Petersen, Shore Archives Angela Collyer Pat Ryan Margaret Cook, IGGS Archives Dr Martin Sullivan Andrew Dawson Geoff Swan Dr Val Dennis Barbara Taylor Marney Dunn Isabelle Thatcher Marilyn England Tom Thatcher Nola Fulwood, QSA Joan Underwood Roisin Goss Barbara Want Kathy Goodwin Dr Tom Watson Dr Jennifer Harrison Maureen Weitkus Jeff Hopkins-Weise Sylvia Yates John Kerr Dr Ruth Kerr Staff of the Fryer Library i Papers and presentations relevant to the thesis during candidature Mackenzie, Marion E. Potential ignited: Tracing the lives of high academic achievers in Queensland 1873-1962. Unpublished paper presented at the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented Conference, Brisbane, 3 July 2000. Mackenzie, Marion E. Scholars of the district. Talk delivered at a meeting of the Oxley-Chelmer History Group, 24 November 2000. Published in Them’s our ways in Oxley-Chelmer, Ralph Fones, ed. Brisbane: Oxley-Chelmer History Group, 2002, pp. 89-95. Mackenzie, Marion E. Tracing the lives of high academic achievers in Queensland 1873-1962. Unpublished paper presented at Australia and New Zealand History of Education Society Conference, Melbourne, December 2000. Mackenzie, Marion E. Lives of promise: Young achievers of the Federation era. Unpublished paper presented at the University of Queensland, 23 August 2001. Mackenzie, Marion E. Children of the Commonwealth: The Scholarship winner. Unpublished paper presented at Brisbane History Group meeting in conjunction with the Queensland History of Education Society, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, 25 August 2001. Mackenzie, Marion E. Tales from the Scholarship years. Talk delivered at a meeting of the Wynnum Manly Historical Society, 16 October 2003. Mackenzie, Marion E. The Scholarship teachers: Ambitious and dedicated or slaves to the system? Paper presented at the Australia and New Zealand History of Education Society Conference, QUT Carseldine, Brisbane, 10 December 2004. Published in Conference Proceedings, and in Educational Historian, 18, 1 (2005), pp. 13-18. Mackenzie, Marion E. Women in Queensland education: The experience of first placegetters in the Scholarship 1873-1962. Unpublished paper presented at the Royal Historical Society of Queensland Conference, ‘History of women in Queensland’, 13 August 2005. ii Table of Contents Acknowledgements i Papers and presentations relevant to the thesis during candidature ii List of Tables iv Abbreviations and conversion table vi Introduction 1 Chapter 1 Setting the scene: Methodology and literature 9 Chapter 2 Grudging rewards: Attitudes to achievement in the Scholarship Examination 33 Chapter 3 Nurturing promise: Formative influences on the Scholarship Winners 54 Chapter 4 Engaging with education: School experiences of the Scholarship Winners 81 Chapter 5 Ambitious, dedicated, or slaves of the system?: Scholarship teachers 115 Chapter 6 Swimming against the current: Girls and women 142 Chapter 7 Navigating the currents: Boys and men 181 Chapter 8 Promise realised: Reflections on outcomes 222 Conclusion 250 Bibliography 256 Appendix A: Chronology of the Scholarship examination 277 Appendix B: Chronological register of Scholarship winners 283 Appendix C: Biographical register of Scholarship winners 288 Appendix D: Register of Scholarship teachers 329 Appendix E: Later awards of Scholarship winners 333 iii List of Tables Table 1: Country of birth of Scholarship winners, 1873-1962 56 Table 2: Country of birth of Queensland population, 1891-1961 57 Table 3: Country of origin of fathers of Scholarship winners 57 Table 4: Country of birth of mothers of Scholarship winners 57 Table 5: Candidates for Scholarship examination as percentage of age group 60 Table 6: Number of successful candidates for the Scholarship examination 60 Table 7: Occupation of fathers of Scholarship winners 61 Table 8: Frequency of occupation of fathers of Scholarship winners 62 Table 9: Scholarship winners whose fathers were teachers 64 Table 10: Females as a percentage of the labour force in Queensland 70 Table 11: Scholarship winners whose mothers were teachers 71 Table 12: Religious denomination of Scholarship winners 73 Table 13: Population by religion, Queensland, 1891-1961, per 1000 74 Table 14: Number of schools nominating Scholarship candidates, 1925-35 74 Table 15: Number of candidates who passed the Scholarship examination in selected years, 1907-35,