Advanced School for Girls explained

The Advanced School for Girls was a South Australian State school whose purpose was to prepare girls to qualify for entry to the University of Adelaide. Founded in 1879, the school merged with Adelaide High School in 1907.

History

From its inception, the University of Adelaide welcomed female students, although degrees were not available to females until 1880. At first, the only schools preparing girls to matriculation level were small private colleges such as Miss Martin's School and Parliament considered that education of women should be on a more structured basis, and the "Education Act of 1875" provided for establishment of a government-funded Advanced School.[1]

The first appointments were for a headmistress and assistant head: Jane Stanes and Edith Cook (both transferred from the Grote Street Model School),[2] followed by Rene-Armand Martin (French). Stanes resigned the following year, ostensibly due to ill-health, and Cook was promoted to head in 1882. A Government regulation, stipulating that the head must be aged 25, had to be waived for her to be appointed, as she was only 20. The Minister of Education (Thomas King) did not approve, but his successor (J. Langdon Parsons) pushed it through.

The school, in the two-storey former residence of Dr. Lambert Butler, Franklin Street, was opened on 7 October 1879 with sixteen students passing the entrance examination.[3] Additional appointments were made in 1880: Madeline Rees George (German), Ellen Thornber (assistant), Kate C. Brown (assistant).[4] By September 1880 the number of students was 92.[5] The following year, there were more applicants than places.[6] By 1882, girls from the school were prominent in the matriculation results: two of the top nine were from the Advanced School.[7] In 1883, both recipients of the Sir Thomas Elder prize for physiology were students of the Advanced School.[8]

Many criticisms were leveled against the school: that it robbed educated widows of a source of income as tutors; that by conducting an entrance examination and by not conducting junior classes it had an unfair advantage over other schools; and that by offering French and German rather than the more difficult (and essential for University degrees) Latin and Greek, it was gaining an inflated reputation and at the same time robbing talented women of opportunities.[9]

In 1891 a new purpose-built building on Grote Street was completed. The move from Franklin Street enabled the number of students to be raised from 124 to 150.[10] This building still stands today (2016).

Combining with Adelaide High School

A.S.G. merged with the (co-educational) Adelaide High School in 1907 under headmaster W. J. Adey, later Director of Education.It took over the three adjacent buildings in Grote street which were previously (from east to west): Advanced School for Girls, Teachers' Training College, and Grote Street Model School. In 1951 the school divided into the Adelaide Boys' High School and the Adelaide Girls' High School under headmistress Mary Veta Macghey.

Staff

Notable alumnae

External links

Relevant photographs held by the State Library of South Australia:

Notes and References

  1. News: Advanced School for Girls . . Adelaide . 28 October 1878 . 2 August 2013 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  2. News: The Month's News . . Adelaide . 6 October 1879 . 2 August 2013 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: Educational . . Adelaide . 3 November 1879 . 2 August 2013 . 4 Supplement: Supplement to the South Australian Register . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: Teachers' Appointments . . Adelaide . 14 January 1880 . 2 August 2013 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: Advanced School for Girls . . Adelaide . 24 September 1880 . 2 August 2013 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: Advanced School for Girls . . Adelaide . 27 April 1882 . 2 August 2013 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: The Matriculation Examinations . . Adelaide . 18 December 1882 . 2 August 2013 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: Miscellaneous . . Adelaide . 6 January 1883 . 2 August 2013 . 2 Supplement: Supplement to the South Australian Register . National Library of Australia.
  9. News: The Advanced School for Girls . . Adelaide . 31 August 1886 . 2 August 2013 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  10. News: Advanced School for Girls . . XXIII . 6624 . Adelaide . 17 December 1891 . 11 July 2016 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  11. News: A Terrible Suicide . . XXXIII . 1,699 . South Australia . 14 March 1891 . 12 July 2023 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  12. News: Miss M. Rees George . . LXXIII . 3,889 . Adelaide . 18 June 1931 . 10 July 2016 . 18 . National Library of Australia.
  13. News: Personal . . Adelaide . 13 May 1933 . 10 July 2016 . 14 . National Library of Australia.
  14. News: Concerning People . . LXXII . 18,843 . South Australia . 5 April 1907 . 13 November 2023 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  15. News: Passing Of Noted S.A. Educationist . . Adelaide . 12 November 1940 . 10 July 2016 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  16. News: Fifty Years a School Mistress . . LXXXIX . 26,140 . Adelaide . 7 October 1924 . 9 July 2016 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  17. News: Picture Round-Up Today . . 36 . 1,867 . Adelaide . 13 March 1948 . 10 July 2016 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  18. A Not So Innocent Vision. Hancock. Janette Helen. 2007. Adelaide University. Ph.D..
  19. Web site: Doudy, Jane Sarah. Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership. Deborah Towns. 11 July 2016.
  20. News: Miss Ellen Thornber Dies At 95 . . Adelaide . 19 March 1947 . 11 July 2016 . 10 . National Library of Australia.
  21. News: Melbourne Kindergarten President . . XXVII . 4,104 . Adelaide . 16 September 1936 . 9 July 2016 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  22. News: Concerning People . . Adelaide . 6 September 1907 . 3 July 2014 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  23. News: Dorsch Family's Fine Record . . Adelaide . 30 November 1933 . 23 July 2016 . 14 . National Library of Australia. A great story.
  24. Alison . Holder. Puddy, Maude Mary (1883–1974). 11. 1988 . puddy-maude-mary-8128/text14199. 6 October 2017.
  25. News: Schoolgirls of Yesteryear . . XXVI . 3,920 . Adelaide . 13 February 1936 . 11 July 2016 . 13 . National Library of Australia.