Gryphon 1957 - Adm.monash.edu.au

FOREWORDBY THE PR INCIPALTechn ical education has really hit thehead-lines. The launching of the Russiansatellites has shown j1lst how far scientific andtechnical knowledge has developed. in the lastfew years. Our own progress in technicaleducation is on the move. gradually throwingoff the shackles of conservatism andcomplacency, Community interest in our activitiesis more and more manifest. Each vcarit becomes evident that education is b ~ingsnore recognized as a vital factor in the developmentand security of the country. Itforms the most vulnerable part of our economy. Schools are becoming more and moredependent on guidance from Irulusiry, professionalInstitutions atul the University, aswell as from barents. Leading industrialistsand educators are paying frequent visits to ourschool to help our students select and develobthose natural aptitudes which hold for eachthe greatest happiness and contentment. andwhich hold for society the greatest usefuln essand service. Contact with the outside worldis one of the most vital factors in the successfuloperation of a technical school.All sections of the community must makesome contribution to the training of responsible,disciplined citizens. Our problems arecommunity problems. It is necessary to formadvisory committees to assist in the operationof particular aspects of our courses. Assyllabuses ore varied to meet the changing reoquuemenis of industry, more and more expertadvice from outside organizations is sought.Th e year 1957 was intended to mark a newera in the historic life of our school for theDiploma wing was La be extended. to accommodatethe anticipated record enrolment,\V ell, the record enrolment eventuated butth e additional accommodation didn't . Shortageof class-rooms this year gave rise to timetablediff iculties worse than ever before experienced.Irrun ovisaiion to meet emergenciesbecame part of our daily life and itwas only by the cheerful co-operation of staffand students that we got through. T he staggeringof th e lunch hour, the lise of the elect­TOn ics laboratory for Physics practical work,the abandonm ent of all part-time day hobbyclasses, the curtailment of apbrentice classes,the acquisition of art class-rooms for theteaching of engineering with consequentoverloading of art classes, the continued useof AfJplied Engi neering laboratories and theLibrary as theory class-rooms, and the establishmentof classes of forty instead of thirt y,all helped to keep the school functioning. Itwas most heartening to see the spirit withwhich both staff and students accepted theseemergency meosures.It is {Jleasing to report that seven newclass-rooms should be ready for occupationby the end of April, 1958. A contract hasbeen let for the erection of these rooms onthe roof of the Diploma wing and constructionhas already commenced. In order toprovide tenibcrary accommodation duringfirst term next year, arrangements have beenmode to oex u{JY the Recreation Pavilion adjacentto the school. Th is will provide twoadditio nal class-rooms.Staff changes for th is year constituted a record.The promotion of Mr. Buchanan toPreston, and Mr . David as Principal of T ottenhamT echnical School, left r~ a p s difficultto till. Th e appointment of 1\4r. Jordan asHead Master gave us great satisfaction. T his\V(L~ short-lived as he has been fJromoted toCollingwood Technical School in 19 58. Hisplace will be taken by Mr . \V ooc1s, at presentHeed. Master of Box Hill . Th e transfer ofMr. Hall to Preston 1vas a severe blow to OILrCarpentry department. On the credit side ofthe ledger the promotion of a number ofteachers within the school gave us greatpleasure as it provided further evidence of th egrowth and importance of the school. Th esefortunate teachers included Messrs. Hal/Jin,Fl)'nn, HO/Jwood, KnafJp , Davc)' , Broadfoot,Davis, Tal/nton and Bydder. Th is satisfactionwas somewhat offset by the promotion toother schools of Me ssrs. Hunt, Christianson,Ross. Ap/Jleton . Richards and a number ofStuclent Instructors. Among the new a{Jpointmerits we were pleased to welcome M essrs._Mills, Middle ton, V erge, O'Brien, Coote,Birch, Carlos, T onkin , Serin , Flanagan. Hannah,1\)'an. Underwood, i\llen. Devlin, Hand .Harrison, lanes. Lascelles, Lawrence, Norris,Pace, Becker lind a number of teachers intraining. Thes e changes indicate the tremendousactivity that is going on i/1 technicalschools and arc indicative of the developmentof the school.2