Eric Huxley, 19, a student of the Sydney University, living at Clanalpine Street, Mosman, was struck by a motor car as he was crossing Parramatta Road near the University yesterday. He suffered a fractured skull…..he died late last night. (Sydney Morning Herald, June 13 1930)
The young man had been studying for a science degree. He was from Tasmania, and thanks to scholarships his early education had been at Hobart’s prestigious Hutchins School. He excelled both academically and at sport, just as his older brother had done. His grieving father George was headmaster of the Goulburn Street State School in Hobart.
Not surprisingly, the loss of his youngest son had a profound impact on George Huxley. It seems he allowed things to slide at his school. He had been a respected headmaster in various Tasmanian towns (Goulburn Street for six years), but the next inspection by the Department of Education resulted in a damning report. Early in 1931 he received the following letter;
Headmaster Huxley was severely downgraded and later that year he was transferred to a lower ranking school.
Blissfully unaware that their children’s education had been compromised, parents warmly farewelled George Huxley from Goulburn Street with kind words, a floral bouquet for his wife, an electric kettle and a travelling rug.
My old hometown of Ulverstone was the unlucky location chosen for the headmaster’s ‘exile’. Of course, as in Hobart, parents and staff had no idea that the new head of their school had been performing so badly.
Since January 1924 the Ulverstone State School had been under the excellent care of Mr A.A. Vollprecht. That is most likely him addressing the pupils on Empire Day 1924.
In what can only be described as adding insult to injury, Mr Vollprecht was George Huxley’s replacement at Goulburn Street! He remained there for many years.
Mr. A. A. Vollprecht has received congratulations upon his appointment to the charge of an important school in Hobart, the Goulburn Street State School. (Advocate November 25 1931)
What a travesty. If Ulverstone parents had known the background to all this there may have been protest marches in Reibey Street. My father and my uncle were among the pupils at the time. Here is a page from my Uncle Laurie’s copy book, complete with Mr Huxley’s stamp of approval. Note missed spelling mistake, which is rather ironic. 😎
And how did George Huxley react to his demotion? Well, in the following years he wasted time and energy appealing against the ruling. Meanwhile, standards at Ulverstone State School began to drop. In 1934 Huxley requested an annual inspection take place before he left on six months overseas leave;
In consequence the inspection was conducted on May 7th and 8th by Mr Jones the District Inspector, Mr. Senior Inspector Fletcher and Miss Rowntree. The results were again so unsatisfactory that once more the Inspectors recommended a reduction of [his] mark to 67, and a consequent reclassification of Mr Huxley.
Only advancing age saved George Huxley. He was now in his late sixties, and with this in mind the Education Department decided not to further reduce his ranking. In 1936, after four years at Ulverstone, he was transferred to Glen Dhu State School, Launceston. This was to be his final placement before he retired.
We will never know how much Huxley’s grief at the death of his son affected his work. What we do know is how shameful and hypocritical the Education Department’s handling of the situation was. The man they described as ‘failing distinctly as a teacher and a headmaster‘ was allowed to continue for years. Comments about the interests of children ring hollow. What was the point of an adverse report when the only result was a move to A ‘less important’ school?
NOTE – George Huxley’s older son Leonard was a Rhondes Scholar. He was knighted in 1964 for his contribution to physics.
TO READ THE REPORT OF MR VOLLPRECHT’S FAREWELL FROM ULVERSTONE, CLICK HERE