John Bartlett

I attended Adelaide Technical High School for three years from 1939 to 1941. In that time I obtained my Intermediate and Leaving certificates. It was normal to achieve those qualifications in that time at the school but most high schools took a year longer.

At that time the school was located in the buildings of the South Australian School of Mines (now part of the University of South Australia) on the corner of North Terrace and Frome Road. The school was jointly administered by the School of Mines and the University of Adelaide.

There were two streams, technical and commercial. I did the technical stream. Only boys did the technical stream but the commercial stream was co-educational. In the final year there were some English classes which the whole third year attended. The sexes tended to be kept separate out of class, although I recall that talking to the girls who attended the School of Arts next door was allowed. I studied English, maths I and II, physics, chemistry and drawing for Leaving. Craft subjects were woodwork and sheetmetal work up to Intermediate, and woodwork and fitting and turning during Leaving. These craft subjects had no academic standing.

I came to Adelaide Tech from Lockleys Primary School. Although I was dux of that school it gave me no love of learning. I think that this influenced my choice of school over Adelaide High. Three years of school seemed preferable to four. I certainly had no love of craft subjects as I was not particularly good at them. None the less I believe I gained a lot of satisfaction from making things. I subsequently entered the engineering profession and I believe the practical experience I gained stood me in good stead.

It was wartime and rationing was the order of the day. Wearing of the school uniform was not compulsory because clothing was rationed. Some of the teachers were probably past retiring age but had been kept on because younger teachers were not available. However, I consider the teachers were generally competent and conscientious. I think three of the teachers had degrees in both Arts and Science.

I knew a lot of students who went to Thebarton Tech. My impression is that it placed more emphasis on craft subjects and less on academic studies. I believe its aim was to give students a grounding to enter a trade. As a central school Adelaide Tech drew its students from all over Adelaide. One, I recall, came from Mallala.

Corporal punishment was still practised at both primary and secondary school but not very often. My recollection is that only one student was caned during my stay at high school. I don’t think it had much effect, nor do I think it did any harm to the recipients.

In my first year there were 46 students in my class, 42 in the second and 24 in the final year. My teacher in the first two years was Mr C.J. Cannell and in the final year Mr H.W. Hahn. In each year there were two technical classes. I am not sure if there were one or two commercial classes in each year. When I look back we did not seem to know the people in the commercial class very well unless we knew them from some other sphere or they played in the same football team.

My recollections of the staff are that the principal, Mr S. Moyle, was a short man but forbidding; he was held in awe. Mr Cannell was a tall, well qualified and capable teacher who maintained discipline without difficulty. I believe he later became principal. Mr Hahn was easy going and even cracked the occasional joke. I think he realised we were growing up. Mr Bone, who taught us drawing, was very likeable. Mr Knauerhase, who came to the school as a young and new teacher, had difficulty in controlling the students who sensed his inexperience and took advantage of it. The physics teacher had difficulty controlling the class, particularly in practical sessions. The chemistry teacher, Mr Slee, was very well qualified. I liked him very much as this was my best subject. I think he would have liked to work in industry (his father was head of Wallaroo – Mt Lyall Co). I remember the French teacher. She seemed the epitome of Frenchness.

The classrooms were large and airy and we had a large and imposing assembly hall. The laboratories were especially well fitted out as they were used by the School of Mines. There was a large technological museum in the building. I found it very impressive. I gather the collection, or much of it, ended up in a craft museum at Millbrook. I visited this later in life and was most disappointed by the way the collection had been allowed to deteriorate.

I travelled to school from Underdale (about six kilometres) by bicycle as did a number of other students. Bicycle riding by students and workers was common then. Most students came by tram and train. The city was virtually out of bounds and special permission was needed to go into Rundle Street, except to catch public transport. Religious instruction was available for those who wanted it. The rector of Holy Trinity, North Terrace, gave instruction to Anglicans.

The sports ground where we went at lunch times was in Frome Road on the right. We had cricket, tennis and football teams and, I think, a hockey team. There was a basketball (now called netball) team for girls. Instruction was an extra duty for the teachers. I don’t recall the school having great success at sports. Rifle shooting was a sport. I think we had some good shooters.

I recall little of my school mates as I left Adelaide when I was 21 and have lived out of South Australia since I was 23. Peter Shaunessy was a close friend. He joined the navy and subsequently became an engineer. Paxton was Head of School. I recall two students were held in high regard; one because he had a brother who studied at the School of Mines and had a car which we occasionally got a ride in; the other cast in lead lewd objects resembling one of the dwarfs from the ‘Snow White’ story and sold them to airmen who trained nearby. Our most famous student was probably Bruce Gray who played the clarinet well and later formed the Southern Jazz Group.

There was a school magazine, published annually. I thought it was interesting. I remember a short story of two men finding gold in Papua New Guinea was published under the editor’s name. It was a good story. I found out later it was lifted without alteration or attribution from a book by Ion Idriess. Was it Gold Dust and Ashes?

So much for my school days. I have never regretted going to Adelaide Technical High School. It prepared me well for university studies which I subsequently undertook. The craft studies, I think, contributed to my success as an engineer in the PMG Department and Telecom. I mentioned that the three year course influenced me to go there. In retrospect, a longer course would have been beneficial. Three years meant concentrating on passing examinations. More time would have made it possible to explore the highways and byways of subjects and develop new interests.

I don’t look back with nostalgia to the good old days of long ago. They weren’t; and never will be. My father used to say you should enjoy your school days because they will be the best days of your life. They were not. I am fortunate that I had a job I liked and which gave me great freedom and challenges. I am proud of the real contribution I have made to bringing modern communications to my country. I still study and I still enjoy learning. My years at Adelaide Technical High School made this possible. My secondary education was not perfect but it has stood the test of time.

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