NEW POST FOR MR G. M. KEYS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24900, 13 June 1946, Page 4

NEW POST FOR MR G. M. KEYS

PRINCIPAL OF SCOTCH COLLEGE, PERTH

DUTIES TO COMMENCE EARLY NEXT YEAR Mr G. M. Keys, who has been District Vocational Guidance Officer in Christchurch since 1943, and who is well known for his long association with educational work, has been appointed principal of Scotch College, in Perth, Western Australia. Born in Christchurch in 1904, Mr Keys was educated at the Palmerston North Boys’ High School and at Canterbury University College. He graduated M.A., with honours in Education, in 1926, and also obtained the Diploma in Education and the Diploma in Social Science. After teaching at various schools in Christchurch, including the Cathedral Grammar School, where he was first assistant master for four years, Mr Keys was appointed to the staff of the Christchurch Technical College and remained there for 15 years. His teaching experience in primary, secondary, and technical schools totals 22 years.

Specialising in psychological testing and vocational guidance, Mr Keys has had a long association with those activities in Christchurch and Canterbury. From 1926 he carried on vocatonal guidance work as an activity of the Young Men’s Christian Association, and from 1930 he acted as executive officer of the Christchurch Boys' Employment Committee. In 1938 the Government approved a scheme whereby centres were established in the four main cities under the control of the Education and the National Service Departments, and Mr Keys was appointed to represent the Education Department in Christchurch. When the centres were incorporated as an integral part of the Education Department in 1943 Mr Keys was appointed to his present position. He has had considerable overseas ex perience. In 1927 and 1928 he visited Canada and the United States, and then went to Great Britain, where he was appointed to take charge of a group of 35 boys who were sent to New Zealand for special farm training. While in Canada he served for a short time in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He spent some time in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, where he inquired into the educational systems, with particular attention to vocational guidance. Carnegie Fellowship

In 1939 he was awarded a travelling fellowship by the Carnegie Corporation and visited Europe and Great Bru tain, and carried out post-graduate work in London During 1940 he was in charge of an agricultural training centre in Derbyshire. Mr Keys was the first president of the New Zealand Vocational Guidance Association, and had also been presi dent of the Technical School Teachers’ Association and the New Zealand Federation of Teachers. For many years he was a member of the board of directors of the Christchurch Y.M.C.A., and is an executive member of the Christchurch United Youth Council. He is also an executive member of Heritage and the Institute of Public Administration and a member, of the Christchurch Rotary Club. Mr Keys is an official of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, and has had a long association with the church’s youth activities. While at Canterbury University College he played Rugby football and tennis, and took part in swimming, and when he attended the Teachers’ Training College he represented the college in those sports. He held a commission in the territorial service, and subsequently had command of a squadron of the Air Training Corps for four years. Mr Keys will take up his appointment at the college (which was founded in 1897, and which is under the authority of the Presbyterian Church) at the beginning of 1947, and will continue in his present position until the end of the year.