Department
Students were tested on their mathematical ability. If they had not done maths at Leaving level, they were put into a remedial group to build their skills. An excellent text book was provided to allow students to work through the syllabus by themselves, with help provided if necessary from the staff.
Science was another area, which was streamed according to ability. Like maths, failure to complete this at Leaving level resulted in students being assigned to a remedial group. In this group, they were assigned activities to improve their standards.
In addition to teaching maths, the Maths Department, were responsible for the way in which student marks were structured. They provided arguments in favour of the validity of frequency distributions and the suggestions for cut-off points.
Each department produced lists of all students taking particular subjects, set out in rank order from the best to the worst, with an evaluation mark with each name. The Senior Lecturer gained the agreement of staff concerning the cut-off point between satisfactory and unsatisfactory and drew a line through the list at the point.
It was agreed that overall, there might be a failure rate of 10% +x (plus or minus +) and a distinction rate of about 15% +x: also that the Satisfactory group (Group C) should be distinctly larger than the Creditable group (Group B).
When marks were set out in the rank order, there were a number of students on each mark. Very large numbers appeared against the marks in the Satisfactory and Creditable sections – bulking around the mean. The Unsatisfactory and Distinction groups were easily distinguishable above and below, with either few or no names against each mark. Often the numbers against marks to a clear group at each extreme. Very occasionally, no tail end appeared, with quite large numbers of students on the lowest range of marks. With such results, the Department could claim no failures.
The Science staff were responsible for working with students to plant trees, shrubs and other plants as well as to supervise the weeding of the quadrangles. They were also well-represented in running science camps and in the Mentor Cup boat race.
Programs
- Science
- Maths background and method
- Geology
- Computing
Research and Publications
Staff
Len McKenna (HOD)
Prior to teaching at MLTC, Len was an early specialist in introducing natural science on Channel 7 children’s TV. He appeared in his segment of the Children’s Session in the first week of television. It became a weekly session and continued for ten years until the last week of the children’s session in Oct. 1969.
He was the president of the WA Naturalist club in 1966 and is shown here hunting for tree frogs.
Len was keen on students doing gardening. Graylands, and later MLTC students improved the grounds, while the nursery organised by Len McKenna, was opened on Arbor Day to provide the shrubs and plants needed for the grounds.
Jack Bana
Jack Bana has been a member of the MAWA Committee every year since 1978. In most of that time he has coordinated the MAWA student activities. He is a past president of MAWA and an honorary life member, as well as being a Fellow of the Australian College of Education. His full-time profession was as a senior lecturer and also Director of the Mathematics, Science and Technology Education Centre at Edith Cowan University. He has presented at State, national and international conferences; as well as being the co-author of many mathematics textbooks for both students and teachers.
In 2024 he received an OAM for service to tertiary education.
Jack Bana – interview with Sybe Jongeling
Dick Lamb
Vale Dick Lamb 11/1/932 – 8/3/2019. Dick died peacefully at home with his family after a battle with ill health.
Dick achieved a Bachelor of Science (Physics), a Master of Education (Statistics), and a Diploma of Education at the University of Western Australia, as well as his Teacher’s Certificate from Claremont Teacher’s College.
Dick’s academic qualifications first took him onto the career path of a secondary Mathematics Teacher then as a tertiary educator and leader.
He spent 10 years as Head of Mathematics, Science and Computing and 2 years as Assistant Director at Mt. Lawley College of Advanced Education ( now Edith Cowan University).
Dick Lamb – interview with Sybe Jongeling
Dick Lamb – Obituary from Capel District Cemeteries Project
Tony Knight
…
Ken Retallack
Retallack Ken 16.9.1942 – 28.7.2019
Kerry Clarke
…
Pat Garnett
Pat Garnett has teaching and research interests in chemistry and science education and is author of over 100 publications in chemistry and science education. He has secondary curriculum and examination experience in chemistry and science.
He has been the Chair of the Edith Cowan College Board and retired as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Edith Cowan University at the end of 2007, following 34 years at the university. Since retirement he has undertaken consultancies with several universities including reviews of course and teaching programs, research centres and institutes, schools and faculties, offshore teaching, governance arrangements and quality reviews. He also chaired the Western Australian Curriculum and Standards Authority Board 2011-2021.
Bill Laidman
…
Graham Pike
…
Robert McLaughlin
…
Pender Pendlar
…
Ken Tobin
In 1964, Kenneth Tobin began teaching high school science and mathematics in rural Western Australia. He continued as teacher and curriculum developer for a decade, after which he became a teacher educator at Graylands Teachers College, and MLTC. The emphasis at Mount Lawley College was on the preparation of elementary teachers. During his time at the college, rapid advances in higher education heralded the college being able to offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Mount Lawley Teachers College led the way in Western Australia in the development of computer education courses for practicing and prospective teachers.
He has also worked at the Western Australian Institute of Technology (now Curtin University) and has been an adjunct professor at Queensland University of Technology, and Murdoch University. Tobin came to the United States in 1987 and was a tenured professor at Florida State University (10 years), University of Pennsylvania (6 years), and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (15 years), where he is presently Presidential Professor of Urban Education.
Tony Watson
Worked over 28 years at ECU.
Geoff Ring
Geoff Ring 8/12/1947 – 28/10/2023.
Geoff worked in Applied Sciences, at Mt Lawley 1979 – 1983 and later moved into computing and multi-media.
Bill Parnaby
Came from Scotland
Greg Dear
…
Leslie Hill
…
Trevor Lacy
…
John Rice
Is he a student from first intake?