Alice Whitley

Alice Whitley MBE (6 February 1913 – 1990)[1][2] was an Australian chemist and educator. Whitley focused on the science education of women and was a 50-year faculty member at her alma mater, the MLC School. She worked as a science teacher and headmistress. Whitley served as president of the Australian Science Teachers Association and the Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools.

Alice Whitley

MBE
Born(1913-02-06)6 February 1913
Stanmore, New South Wales, Australia
Died1990 (aged 76–77)
EducationUniversity of Sydney (BS)
University of London (PhD)
OccupationChemist, science teacher, head teacher

Early life and education

Alice Whitley was born on 6 February 1913 to Alfred and May Whitley in Stanmore, New South Wales.[3][4] Whitley attended MLC School in Burwood, Sydney from 1921 to 1930 and was awarded Dux of College in 1930.[5] She earned a degree in Science from the University of Sydney then taught mathematics at Brighton College, Manly and at SCEGGS Moss Vale, and was a science and mathematics teacher at MLC School, Burwood, Sydney from 1941 to 1952. From 1952 to 1954, Whitley attended London University where she earned a PhD for her thesis in chemistry before returning to MLC School as Head of Science & Deputy Headmistress from 1955 to 1959.[5]

Career

Whitley was Headmistress of MLC School in Burwood, Sydney, where she had attended as a student, for a total of 12 years, from 1960 to 1972.[5] She was the last Headmistress before 1972, when the positions of principal and headmistress were amalgamated.[5]

Whitley actively promoted the importance of science education through her involvement with the Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA), where she was president from 1956 to 1957, and vice president from 1958 to 1959. She was a member of the Commonwealth Science Advisory Committee for State Secondary Schools and helped formulate the science syllabus for the new NSW Higher School Certificate.[5] As an academic and professional in her own right, she contributed to scientific journals and co-authored two books.[5] Whitley also advocated for a balanced education in particular with regards to art education, sport (by establishing a sport and physical education program in 1963)[5] and the Girl Guides movement. At Speech Night in 1969 was quoted as lamenting the "lackadaisical attitude of a permissive society which places too much importance on examination results and not enough on the continuing process of learning" and stressed her commitment to the sports program.[5]

Whitley was president of the Association of Heads of Independent Girls Schools (AHIGS) in 1963.[6]

Honours and legacy

On 11 June 1966, Whitley was named a Member of the British Empire.[7]

Whitley died aged 77 years old. A memorial service was held in her honour in Potts Hall at MLC School Burwood on the 25 August 1990.[8][9] The plant molecular biologist Elizabeth Dennis, a former MLC student, quoted Whitley as an inspiring chemistry teacher.[10][11] The library at MLC School (ILC = Independent Learning Centre) is named after Whitley. After her death, the Australian College of Educators (NSW Chapter) presented a "Dr Alice Whitley Award for Science Education".[12]

Selected works

Journal articles
  • Anderson, JRA; Whitley, Alice (1952). "The determination of rf values of metallic ions using diethyl ether as solvent". Analytica Chimica Acta. 6: 517–520. doi:10.1016/S0003-2670(00)86984-6.
  • Bradley, DC; Wardlaw, W; Whitley, Alice (1955). "Normal alkoxides of quinquevalent tantalum". Journal of the Chemical Society: 726–728. doi:10.1039/JR9550000726.
  • Bradley, DC; Wardlaw, W; Whitley, Alice (1956). "The effect of solvents on the molecular complexities of tantalum n-alkoxides". Journal of the Chemical Society: 5–7. doi:10.1039/JR9560000005.
  • Martin, RL; Whitley, Alice (1958). "Magnetic studies with copper(II) salts. Part III. The constitution of copper(II)n-alkanoates in solution". Journal of the Chemical Society: 1394–1402. doi:10.1039/JR9580001394.
  • Livingstone, SE; Whitley, A (1962). "The Interaction of Various Ligands with Halogen-Bridged Anionic Complexes of Bivalent Platinum and Palladium". Australian Journal of Chemistry. 15 (2): 175–180. doi:10.1071/CH9620175.

Textbooks
  • Simmons, LM; Whitley, Alice (1958). A new approach to chemistry for the first three secondary years. Sydney: Brooks.

References
  1. "Dr Alice Whitley: biographical memoirs. -Obituary-". Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales. 124 (359–362): 83–84. 1991. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  2. "[Biographical cuttings on Alice Whitley, Dr., science teacher, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]". 1900. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  3. "Births". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 April 1913. p. 8. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  4. Births, Deaths & Marriages
  5. S., Coupe; R., Coupe; E., Harper. Walk in the light : MLC School Burwood, a centenary history. pp. 156, 157, 164, 165, 196, 198, 201. ISBN 1862521344. OCLC 927004545.
  6. "Association of Heads of Independent Girls Schools (AHIGS) > AHIGS > About AHIGS". www.ahigs.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  7. "Supplement to the London Gazette" (PDF). The London Gazette. 11 June 1966. p. 6568. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  8. "In a top class of her own". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 August 1990. p. 8. Retrieved 24 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. MLC School Archives
  10. "MLC School Alumni in Science". www.mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au. MLC School Sydney. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  11. Bhathal, Ragbir (1999). Profiles : Australian women scientists. National Library of Australia. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-642-10701-5.
  12. "Prof. Mike Archer AM - CREATE - Coalition for Research into the Evolution of Australian Terrestrial Ecosystems - University of New South Wales - Australia". www.create.unsw.edu.au. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
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