We were fortunate enough recently to have been able to catch up with Mrs McTaggart, Head of Secondary in the 1960s, who took a trip down memory lane with us, first sharing her story of how our secondary school first came about:
‘After returning to Kuala Lumpur from six months of sabbatical leave in Europe in 1966, I was delighted to find that Mrs Cox, the Business Director of the Garden School, had also established a secondary-level school at the request of several parents. I was familiar with the elementary school as my four older children had attended there. After an interview with Mrs Cox, I was appointed as History Teacher at the Garden House Secondary School, to start in January 1967. The Secondary School, I believe, had opened in January 1966, renting accommodation at the Goethe Institute. Mrs D’Orise Bain, a friend of Mrs Cox, had been appointed a headmistress and several subject teachers, including Mrs Beeton for Science, Mrs Navaratnaraja for Mathematics, and Mrs Hunter for French, among others, who were working there towards the end of 1966. Mr Tham, the accountant and Business Manager for Mrs Cox, had bought premises for the Secondary School at 16 Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, a short distance from the elementary school. The Secondary School had moved there at the end of 1966.
There were about 25 students when I arrived for my first day of teaching in early January 1967. In June 1967 the six 5th – form students sat the ordinary-level examinations from London University. Each January applications were filed for new teacher permits for the current year, a tedious ongoing process which continued throughout my time at the garden house secondary school. Contact was made with the University of London examination board. It was arranged that the examination papers would be mailed to the British Council (an organisation promoting cultural activities) and stored securely there. The exams would be held at the British Council offices and administered by Council staff. The completed papers would then be returned to London via the diplomatic bag. I filled out the examination application papers very carefully after consulting with the subject teachers. Everything needed to be in perfect order. School started the first week of September 1967, with classes from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. A timetable of six classes each day with two half-hour breaks worked well.
During the course of the school year, several other children, new arrivals in Malaysia, joined the school. By the end of the school year in June 1968 enrollment had reached about 20 pupils. This was most encouraging as the school now had five secondary classes from ages 11 to 16. However the increase meant frequent timetable changes and the hiring of teachers full-time rather than part time. Mrs Devardason was hired to teach Science full time for the four lower classes and another English teacher was added. Mr Tham, our accountant, was content that we had reached the break-even point by the end of the 1967-68 school year.
Due to the lack of sports facilities at Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, I started a judo club for all interested students of the secondary and upper primary classes at the Garden Schools. The club was held every Saturday morning for two hours at the judo club in Brickfields Rd. In June 1968 the London University exams were upon us. The four boys excelled, passing their exams with all A and B grades. Everyone felt so relieved that all the hard work, planning, and persistence had been rewarded. When the new school year started in September 1968 there were over 30 students enrolled, with three ordinary-level candidates in the fifth form. The future of the Garden House Secondary School was now secure. Mrs Cox and her husband, Colonel Cox, left Malaysia about a year after I became Headmistress of the Secondary School. When I left for Arizona, USA in December 1970, Mrs Arshad took over the headship of secondary in addition to the elementary school in January 1971.’
Thank you for sharing such valuable snapshots from the past, Mrs McTaggart. What do you remember most fondly of the school?
I have so many memories of GIS, particularly from teaching History which I did during my time there. The school only had 25 students and 5 teachers; I was the History department! I have many fond memories, especially of setting up the secondary school and getting the curriculum prepared and approved from the authority. It was such fun doing that work, and working so closely with the 25 families who were GIS at that time- we were like a small family!
A huge ‘Thank You’ to Mrs McTaggart and her 5 children who are our GIS Alumni (Angela McTaggart, Adrienne McTaggart, Ingrid McTaggart, Leslie McTaggart and Ivan McTaggart). Thank you for your commitment, hard work and inspirational teaching and leadership to bring out the best in your students. We wish you all the best in the UK and hope you know that you will always be part of our GIS Community!
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