Interview with Alister Fraser

Alister Ross Fraser born Temuka, 1931. Outlines family background - both parents from Scotland and always had a sense of humour and good fun. Recalls happy memories of Oamaru North School and mentions Mr Hollows and Mr Judkins (Headmaster). Refers to Petersham Books. Describes time at Waitaki Boys Junior High School and talks about initiation ceremonies. Mentions St Paul's Sunday School, Bible Class which was 90% social and talks about involvement in building bible class camp at Herbert called Iona. Recalls memories of Teachers' College in Dunedin and refers to Deputy Principal, Ken Worth.

Outlines teaching career, commencing with Probationary year at Oamaru North and refers to Principal, O D Sewell. Mentions Country Service. Talks about Compulsory Military Training which consisted of fourteen weeks at Burnham. Describes experience at Mesopotamia - a new school set up by High Country farmers. Refers to Mt Peel, Cold Hill, Rata Peaks and Ben McLeod (Stations). Mentions Ridout workbooks for English and Arithmetic and Ashton Warner's books `Spinster'. Also mentions Myrtle Simpson, Cuisenaire. Other topics discussed include: involvement with NZEI; experience at Woodend which was near Tuahiwi Pa, and was first experience of being near Maori; National training at Lopdell House; rural syndicates at Orari Bridge with reference to David and Katherine Chapple, Garth and Lesley Harraway, Murray and Doreen Vance, George Ashbridge and Inspector Freddie Baird; Ross Report; Private School Integration Act; Johnson Report - Growing, Sharing, Learning; outside influences which affected what happened in school - Maori Land March (1981), Springbok tour, beginning of Kohanga Reos (1983). Recalls applying for position as Primary Inspector and discusses grading, appointments and promotion scheme, Deep Cove Camp, Picot Report, little yellow book, `Tomorrow's Schools' and other responsibilities before being appointed Operations Manager for Ministry of Education in Southland (1991). Mentions: Dr Ken Nicholson; Paul Gay (Science Adviser), Terry Wallbrand and Russ Ballard.

Access Contact - see oral history librarian

Interviewer(s) - Patsy Lambert-Robinson

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-008914-008916; OHLC-004561-004563

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2770.

2 coloured photographs of Alister Ross Fraser

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-004561 - OHLC-004563