Scotch College

Scotch College: Great Scot: Linguist bids us adieu

Linguist bids us adieu

A major chapter in language education at this school will close at the end of this year, as Alan Shugg retires after thirty-two years of service to Scotch.

His career at this school, and in the broader language teaching arena, has been significant and impressive.

Alan was educated at Geelong Grammar and Melbourne University, where his interest in languages was capped with an MA in Russian. He came to us in 1967 from Brighton Grammar to teach Russian with the late Wally Butler, and stayed to become Head of Languages between 1982 and 1995.

Alan sees one of his major achievements as the establishment of language teaching in the Junior School. When he arrived there was no language teaching prior to Year 8; now boys study a European language in Year 7 and add an Asian the following year. Alan has also been active in developing computer software: a multimedia 'shell', flexible enough to be used by teachers of various languages. He was a strong advocate for the present sophisticated computer laboratory in the new Language Centre, and has also been a leader in state Standing Committees, with LOTE co-ordinators and in the MLTAV.

In the Scotch community, Alan was Housemaster of Gilray House when it boasted three sub-houses, a Cadet leader for twenty years and coach of Football, Gymnastics and Table Tennis.

Alan may well have enjoyed most his past three years as Director of the Language Centre, where he has been able to combine his great loves- languages, food and wine- in a creative way. Seven languages are taught in the evening, cooking classes flourish and multi-cultural special events have been a major attraction.

Not surprisingly, Alan plans to travel as much as possible in retirement, in Australia as well as overseas. No doubt we will see him from time to time back at Scotch. Perhaps, therefore, instead of 'Adieu' it should be 'Au revoir', 'Auf Wiedersehen', 'Semoga Bertemu Lagi' and 'Záiján'!

Mr David Paul

Alan Shugg Reflects on 32 Years at Scotch

It doesn't seem so long, but, as they say, time passes quickly when you're having fun, or when you're very busy. My time at Scotch has been both.

I have been fortunate to serve under three Principals: Colin Healey, Philip Roff, and Gordon Donaldson, and to observe the gradual evolution of the School over that period. Apart from the obvious building developments, which have added so significantly to our facilities, the main change I have observed has been in the relationship between staff and boys: from a rather formal and often impersonal one to a much more informal and friendly one. The interaction between boys and staff, in the foyer of the new Staff Centre, is symptomatic of this change, and typifies the care and dedication of the staff, which is so central to Scotch.

My greatest satisfaction has been to see the growing realisation of the importance of languages other than English in the curriculum, culminating in the provision of the magnificent Language and Culture Centre.

We are often told by knowledgeable visitors that this Centre is unique in Australia, and hope that it will serve as a model for other schools. I have indeed been fortunate to be able to use this Centre to set up Scotch's first real venture into community education, and to see it now expanding so successfully.

I was also lucky to have the opportunity to play a small part in the development of the new pastoral care system. It replaced a rather fragmented system, based on the Year-level and Form groups, with a Tutor system, where Tutors have smaller groups of 18-20, and can move with them from year to year through the School. This system seems to have the potential to deliver more effective care.

The other great development during my time at Scotch has been that of the Scotch Family. This term has come to mean not only the network of parent bodies, which work so hard to support many of the School's activities, but also has grown to embrace all who are connected with Scotch in whatever capacity. This includes the staff, and who can share the fellowship of working together for a common purpose: the welfare of the boys of this great school.

It has been a genuine privilege to serve for so long in such a wonderful working environment, and to have enjoyed the company of so many great boys, staff, and parents.

Mr Alan Shugg