Leila Agnes Sophie Hurle (5 June 1901 – 24 February 1989) was a New Zealand principal and senior school inspector. She was born in

New Plymouth New Plymouth ( mi, Ngāmotu) is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, Devon from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. ...

, New Zealand on 5 June 1901. She is buried at

Te Henui Cemetery Te Henui Cemetery, also known as New Plymouth Cemetery, is the oldest public cemetery in New Plymouth, New Zealand. It was first used in 1861. The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "the great mistake" for . ...

in New Plymouth. As a high school student at New Plymouth Girls’ High School in 1920, Hurle won honorable mention in the Royal Colonial Institute Essay Competition, open to students in all the British colonies, and won the Empire Day Essay Challenge Cup for her school. She received a

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...

from

Otago University , image_name = University of Otago Registry Building2.jpg , image_size = , caption = University clock tower , motto = la, Sapere aude , mottoeng = Dare to be wise , established = 1869; 152 years ago , type = Public research collegiate u ...

, where she won the James Clark Prize in Latin. She worked at New Plymouth Girls’ High School for five years, studied French at the

Sorbonne Sorbonne may refer to: * Sorbonne (building), historic building in Paris, which housed the University of Paris and is now shared among multiple universities. *the University of Paris (c. 1150 – 1970) *one of its components or linked institution, ...

, and returned to New Zealand to teach languages at

Christchurch Girls' High School Christchurch Girls' High School in Christchurch, New Zealand, was established in 1877 and is the second oldest girls-only secondary school in the country, after Otago Girls' High School. History Christchurch Girls' High School was established i ...

for eight years, before being appointed as headmaster of

Timaru Girls' High School "Knowledge is Power" , type = State, Girls, Secondary (Year 9-15), with boarding facilities , established = 1880 , address = Cain Street, Timaru, New Zealand , coordinates = , principal = Deb Hales , roll = ) , decile ...

in 1938. Also published i
New Zealand Herald
an
Auckland Star
She returned to New Plymouth Girls’ High School as headmaster in 1942, a position she held in parallel to being a school inspector. In 1947, she led the inaugural panel selecting students for post-primary teacher training bursaries. New Plymouth Girls' High School awards a Leila Hurle prize at its annual prize giving.

References

1901 births 1989 deaths New Zealand women academics School inspectors Christchurch Girls' High School faculty Burials at Te Henui Cemetery People from New Plymouth University of Otago alumni People educated at New Plymouth Girls' High School {{NewZealand-academic-bio-stub

Further reading

References