William James Adey CMG (27 May 1874 – 23 May 1956) was an Australian educationist and public servant.

Early life and education

Adey was born near

Clare Clare may refer to: Places Antarctica * Clare Range, a mountain range in Victoria Land Australia * Clare, South Australia, a town in the Clare Valley * Clare Valley, South Australia Canada * Clare (electoral district), an electoral district * Cl ...

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

to farmer Charles George Adey and Ann, ''née'' Ritchie. He attended state primary schools before studying at

Grote Street Grote Street is a major street running east to west in the western half of Adelaide city centre, in Adelaide, South Australia. It is on the northern border of Chinatown and the Adelaide Central Market, and is a lively centre for shopping and re ...

Training College in 1894 and at Melbourne Training College in 1907; he also studied part-time at the

University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide (informally Adelaide University) is a public research university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. The university's main campus is located on N ...

(1909–15), although he never graduated.

Career

He worked as a primary school teacher from 1895 to 1909 in various schools. In 1909 Adey was appointed inaugural headmaster of Adelaide High School, a position he held until 1919. He was inspector of high schools from 1919 to 1920 before becoming superintendent of secondary education. In 1929 he became director of education, although he was the second choice and was instructed to limit himself to following his predecessor's plan; not a reformer, he followed this directive, but his administrative and teaching ability was widely admired. He attracted greatest attention for his role in the 1931 committee of inquiry, in which he dissented from his colleagues in opposing higher school fees and more limited high school admission. He was unable to prevent the introduction of school fees altogether but attempted to offset the social inequality they caused. He remained director of education until his retirement in 1939.

Charles Fenner Charles Albert Edward Fenner (18 May 1884 – 9 June 1955) was an Australian geologist, naturalist, geographer and educator. History Fenner was born in the town of Dunach, Victoria (near Ballarat), the fifth child of German born Johannes Fenn ...

was his successor. Adey served on the council of the

from 1929 to 1950 and chaired a 1939 government committee inquiring into delinquent children and state wards. He was appointed

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, George III, King George III. ...

in 1935.

Personal life

He married Mabel Edith Dyer on 17 December 1910; she died in 1915 and Adey then married fellow teacher Constance Margaret Weston on 7 May 1921 at Walkerville. Adey died at Burnside in 1956 and was buried at North Road Cemetery in Nailsworth.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adey, William 1874 births 1956 deaths Australian educational theorists Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George People from Adelaide Public servants of South Australia University of Adelaide alumni Australian headmasters Burials in South Australia