Curriculum, facts, figures, skills, etc are important but what about a safe and accepting atmosphere or new ideas, opportunities, and the motivation to pursue them? Then there are leadership by example, organization, discipline, dedication, creativity, etc. The list goes on and each of us will prioritize the items based on our own experience and values.
The stories on this page are meant to illustrate the roles played by Teachers and Administrators and how they help students grow into solid citizens of the world.
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I had the very good fortune to be assigned to Magee as Physical Education Department Head in September, 1971, when Mrs. Frances Fleming was Vice-Principal and John Mundie the Principal.
Mrs. Fleming served in that capacity for another two years, during which time her inter-personal skills with teachers and students, her attention to details, and her ability to instill school spirit won the hearts of the student body.
One example of promoting school spirit took place in September, 1972, just before the final game of the Canada vs. Soviet hockey series. Schools had few television sets at that time and they had to be booked in advance with the Audio-visual club for use in the classroom. The climate within the school for the Canadian team was at a very high level and most of the students, especially the boys, were trying to find a way to skip classes in order to go home and watch the final game.
Sensing this unparalleled emotion, Mrs. Fleming had a single television set sent to the school cafeteria just before the game started, and announced to the school that any student who wished to watch the game could do so.
There was pandemonium in the hallways as a large segment of the school population of 900 crowded into the cafeteria designed to hold about 150 people. Standing or seated on benches and tables, the students and staff cheered Canada’s every pass, shot and body check.
After Canada’s Paul Henderson scored the winning goal, school was dismissed for the day. If anyone had previous doubts about Mrs. Fleming’s ability to sense the mood of the school and to take meaningful action, they were quickly erased.
Doug Sturrock
Physical Education Department Head 1971-1998
Relive the moment and watch this video of Paul Henderson's winning goal
Paul Henderson's winning goal 1972
Hi, I just read with great interest the 1972 story about Frances Fleming. Please permit me to add my own reminiscence of this truly great school administrator.
If you have a look at the 1970 Grad Yearbook, you will see that a quite a few students have the initials M.A.C. included in their short profiles. In the fall of 1969, a number of us approached Mrs Fleming with an idea that I suspect few thought would be accepted: to start up a Music Appreciation Club.
It wasn't your average Music Appreciation Club, of course. The heavy thump of Led Zeppelin, the wailing vocals of Janis Joplin, the synthesizers of the Moody Blues, all of these and more could be heard as we members of the M.A.C. enjoyed our lunches in the noisy solitude of the school auditorium. And boy did we appreciate that music!
Mrs. Fleming was one of those rare administrators who are willing to take risks, and I hope we never betrayed the trust that she bestowed on us. (Note: Fortunately for us, the auditorium was relatively sound proof - as long as the doors weren't opened, of course!)
David Rain '70
In June 1973, BCTF Newsletter reported Frances Fleming’s appointment to Superintendent as follows:
She may be B.C.'s first female school district superintendent in the publicity from the news media, but to herself Frances Fleming is a teacher. Shift the emphasis from being a female, she says, and onto the 29 years of successful teaching, excellent credentials, and all the qualifications needed to run a school district. No token appointment, this one.
The young Frances Louise Waplington graduated from the provincial Normal School in Vancouver, 1932, and began teaching in a one room school at Stave Falls, 1944. She was principal at Pender Harbour School in 1962 and is currently vice-principal at Magee Secondary in Vancouver.
Interestingly, she has been fired by the Vancouver School Board six times. 'Prior to 1955 the Vancouver School Board policy was to hire divorced or single women on permanent staff — but married women were classed as long term substitutes, hired at the end of August, fired every May.' Impossible, she says, to advance in the system then.
Frances Fleming helped change that policy. In 1955, when the Flemings returned to Vancouver (she moved around the province with her husband and three children as his job demanded) Frances wrote a letter to the Vancouver school board suggesting the policy should change. It did.
Change and challenge seem an indelible part of Frances Fleming's make-up. This summer, with her husband, now retired, she will pack her belongings and move anywhere in the province, 'A real adventure,' she says.
'Teaching is now a new ball game and I find that terribly exciting. We are entering a new era and over the next few years those who succeed will be among the world's happiest people; those who don't will break down and leave. 'I see teaching moving to a place that it always should have been — a student teacher relationship should be a joyful thing.' The need, she says, is to be flexible and change with the times.
Frances Fleming has always been liberated. She refutes arguments of the feminine militants who adopt abrasive, aggressive tactics. She's strong in her conviction that being a good teacher is important. 'What women teachers need are equality and opportunity. I am not in favor of appointments on the basis of sex — I fear that approach although the Vancouver School Board is making noises that way — it's really up to women to prove themselves.'
Publicity over the appointment of a woman superintendent may be helpful she thinks if it inspires other young teachers. 'And it has been a great joy to ladies I know who are nearing retirement age. They say "It didn't happen to me but I'm glad to see it happen in my life time'.'
By C. D. OVANS
Sunshine Coast SD 46 has established and bestows annually the Frances Fleming Award for Inspirational Excellence
In 1997, France Fleming received theOrder of BC
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Dear Friends (March 6th 2014)
It is with profound sadness that I must inform you of the passing of one of the most influential choral teachers ever to grace our presence, Mr. John Trepp. John went into the hospital February 16th after returning from Saskatchewan and passed away peacefully surrounded by family at 11:30pm on March 5th.
John was born in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota on January 28, 1941. "JT" came from a humble home, as the son of Merlin M. and Mabel J. Trepp. He was educated at St. Benedict's Mission, Assumption Abbey HS and St. John's University (USA).
After teaching for two years in North Dakota and one year in Alaska, John accepted the choral music assistantship scholarship at the University of Montana where he studied with Dr. Lloyd Oakland and Dr. J.A. Mussulman, author of Dear People, the biography of Robert Shaw. He taught at Chinook High School, Billings Senior High School and Northern Montana College prior to becoming the Senior Choral Editor for Hal Leonard Publishing. John moved to Vancouver in Dec. 1976 to work with Northwest Musical Services and started teaching at Magee in September 1977 and retired in June 2007.
John’s influence continued after retirement as he was involved in working with a number of choral programs, mostly in the Vancouver lower mainland, but also stretching across Canada and also into the States. His presence was always larger than life and he was a constant student of the game – always deep in thought about how to help people to better understand the voice and his quest for a better tone through resonance.
To so many of us, he was not only an incredible mentor and valuable resource, but an amazing friend. He lived an intense life in every aspect, musically and personally, and he never stopped teaching or learning. I will always remember that it was he, along with people like Janet Warren, Peter Taylor, and the late Teo Repel who really pioneered the choral movement in Vancouver and gave so many of us dreams to aspire to. I am certain that you each have a special fond memory involving John. Hold those memories close to your heart and know that your grief is shared by a great many people.
He is survived by his 4 sons and will live forever in all of our hearts, minds, and especially in our music. A celebration of his life will be held May 3rd 2014 at 3:00 PM at Magee Secondary School auditorium (6360 Maple Street, Vancouver, BC).
We will miss you, John Trepp, thank you for being you and for showing us the way with your passion, intensity, and love.
Sincerely,
Greg Quan
Artistic Director of Choirs and Orchestra
Magee Secondary School
