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- About NZEI
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George Ashbridge
George Ashbridge rose to prominence in education at a time of crucial importance to the New Zealand system.
In 1933, he was appointed National Secretary to NZEI, the first non-teacher to hold the position. Born in Wellington, he was a keen swimmer and lifesaver. He held a number of jobs, including wireless operator and salesman, before he began to study economics and law part-time. He gained qualifications as an accountant, and the Australasian Institute of Secretaries would award him its gold medal for the highest exam results.
For more than 30 years, he helped steer NZEI toward the goal of ensuring the professional status of teachers. The then political climate helped. For a few short decades, government, the profession and the Department of Education worked together in good faith to develop an education system that would enable all children to reach their potential. The system shifted from one that favoured children from well-off backgrounds, to one designed to benefit all children, and attracted international recognition for its achievements.
Ashbridge worked closely with the then head of the Department of Education, Clarence Beeby, and with governments of the day, first Labour then National.
Under his stewardship, NZEI achieved recognition as the national organisation with the right to negotiate on behalf of primary teachers on all matters affecting salaries and conditions of service; and to be consulted on in matters relating to the education, registration and discipline of teachers. The Legal Handbook he wrote for teachers, which outlined their legal duties and professional responsibilities, went through six editions.
In later years, his work extended around the world. He was appointed to the governing body of several international organisations, including UNESCO, and promoted the formation of teachers’ organisations in Asia and the Pacific. The Educational Institute of Scotland made him a fellow in 1953, and the Teachers’ College, Columbia University, New York, awarded him its distinguished service medial in 1954.
His retirement in 1965 was marked by many tributes – “Loss will be acute”, “Dedicated to all teachers’ welfare”, “All turned to him for advice”. He continued to work as a JP for many years, and among other education projects, ran seminars in Africa to help produce a legal handbook for teachers there.
