MAUREEN HOY
Eileen Marewa Bone, B.A. - A teacher ahead of her time
Born 12 June 1918. Died 10 February 2000 aged 82. Beginning as an infant in a
Montessori school, then later at Nelson Girls College and Otago University,
Eileen's classical Latin and Greek education gave her a sound understanding
of language acquisition which led to an innovative and creative teaching
career.
Eileen taught at Marsden College, spent eleven years teaching in England, and returned to New Zealand in 1963 to teach at Waiwhetu Girls' High School. When that school was closed Eileen went to teach at Naenae College where she remained until her retirement.
Her teaching methods were well ahead of her time. She practised a
child-centred learning and teaching technique in English language and
literature which inspired many of her colleagues to emulate. This method
concentrated on thematic learning and finding out where each student's
ability level lay. She would then find from the student what topic really
interested that student and through stories, poems and plays led each student
on to a higher level of language understanding and command.
Although Eileen won a Divinity prize at school and had a deep knowledge of
the Bible, her wide reading of philosophy and science led her to become a
free-thinker in the Humanist and Rational tradition. Later in the early
seventies she found that the Humanist Society of New Zealand, formed in 1967,
had established a Wellington branch. She became an early member of the branch
and one its most loyal supporters and gave much time and effort in making
submissions to Government on issues of education and human rights.
Eileen was also a highly respected member of the Skeptics Society, the Voluntary Euthanasia Society, the Pacific Institute of Resource Management, and supported many people-centred organisations such as the Women's Loan Fund.
Always concerned for the rights of others she will be greatly missed by a wide circle of friends and family. Although she never married (being one of many women whose many male friends died at war) and never had children of her own, Eileen had a great care for the welfare of children and enjoyed their company. She is survived by her older brother Alan, his family and their children.
Maureen Hoy is a Wellington member of the Humanist Society of New
Zealand.