MISS JANET B. R. K. MARK
In the early nineteen twenties Miss Janet Mark was appointed to her
first post as teacher of mathematics and science in Viewforth School,
Kirkcaldy. Forty years ago there were few lady teachers of science in
our schools, but then Miss Mark was no ordinary person or teacher. The
girl who vied with her classmate - now one of our most distinguished
scientists - for the Dux Medal in mathematics in Madras College during
the First World War and who showed such independent strength of
character, was obviously cast in no common mould. When she graduated
B.Sc. with honours in mathematics from St. Andrews University, her
talents assured her of success in almost any profession, but to the
great good fortune of several generations of St. Andrews
school-children, she chose teaching as her career.
For almost seventeen years her little car made its way
each day with time-keeping regularity to Aberhill, where she taught
mathematics and science. During the Second World War she transferred
first to Madras College to teach mathematics and then to the Burgh
School to be the mainstay of the maths department for just over
twenty-four years. Long after the usual age of retiring. Miss Mark
continued to walk each day from Hepburn Gardens to a full day's work at
the Burgh School. Scorning the offer of a lift home even in the foulest
weather, in the evening she did her shopping, and returned to another
evening's work in her home. With the same quiet determination and
efficiency with which she tackled tradesmen's work in her home, she
organised and carried out extra duties in school. Shrewd, but kindly and
understanding, independent, hard-working and determined, she seldom
failed to obtain the maximum effort from even the most reluctant pupil.
This session she presented a record number of pupils for the Fife
Secondary Schools Examination in arithmetic. Not only did every
candidate pass, but over a third of them gained credit passes.
New pupils soon realised that to waste time in her
classroom was quite out of the question, but she soon gained both the
respect and affection of pupils and colleagues. On learning of her
impending retiral, a pupil wrote in the school newspaper : "We are sorry
Miss Mark is going. She is a good teacher. We like her and will miss
her." All who worked with Miss Mark will recognise how apt was this
simple comment and will wish much happiness for her in her retirement.
