Former Teacher Biographies

John McKenzie M. A. ( - 1916), Rector
 

1912

1915

The Madras College Magazine for December 1909 reports:

John McKenzie, Esq., M.A.,
Headmaster of Madras College, St Andrews

At the request of the pupils of the highest class we publish a portrait of our esteemed headmaster, and we are sure that Madras pupils all the world over will be glad to possess a memento of one whose interest in their welfare was so unmistakable, and of whom they can never think but with feelings of admiration and respect. Of a quiet and retiring disposition, Mr. McKenzie has nevertheless always taken a keen interest in all educational questions. He is an active member of the Classical Association, Vice-President of the Secondary Education Association, and a Vice-President of the St. Andrews Local Centre of the English Association. But Mr. McKenzie's energies have chiefly been directed to advancing the interests of the College of which for twenty-one years he has been the successful head, for the welfare of his pupils and his staff has ever been his main concern. The high reputation of the school for sound and successful teaching is in a great measure- due to his self-sacrificing devotion.

Educated at the Grammar School, Old Aberdeen, and at Aberdeen University, Mr. McKenzie, on graduating M.A. with Honours in Classics in 1873, was appointed Headmaster of Crathie Public School, of which for two months, until he persuaded the Board to appoint a female assistant, he was solo teacher, having under his charge some fifty pupils of all grades, ranging from infants learning the alphabet, to pupils studying Latin, Greek, Mathematics and English, for the Aberdeen University Bursary Competition. The school was honoured by the patronage of the late Queen Victoria, who presented school and college bursaries for children resident on the Balmoral and Abergeldie estates, and in the parish of Crathie. Her Majesty took a keen interest in the work of the school, and once during Mr. McKenzie's headmastership visited it in person. The Queen and her son, the present, King, also displayed a kindly interest in the teachers, who were frequently invited to the balls and other entertainments given at Balmoral and Abergeldie. In common with the headmasters of the counties of Moray, Banff, and Aberdeen, Mr. McKenzie had to pass an exacting examination in English, Latin, Greek and Mathematics to qualify for the Dick Bequest, and the official communication to the School Board of Crathie stated that Mr. McKenzie "had passed the examination in a manner deserving of very marked commendation, that the trustees had, in consequence, resolved to make him the usual allowance for scholarship in future years, and that they had further agreed to make him a special grant of ten guineas in testimony of their approval of the excellent appearance he had made on that occasion." After three years at Crathie, Mr. McKenzie was appointed a Classical Master in Glasgow Academy, where he remained for two years, removing in 1878 to Gordon's College, where for five years he was teacher of Classics and Higher English. His scholarship and his success as a teacher procured him in 1883 the Rectorship of Elgin Academy, where he taught the highest classes in English, Latin and Creek. In September 1889 he came to St. Andrews as the first Headmaster of Madras College when that institution was re-organised by the Endowed Schools Commission.

In the course of his thirty-six years' experience. Mr. McKenzie has passed many pupils through his hands, but he speaks with pardonable pride of three whose ability marked them off as far above the others. One of them, a pupil of Gordon's College, entered the Indian Civil Service taking second place in the Open Competitive Examination. The other two, a boy and a girl, were Madras pupils, and were perhaps the most distinguished students of their day at St. Andrews University. Madras pupils trained during Mr. McKenzie's term of office have won many distinctions. Two have passed into the Indian Civil Service, and one has gained the Ferguson Scholarship in Classics which is open to all students attending the Scottish Universities. At St. Andrews University, where, for scholarship and athletics Madras pupils have always been distinguished, four F.P.'s have won the Guthrie Scholarship, and five Berry Scholarships since their institution in 1896. Two have secured Ramsay Scholarships and one the Tyndall-Bruce Scholarship. Two have gained the coveted first place in the Open Bursary Competition, four the second, and four the third. Many have taken their degrees with Honours, and several have distinguished themselves at Oxford and Cambridge, supporting themselves there by the scholarships they gained.

In addition to his duties as headmaster, Mr. McKenzie has found time for other educational work. For throe years he acted as Examiner in Classics in the Preliminary and Bursary Examinations of St. Andrews University, representing that institution on the Joint Board of Examiners of the Scottish Universities. He has also acted for terms of three years as Examiner in Education for the M.A. degree for the Universities of St. Andrews and Aberdeen.

We trust that Madras College may long prosper under him, and that his untiring industry, his unfailing kindness and courtesy, and his many sterling qualities of mind and character may long continue to influence for good those who have the good fortune to come under his care.
 

The Madras College Magazine for Summer 1915 reports:

John McKenzie, Esq., M.A.,
HEADMASTER OF MADRAS COLLEGE
ST. ANDREWS.
On the completion of twenty-six years' faithful service and ou the occasion of his retiral from the headmastership of the school we print a portrait of Mr. McKenzie, and we are sure that Madras pupils all the world over will be glad to possess a memento of one whose interest in their welfare was so unmistakable, and of whom they can never think but with feelings of admiration and respect. Of a quiet and retiring disposition, Mr. McKenzie has nevertheless always taken a keen interest in all educational questions. He is an active member of the Classical Association, was Vice-President of the Secondary Education Association, and is a Vice-President of the St. Andrews Local Centre of the English Association. But Mr. McKenzie's energies have chiefly been directed to advancing the interests of the College of which for twenty-six years he has been the successful head, for the welfare of his pupils and his staff has over been his main concern. The high reputation of the school for sound and successful teaching is in a great measure due to his self-sacrificing devotion to his duties.

Educated at the Grammar School, Old Aberdeen, and at Aberdeen University, Mr. McKenzie, on graduating M.A. with Honours in Classics in 1873, was .appointed Headmaster of Crathie Public School, of which for two months, until he persuaded the Board to appoint a female assistant, he was sole teacher, having under his charge some fifty pupils of all grades, ranging from infants learning the alphabet to pupils studying Latin, Greek, Mathematics and English for the Aberdeen University Bursary Competition. The school was honoured by the patronage of the late Queen Victoria, who presented school and college bursaries for children resident on the Balmoral and Abergeldie estates, and in the parish of Crathie. Her Majesty took a keen interest in the work of the school, and once during Mr. McKenzie's headmastership visited it in person. The Queen and the Prince of Wales, afterwards King Edward VII., also displayed a kindly interest in the teachers, who were frequently invited to the balls and other entertainments given at Balmoral and Abergeldie. In common with the headmasters of the counties of Moray, Banff, and Aberdeen, Mr. McKenzie had to pass an exacting examination in English, Latin, Greek and Mathematics to qualify for the Dick Bequest, and the official communication to the School Board of Crathie stated that Mr. McKenzie "had passed the examination in a manner deserving of very marked commendation, that the trustees had, in consequence, resolved to make the usual allowance for scholarship in future years, and that they had further agreed to make him a special grant of ten guineas in testimony of their approval of the excellent appearance he had made on that occasion."

After three years at Crathie, Mr. McKenzie was appointed a Classical Master in Glasgow Academy, where he remained for two years, removing in 1878 to Gordon's College, where for five years he was teacher of Classics and Higher English. His scholarship and his success as a teacher procured him in 1883 the Rectorship of Elgin Academy, where he taught the highest classes in English, Latin and Greek. In September 1889 he came to St. Andrews as the first Headmaster of Madras College when that institution was re-organised by the Endowed Schools Commission.

In the course of his forty-two years' experience, Mr. McKenzie has passed many pupils through his hands, but he speaks with pardonable pride of three whose ability marked them off as far above the others. One of them, a pupil of Gordon's College, entered the Indian Civil Service taking second place in the Open Competitive Examination. The other two were Madras pupils, and were perhaps the most distinguished students of their day at St. Andrews University. One former pupil at St. Andrews University was second Bursar, graduated with First Class Honours in Classics and First Class in Mental Philosophy, gained a Berry Scholarship in Classics, a Guthrie Scholarship, and a Ferguson Scholarship in Classics. At Oxford, he gained a Scholarship at Oriel College, afterwards won the Gaisford Prize for Greek Prose, was First Class Classical Mods, and First Class Lit. Hum. Another former pupil was second Bursar, graduated with First Class Honours in Classics, First Class Honours in English and First Class Honours in Mental Philosophy, and gained a Berry Scholarship in Mental Philosophy. Madras pupils trained during Mr. McKenzie's term of office have won many distinctions. Two have passed into the Indian Civil Service, and one has gained the Ferguson Scholar-ship in Classics which is open to all students attending the Scottish Universities, and which has come to St. Andrews University only three times in twenty years. At St. Andrews University, where for scholarship and athletics Madras pupils have always been distinguished, four F.P.'s have won the Guthrie Scholarship and seven Berry Scholarships since their institution in 1896. Three have secured Ramsay Scholarships and two the Tyndall- Bruce Scholarship. Two have gained the coveted first place in the Open Bursary Competition, five the second, and five the third. Seventeen have taken their degrees with First Class Honours and eight with Second Class Honours, and several have distinguished themselves at Oxford and Cambridge, supporting themselves there by the scholarships they gained.

In addition to his duties as headmaster, Mr. McKenzie has found time for other educational work. For three years he acted as Examiner in Classics in the Preliminary and Bursary Examinations of St. Andrews University, representing that institution on the Joint Board of Examiners of the Scottish Universities. He has also acted for terms of three years as Examiner in Education for the M.A. degree for the Universities of St. Andrews and Aberdeen.

When Mr. McKenzie was appointed, the Higher Department of the school was at its lowest ebb. In Session 1890-91 attendance in this department was only 92, the number of scholars in the Preparatory Department being 150. Since then a gradual change has taken place and the school has more and more become a school for secondary education. At the close of Session 1914 there were 154 scholars in attendance in the Higher Department, while the attendance in the Preparatory Department had considerably fallen off. In 1891 the pupils gained 16 Higher and Honours Grade Certificates and 30 Lower Grade Certificates at the Leaving Certificate Examinations; in 1914 43 Higher Grade (Honours Grade Certificates are no longer issued) and 106 Lower Grade Certificates were gained, an increase of over 200 per cent. Madras pupils have always done well at St. Andrews University, and even now, when the standard of secondary education throughout the country is very much higher than it was, Madras College still holds its own. The St. Andrews University Calendar of 1915-16 shows that fourteen former pupils hold University Bursaries. Among the many successes of the University Session 1914-15 chronicled in this issue, two may be singled out for special mention. One former pupil was medallist in each of her four classes, while another graduated M.A. with First Class Honours in Classics and was awarded the Berry (Classical) Scholarship of £80, the Tyndall Bruce (Classical) Scholarship of £50, and a scholarship of £70 a year at Trinity College, Oxford. In 1914 twelve former pupils graduated in Arts, Science, and Medicine, and at the Open Bursary Competition held last September seven Madras College pupils (the largest number from any school) gained places in the Bursary List, one, a boy who had just reached the age of sixteen, was placed third, was awarded a bursary of £40 a year for three years, and has just gained medals in Greek and Mathematics at the close of his first session.

We append some Tributes received from Old Boys and and former Members of the Staff :—
A former member of the staff, now headmaster of one of the largest Higher Grade Schools in the west of Scotland, writes '' to give expression to his personal gratitude and affection towards Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie as well as to his high admiration for the great educational work Mr. McKenzie has done, and wishing him many years of quiet activity, free from the petty worries that so trouble most people with schools. Mr. McKenzie has done great things for education. . . . He and his teaching will live in the hearts of all who knew him."

An Old Boy, an Officer in a Highland Regiment, writing from the trenches says : "I am sorry to hear that the Rector is retiring at the end of this session. I shall not easily forget what he has done for me."

A former boarder, a distinguished graduate of our University, writes : 'The old order changeth, yielding place to new.' So the Rector is retiring to enjoy a well-earned rest after all these years of faithful service to 'dear old Madras.'

'Requiescat in pace' and may it be very many years before we have to write 'R.I.P.' . . . When I came to share the same roof with Mr. McKenzie, the story of the tawse became a legend of the past and fear gave place to affection.

I have nothing but the pleasantest recollections of the kindness I received both from him and at the hands of Mrs. McKenzie. Both did everything in their power to make me (who came as a stranger to a strange land) feel at home and happy in my work and play."

"To the average schoolboy," writes an "Old Boy," "when the writer was one, the Madras was an institution with a past in which giants had a place, a present with mortal and fallible schoolboys, and a bright and ever brightening future. The Rector embodied in his person the authority of that institution, and, despite occasional seismic tremblings, supposed by the informed to indicate the remote activities of a body called the Governors, and lesser disturbances reputed to arise from the exertions of a fabulous assemblage styled My Lords and considered by some to be exercising a long range interest in the school from a place called Whitehall, it was to him that we looked for praise, for blame, for the true and final interpretation of the law and the prophets—and for skating holidays. He taught us Latin and Greek, but he was more than a teacher, for he could bind and loose, issue decrees and annul the same ; in fact, he was the symbol of the temporal power and maybe something more. That he should ever cease to be such seemed to the schoolboy preposterous and unworthy of serious consideration. And yet, though invested with all power and authority, to the smallest and most erring he was always kind, always just, always ready to help, to counsel and to encourage.
The school boy has grown up and in his mind the school he loves takes its place in the educational system of the country ; the Governors as a body have become definable, and even My Lords can be assigned a role in the cosmic scheme. The Rector stands revealed as a devoted and patient teacher who has striven to keep the pure scholarship of the old days without altogether neglecting the learning of the new. But he has been chary of noisy innovations and the monstrous regiment of cranks has found 110 favour in his eyes. No one has realised more clearly than himself that the man who sounds a horn in the streets may, after all, only be selling penny balloons. To his boys he is, as he has always been, kind and helpful, and desperately anxious that they should make the most of their talents and opportunities.

Now, after service long and faithfully rendered, he is to retire and give place to another. After the toil of the day comes the rest of evening, and that for him the evening may be long and bright is the earnest wish of one who is glad to have been of the number of his school-boys."

Another "Old Boy" writes :—"In this world it is performance that counts. No sensible person judges the worth of an engine by the excellence of its recommendations or the splendour of its appearance. Mr. McKenzie is one who, in my opinion, by a long period of arduous, never ceasing, and successful labour has demonstrated his efficiency beyond possible question. But it is not alone for his high services to the Madras College that Mr. McKenzie has all the respect I can give. There has emerged in clear perspective from the indelible recollections of my own school days, now rapidly drawing into the past, such an appreciation of his fine personal qualities as enhances tenfold the regard which on other grounds I now hold towards him. . . . I hope indeed that it may be given Mr. McKenzie many years to enjoy the leisure which he has so well earned."
 

The Madras College Magazine for Summer 1916 reports:

The late John McKenzie, Esq., M.A.,
Headmaster, Madras College, St. Andrews,
from 1889 to 1915.

It is with feelings of the deepest regret that we record the death of Mr. McKenzie, for twenty-six years the loved and respected Rector of Madras College. Just a year ago we published his portrait and a brief account of his life and work, together with letters of appreciation from former pupils and a report of the proceedings incident on his retiral and of the presentations to Mrs. McKenzie and himself. We then expressed the hope that he might long be spared to enjoy his well-earned leisure. Kate has decreed otherwise, and in just less than a year he has been called away. We extend our sincerest sympathy to Mrs. McKenzie and the other members of his family.

Although his work in Madras College ended a year ago, he died in harness, as he wished to do. When his friend, Mr. Mair, a former member of his staff, and for the last twelve years the popular headmaster of Clifton Bank School, was incapacitated by illness, Mr. McKenzie, at the earnest request of Mrs. Mair, kindly agreed to lend a helping hand. He had spent the forenoon of Tuesday, 13th June, teaching at Clifton Bank and the afternoon in the city on business, but early in the evening he became seriously ill and passed away at four o'clock in the morning of Wednesday, 14th June. He was fully conscious till the end.

MADRAS COLLEGE MAGAZINE.

On his retiral the Governors of the College secured him an allowance of three hundred pounds a year, but he was not one who could enjoy a comfortable idleness, and he looked forward to a long period of service to the city. How short the time was to be, none of us guessed, least of all himself. He was always much more concerned about the health of others than about his own ; and although he seemed to us to be failing during the last year, he went about his duties in the same quiet way, was keenly interested in his work, and always pleased to hear about the old school. His duties on the Town Council gave him great pleasure, and, on the last occasion we talked with him, he spoke with evident enjoyment of his visit to the General Assembly as representative of St. Andrews Town Council.

Knowing him so well, we find it difficult to speak calmly of his many excellent qualities- of his unfailing kindness, of his wise thoughtfulness for others, of his courtesy, his gentleness, his forbearance, his ready sympathy, of his love for his pupils and the interest he took in their welfare. One of the most brilliant of his scholars has said of him—"He was always kind, always just, always ready to help, to counsel and to encourage." Many have acknowledged their great indebtedness to him, and many owe their success at the University and in other spheres to his excellent teaching and wise guidance. Of a quiet and retiring disposition, he made the happiness of his home and the success of his school his chief business, and thought himself justified in the result. Faddish educationalists found him unsympathetic, and if he had some distrust of modern methods, he had seen, in his

long and comprehensive experience, many fads and fancies blaze for a time only to die out as suddenly as they had arisen. Although his success as a headmaster was not to be measured by examination results or by examiners' reports, uniformly excellent as these were, we cannot refrain from quoting the compliment paid him in the concluding paragraph of the latest report. "The report on the school," says H.M. Inspector, " would not be complete without a reference to the rector. Mr. McKenzie has retired after twenty-six years of devoted service to the school, and he hands it over to his successor in a sound state of efficiency."

If self-assertion and self-advertisement had been necessary, Mr. McKenzie's unobtrusive excellencies would have failed to gain him a lasting reputation as a successful headmaster; but if, as we believe, long years of patient industry, a life wholly devoted to his scholars and his school, and quiet, unassuming, sterling worth merit consideration, then St. Andrews will not willingly let his memory die.