(1890-1970)
Like
Alice Hoy, G S Browne held positions in
both the Melbourne Teachers' College and the University for many years.
Unlike Hoy, he was to conclude his career entirely in the Faculty of
Education.
Browne was born in Melbourne, becoming a junior teacher in the Education
Department while studying part-time for his BA and DipEd, which were
conferred in 1913. He enlisted in 1916 and was awarded the Military
Cross for action in France in 1917. Wounded and invalided home, he was
discharged in 1918, returning immediately to England to undertake studies
at the universities of Oxford and London. He deferred taking up an appointment
at the Melbourne Teachers' College to undertake further overseas study,
travelling on scholarships to England, Germany and the USA.
He was especially impressed by the American Project Method, developed
from John Dewey's educational philosophy. His major book, The Case for
Curriculum Revision, published in 1932, had a considerable impact on
the training of primary school teachers. The following year, Browne
accepted the position of Professor of Education in the University, which
he combined with that of Principal of the Melbourne Teachers' College
until 1939.
His attention turned increasingly towards the training of secondary
school teachers. In 1936 Browne initiated the first postgraduate research
program in Education in an Australian university. Browne's lectures
were recalled by his students as models of clarity and splendid illustrations
of teaching technique.
George Browne was President of both the Education Reform Association
and Victorian Institute of Education Research and a member of the Australian
Council for Educational Research.
After retirement in 1956, he became known to television viewers through
GTV 9's Professor Browne's Study, which ran for 10 years.
