Mary Smith (psychologist)
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (June 2023) |
Mary Smith (22 November 1909 – 25 November 1989) was an English-born Australian psychologist.
Early life
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She was probably born at Liverpool in England, the daughter of storeman David Smith and Wilhelmina Fletcher, née McLean.[citation needed] The family moved to South Australia in 1911, settling in the suburbs of Birkenhead and Largs Bay North. She was educated at state schools and graduated from Adelaide High School in 1927 before studying at the University of Adelaide (Bachelor of Arts, 1930; Master of Arts, 1932), becoming a schoolteacher.
Career
As a teacher she became interested in "problem children", working as an honorary probation, officer with the Children's Court. In 1938 she was given a free passage to England to begin doctoral research in psychology at the
On her return Smith became assistant psychologist with the Department of Education, becoming departmental psychologist in 1942. She resigned in 1944 after campaigning vigorously and controversially for better salaries for female teachers, and established a private practice, becoming well known for her column in the
Full-time child psychologist at the
References
- ^ ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ^ "Psychologist to Visit Pirie". Recorder (Port Pirie, SA : 1919 - 1954). 7 October 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
