Peter Ramsay

This article is about the New Zealand academic. For the 13th-century Scottish cleric, see Peter de Ramsay. For the American film director, see Peter Ramsey.

Peter Ramsay
QSM
Born
Peter Douglas Kenneth Ramsay

1939 (1939)
Died (aged 79)
Hamilton, New Zealand
SpouseLesley
Children2
Academic background
Alma materVictoria University of Wellington (MA)
University of Waikato (DPhil)
Academic work
DisciplineEducation
InstitutionsUniversity of Waikato

Peter Douglas Kenneth Ramsay QSM (1939 – 21 July 2019) was a New Zealand academic. He was a professor of education at the University of Waikato, and was a member of the Picot task force in 1987–1988. Ramsay was also noted for his contributions to daffodil breeding.

Academic career

Ramsay studied at Victoria University of Wellington, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree, as well as a Diploma of Education and a Diploma of Teaching from Wellington Teachers' College.[1][2] His MA thesis, supervised by Ian McLaren and completed in 1969, was titled Planning, policy, and practice in Maori education, 1936–1968, and examined some of the reasons for the relative underachievement of Māori in education at that time as identified by the Hunn Report.[3] He later completed a DPhil at the University of Waikato.[1]

Ramsay was a faculty member of the School of Education at the University of Waikato, rising to the rank of professor. His educational research and publications were across a broad range of topics, including preschool education, Māori education, curriculum development, teaching training, nursing education, the impacts of new technology on teaching, and the socialisation of teachers.[2]

Early in his career, while he was a primary school teacher in Wellington, Ramsay became active in the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI), and from 1968 to 1970 he was the first curriculum officer of the NZEI.[2] Between 1970 and 1974, he served on the NZEI's Waikato branch committee, and was a member of the national executive between 1975 and 1981.[2] Between 1987 and 1988, Ramsay was a member of the Picot task force, established by the New Zealand government to examine the school system with a mandate to examine management structures and cost-effectiveness.[4]

In 1976, Ramway was made an associate fellow of the NZEI, and in 1986 he was made an honorary fellow of the NZEI.[2] He was made an honorary fellow of the University of Waikato in 2000.[5] In the 2007 New Year Honours, Ramsay was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for public services.[6]

Daffodil breeding

With his wife Lesley, Ramsay gained an international reputation for showing and hybrising daffodils, registering 116 daffodil hybrids between 1992 and 2018.[7][8] Two of these, "Blossom Lady" and "Cameo Magic", were awarded First Class Certificates at the National Daffodil Society of New Zealand (NDSNZ) daffodil awards, in 2007 and 2013, respectively.[9] In 2008, Ramsay was awarded the gold medal of the American Daffodil Society, and in 2013 he won the Peter Barr Cup from the Royal Horticultural Society, for contributions to the advancement and enjoyment of daffodils.[10]

He served as president of the NDSNZ,[2] was awarded life membership of the society in 1990,[11][12] and latterly was its vice-patron.[13] Ramsay was also an international daffodil judge, and was involved in the establishment of the horticultural pavilion in Hamilton Gardens.[12]

Death

Ramsay died in Hamilton on 21 July 2019, aged 79 years.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b "Policy, Cultural and Social Studies in Education". University of Waikato. 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Awards of grades of membership: citations". New Zealand Educational Institute. 1986. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  3. ^ Ramsay, Peter D.K. (1969). Planning, policy, and practice in Maori education, 1936–1968 (MA). Victoria University of Wellington.
  4. ^ Fiske, Edward B.; Ladd, Helen F. (2000). When schools compete: a cautionary tale. Brookings Institution Press. p. 48. ISBN 0-8157-2835-2.
  5. ^ "Honorary fellows of the University of Waikato". University of Waikato. 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  6. ^ "New Year honours list 2007". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 30 December 2006. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  7. ^ Davis, Gill (3 April 2007). "Rooms with a view". Waikato Times. p. 18.
  8. ^ "DaffSeek query". American Daffodil Society. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  9. ^ "National Daffocil Society daffodil awards". National Daffodil Society. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  10. ^ "Waikato horticulturalist's work recognised". Waikato Times. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  11. ^ "National Daffodil Society honours". National Daffodil Society. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  12. ^ a b "Waikato's best in New Year Honours". Waikato Times. 30 December 2006. p. 8.
  13. ^ "National Daffodil Society officers". National Daffodil Society. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  14. ^ "Peter Ramsay death notice". New Zealand Herald. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.