How has the history of education in Australia, and our current economic and social challenges, shaped how we teach today as modern educators?
Society and education have always been two inseparable elements in this world. What we learn at school affects the kind of person an individual becomes which is ultimately a positive and a negative in itself, as seldom do we all tackle society’s influence on education and make essential changes regularly within education to reflect this change in society (Influence, 2014). Education in society’s eyes is the learning that occurs at
the school or institution from that very first day; Education is much more comprehensive
than this. Education is everything within our lives each day, that we: do, hear
and see (Influence, 2014). Our education system should essentially reflect and uphold
the morals, values and principles of our society, to prepare our students to
live within society comfortably and become leading global citizens. So how has the history of Australian society shaped education within this country?
Schools have existed in Australia for more than 200 years, beginning in the state of New South Wales and rapidly spreading to the rest of the country (Aussie Educator, 2014). Over these 200 years society has changed rapidly and therefore our education system has as well. In the 1830’s saw the idea behind education that would be the driving force behind reducing ignorance in the country’s youth and therefore would reduce crime (McCreadie, 2006). This is when the Australian government got behind the idea of education and public schools were introduced, with primary schools first and the expanding to secondary schools at the beginning of the 1880’s (Aussie Educator, 2014). Here the Australian government enforced one curriculum and one set of rules for all schools. Girls and boys had separate paths in this education system, studying different subjects; sewing versus geography, and compulsory education was introduced in the 1870’s (McCreadie, 2006).
Schools have existed in Australia for more than 200 years, beginning in the state of New South Wales and rapidly spreading to the rest of the country (Aussie Educator, 2014). Over these 200 years society has changed rapidly and therefore our education system has as well. In the 1830’s saw the idea behind education that would be the driving force behind reducing ignorance in the country’s youth and therefore would reduce crime (McCreadie, 2006). This is when the Australian government got behind the idea of education and public schools were introduced, with primary schools first and the expanding to secondary schools at the beginning of the 1880’s (Aussie Educator, 2014). Here the Australian government enforced one curriculum and one set of rules for all schools. Girls and boys had separate paths in this education system, studying different subjects; sewing versus geography, and compulsory education was introduced in the 1870’s (McCreadie, 2006).
The 2000’s are an entirely new and complex era in education
in Australian schools. Over the past thirteen years we have seen a rapid change
in two particular areas of education in Australia caused by globalisation and
change within our society: ICT’s impact on our classroom and lessons and our
behaviour management approach. Although Australia’s education standard is of
high quality compared to the rest of the world, we continue to explore and
expand our policies, curriculum and approaches to strive to crate world class
leading education (Campbell & Proctor, 2014).
We have witnessed a huge focus upon priority areas such as: rural schools and Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander schooling as ongoing and current policy areas in education (Pearson, 2009). This priority area is one that arouse from statistics such as in 2008 only 63% of these students met the basic reading and writing standards, compared to 90% of those not from this background area. The government implements many access schemes in attempt to boost these statistics for this priority area in terms of education and close the gap in education within our country. In 2008 there was also a federal government priority area focussed on early childhood development and a push into higher education, when they recommended that 40% of 25-34year olds should have a basic degree level qualification by 2020 (Bradley, 2008).
We have witnessed a huge focus upon priority areas such as: rural schools and Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander schooling as ongoing and current policy areas in education (Pearson, 2009). This priority area is one that arouse from statistics such as in 2008 only 63% of these students met the basic reading and writing standards, compared to 90% of those not from this background area. The government implements many access schemes in attempt to boost these statistics for this priority area in terms of education and close the gap in education within our country. In 2008 there was also a federal government priority area focussed on early childhood development and a push into higher education, when they recommended that 40% of 25-34year olds should have a basic degree level qualification by 2020 (Bradley, 2008).
In February 2012 ABC Television program, Four Corners, aired
the
episode “Revolution of the classroom.” The show spent time within three very different schools, and ultimately demonstrated that with structure and great leadership, any school can perform well no matter the funding or other elements (Carney & Cohen, 2012). Through increasing a schools autonomy, sustaining research into class pedagogy and adopting intensive teacher development to improve teacher quality are all elements a successful leader needs to adopt to create a successful school environment (Campbell & Proctor, 2014). |
Our education reform has been backed up with the ACARA
designing the national curriculum; AusVels. This curriculum reform has a focus
on the current globalisation of our society and its impact upon education and
what we need to teach to these modern global citizens who are our future
leaders. Focus has become more around differentiation within our schools to
encourage choice, variety, independence and responsibility of the student,
through being engaged within the community so that they can lead a sustainable
and comfortable life post school education (Campbell & Proctor, 2014).
As young graduate teachers we may not have the experience
yet, we have the upper hand being able to understand what it is like to grow up
in this rapidly changing and unpredictable society however, we need to gain an
understanding of where education has come and how we can adopt modern and new approaches
through intensive professional development (Campbell & Proctor, 2014).
One book which I have found as a great source of professional development, and would recommend to all graduate teachers, to gain understanding around the history and revolution of Australian education is: “A History of Australian Schooling” By Craig Campbell and Helen Proctor published early 2014.
One book which I have found as a great source of professional development, and would recommend to all graduate teachers, to gain understanding around the history and revolution of Australian education is: “A History of Australian Schooling” By Craig Campbell and Helen Proctor published early 2014.