UC highlights history of ACT schooling

Sarina Talip

7 August 2014: A University of Canberra research project is looking at how Canberra's school system has lived up to the vision of educator Emeritus Professor Phillip Hughes AO, who championed reforms in the ACT school system, particularly the establishment of senior colleges.

Led by education researcher Philip Roberts, the University's Centenary of Canberra project '100 years of learning' aims to critically examine the evolution of education in the nation's capital  as well as collect a variety of oral stories, to write the ACT's school history.

According to Mr Roberts, Professor Hughes' influential 1973 report led to the establishment of the independent ACT Schools Authority, which eventually took control of education in the ACT from the Federal and NSW Governments.

Philip Roberts (left) with Dr Barry Price, pioneer of the ACT government school system at the launch of the '100 Years of Learning' project. Photo: Michelle McAulay

He said that the Hughes' report also recommended establishing school boards to engage teachers, executives and parents alike, encouraged innovative and experimental teaching, including developing a curriculum tailored to the interest and needs of students, and sought to improve the teacher-child relationship by eliminating unnecessary red tape and bureaucracy.

As part of the project, the University is also calling for Canberra's teachers, parents and students to share their school memories to write the history of the last 100 years of learning in the nation's capital.

These stories will be gathered through a new website [http://centenary.estem-uc.edu.au/ ].

Mr Roberts explained that the website will try to collect the lessons of teacher education and the experiences of learning in the ACT.

"We want people to tell us their stories," Mr Roberts said. "The intent is to learn from the past rather than just record it - an approach we are referring to as the 'history for education'."

"Along with the call for community submissions we will also be interviewing important figures from the period to create an oral history."

Mr Roberts said they aim to tell the story of Canberra's education system "which has been about schools working with communities, and working with the different and unique children in every school." 

These stories will help him examine the different visions for teacher development and their impact on the current education system.