A personal conviction that Victorian secondary technical education was not necessarily “second rate” prompted this study - the history of Shepparton South Technical School. This thesis examines the evolution of a secondary technical school until its demise under the 1982 to 1989 State Labor Government. The technical schools were under threat from their inception following the 1910 Education Act. The first Chief Inspector of Technical Instruction, Donald Clark, warned that their executive school councils and their links with the senior technical colleges were bulwarks against their extinction. Clark argued that there was a need for strong leadership and vigilance if they were to retain their distinctive philosophy. The wording of the 1910 Education Act did not specify the development of a dual system. Yet the tech schools flourished because they were popular with boys and parents, because of their executive Councils, and because of their relationship with industry. The junior techs evolved into secondary techs during the 1950s and 60s, staffed by teachers with industrial experience who were qualified to teach apprentices, as well as the junior students. A Board of Inspectors of Technical Schools travelled throughout Victoria to disseminate information and mentor technical school staff. DTE Ted Jackson’s 1970 policy gave principals unprecedented autonomy to respond to the needs of young people within their local community.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/245561 |
| Creators | Preston, Lesley Florence |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
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