The context in which open space high schools were pioneered
in the ACT is examined in the light of Basil Bernstein's
(1971) theory of the reasons for changes in curricula and
of the organisational conditions necessary for the changes
which he considers to be taking place.
The context which is examined is derived from analyses of
the perspectives and views of the Australian Schools
Commission, of the planners of the new design high schools
in the ACT, of the Campbell Committee, which provided
the rationale for the restructuring of the ACT secondary
school system, and of the Principal and teachers of one of
the original open space high schools in the ACT.
From the analysis of the context of the establishment of a
specific open space high school, "Windy Hill", a number of
factors are seen to be significant in the process of
educational change. In particular, it is claimed that any
theoretical perspective on the reasons and conditions for
educational change, if it is to have much influence on
the change process, must take into account the perspectives
of the practitioners in schools. It must also take into
account the complexity of events which affect the process of
educational change in systems and in schools.
The relationship between imposed organisational structures
and the curricular goals of schools is examined. It is
claimed that changes to administrative structures must
emerge from the existing aims of the system and
the institution, rather than be imposed in order to
effect curricular changes.
Assumptions about the nature of educational change, made
by the planners for the open space high schools in the ACT,
are identified and related to the problems perceived by
the Principal and teachers at "Windy Hill". From this
analysis is derived a set of features of school settings
which need to be considered when innovations in education
are being contemplated.
These features of the process of educational change are
used to generate a number of recommendations which apply
to the adoption and development of changes in education
systems and schools.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/218833 |
| Date | January 1982 |
| Creators | Cashman, Maureen, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Education |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Maureen Cashman |
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