Girls secondary education in New South Wales, 1880-1930

Abstract

Many changes occurred in the pattern of girls’ secondary education in New South Wales during the fifty years covered by this thesis. The years 1880 to 1900 may be regarded as the foundation years. In these years girls’ secondary education in New South Wales was provided for in Government, Church and Private Schools. Of these, the last two were the most important for, at this time, secondary education was a ’select’ education for girls’ secondary schools were advertised as providing a ’superior education’ for ’young ladies’. The curricula of these schools was, therefore, more concerned with ’accomplishments and amiability’ than with preparing girls to earn a living (occupational choices for girls being reasonably restricted at this time). However, the State High Schools, as did many Church and Private Schools, gave girls both the opportunity for an academic education and entrance to the University by preparing girls for the Junior and Senior Examinat i ons„ The years 1900 to 1912 may be regarded as the period when the emerging pattern of girls’ secondary education was clearly discernible« During these years the pattern of all secondary education was affected by the reforms of Peter Board, Under Secretary and Director of the Department of Public Instruction. Under his guidance the State High Schools and Superior Public Schools became more systematised and both the academic and utilitarian aspects of girls’ secondary education were reinforced. In addition to this the system of non-State Schools became linked, by Board’s reforms, to the State educational system and this affected the organisation and curricula of the former. In this period, therefore, the concept of secondary education was broadened by the recognition given to the work of the Superior Public School but the non-State Schools and State High Schools continued to cater respectively for a social and intellectual élite. The years 1912 to 1930 saw the finishing touches being given to the pattern of girls’ secondary education in New South Wales which had emerged during the previous thirty-two years. Prom 1912 to 1930 the State and Church secondary education systems expanded, while the Private Schools declined in number. This last circumstance did not mean, however,that these schools did not continue to contribute to girls’ secondary education, for two of them - Frensham and Ascham - provided some of its most interesting developments during these years. The aims and curricula of girls’ secondary education became more accepted as a necessity for all classes of the community.