[UMA-SRE-20000080] Minutes and supporting documents of the Refresher School Committee of the Schools Board

Description

IdentifierUMA-SRE-20000080Extent1 itemLinear Meterage0.24Scope and ContentThis series contains the minutes of the Refresher School Committee Board which was appointed by the Schools Board to consider the future organisation of Refresher Schools for Teachers. The committee met for the first time on February 19, 1949. The committee members were Professor Browne and Dr. W.V. Aughterson, who represented the Schools Board, Professor Crawford, who represented the University, Mr C.T. Scarff, Chief Inspector of Secondary Schools, who represented the Education Department, Mrs Southwell, who represented the Registered Schools, Father Conquest, Director of Education for Catholic Schools, who represented the Catholic Schools, and Miss H. McGarvin, who represented the Victorian Teachers' Union. The committee was given a statement outlining the issues they were to deal with, these included acquainting teachers with new developments in subject-matter and teaching methods; approaching the University, the Education Department and Registered Schools to pool their resources and work out a regular programme of special schools and refresher courses as in the past the University and the Education Department had organised some successful refresher schools; and appointing a council to work out proposals, coordinate and direct them, and arrange for the necessary finance. The committee was unanimous that a coordinated scheme ofRefresher Schools should be inaugurated and felt that this was an educational development long overdue. The Education Department and the University agreed to undertake all reasonable financial responsibility. The proposed first Refresher Schools were in Social Studies, Languages, Arts and Crafts and Child Psychology, and would run between September 1949 and May 1950, with courses in English, History, Science and Mathematics to follow. In March 1949 it was decided that Modern Languages and Arts and Crafts refresher schools would begin on August 25. The former would be opened by the Minister of Education, with the Vice Chancellor holding a reception for those attending, the latterwould be organised by the Assistant Art Inspector. Nearly 250 teachers attended these schools, the total cost of which was 80 pounds. In 1950 Refresher Schools in Psychology, Physical Education, Chemistry, History and Social Studies were proposed, and the Education Department and the University approved a grant of up to 100 pounds. The Psychology School ran in May 1950 and 253 teachers attended. Schools in Chemistry (129 teachers attended), History (116), Social Studies (84) and Physical Education (120) were also run. In reports received by the committee many teachers expressed that similar schools should be held more frequently. Schools in Geography, Music and Geology were proposed for 1951, and it was decided that attendance would be limited to secondary teachers. The University and the Education Department agreed to grants of 75 pounds for 1951. A School in Geography was held in August 1951 and a School in Music was held in 1962. 98 schools were represented at the Music School, which was held at University High School as it ran during University term. A School in Geology was held in July 1952 and a School in Social Studies was held in September 1952. The programmes for both these Schools are included. Schools in Mathematics, Biology and Art were proposed for 1953. 170 teachers attended the Mathematics School which was held in August 1953, 50 attended the Biology School and attendance for the Art School is unspecified, both these schools ran in September 1953. The Art School was held at Melbourne Grammar. Official printed programmes for the Art and Mathematics Schools are included. The University paid a 116 pound grant for 1954, the Education Department paid 50 pounds. Physics and Economics Schools were held in August 1954. The University and the Education Department both gave grants of 25 pounds for 1955. A Speech Conference for Teachers of English was held at Melba Hall in September 1955, and a School for Teachers of Commercial Subjects was held in May 1956. A brief programme is included for the Commercial subjects School. Proposed future Schools were Geography, General Science, Latin and Modern History. The series also includes lists of honorariums paid to people who organised and lectured at the schools. There is no further documentation after June 26, 1956. Supporting documents included are notices of the completion of a Record of Proceedings for English, General Science, Geography, Mathematics, Physical Education and Social Studies Refresher Schools held in 1943; official printed programmes, advertisements and enrolment forms for Refresher Courses run during the period of 1945 to 1950; and a statement form 1949 of a plan for regular Refresher Schools and the suggestionof the Schools Board to form a Refresher School Committee.Collection CategoryUniversity, officialAccess StatusOpen for public accessRequest Access to RecordsRequest records from this Series

Provenance

CreatorSchools Board Refresher School Committee (The University of Melbourne)

Dates

Date1944-1956

Description Control

Previous System ID2000.0080Records Services IDUM562Source of DescriptionTabulariumDescriptive NoteNo Finding Aid. Request all boxes

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Feature CollectionRecords of the University of Melbourne

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[UMA-SRE-20000080] Minutes and supporting documents of the Refresher School Committee of the Schools Board