1994 School Magazine

Girls' 61aiiiiiiar Sc11o01 longbaiie 199+

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between years 10 and 12 Canadian schools ITave a 11NclT lower retention rate than At1stTallan schools. As in the USA the biggesi problems in schools are violence and conftision, which ftirthei complicate difficulties flowing from the financial situation. Little

ILtre of suclt groups as NortlT American Indians and the Innuit to be cherished Not all educational experiences are positive: the impact of racial tension, especially black/white, in major cities like

money is spent on tech- nology studies in Toronto and elsewhere. There is no state at <1 10 in depend- Grit scliools and fees are payable for. tertiary stud- Ies. AlllioLigli salaries for teachers are inucli 111ghei than Ihose in Australia, ;incl tilei'e are associated I)uricfits, nevertheless Mr Siniili, like nTany others, sueinccl\, eiydisillusioned willI 111e system it is always gratifying 10 ITear of the successes aclTieved by past students, but the pride rises exponentialIy when the successful past student is your own daughter Working for advertising

should be concerned Scornsh System, as out- lined by Gamer on Harrison, Director of the Scottish Consultative Council on Curriculum He suggests that one ~ developments in the Chicago, Boston and San Francisco renders many areas no-go for whiles This provided the basis of intich reflection, par ticularly on directions being established in Australian educational practices Curte ni North American discussions in education can gain intich from the latest

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yenhdi?!'e 11dJicock. 11/1' andiU!s H, I, ICOck

with contin\Iai incre- giant I Waiter Thornpson, 11Ty daughter Stephanie ITas a very mental improvement rather than the imposition of change for higlT profile position, as Executive Directol. , wliicli necessitates its own sake. The real curriculuni is determined by the teacher, Iteqtient trips 10 Paris, London and New York. She says that the not the course writer, because it reflects what is really happen- solid basis of ITer studies at Grammai and in particular' ITer ing in the classroom. Moreover, it grows out of the ethos of the FIGnclT studies with Mrs Thornquist have been invaluable in her school and so incorporates the ethical and moral vanjes woi'1< and travels. Stephanie's major responsibility at present is inherent in the school culture. Hence, for improvement to

overseeing the mammoth KGlloggs ;ICcoLint in Noi'TIT America Moving o1T 10 San Francisco, I spent a clay willI Sister Anne Conroy at 11, c Sitci'c COGLir Convent School, inc only single sex school left in Califoi'niti. it utters for about 250 girls, hut theIC is 11 130ys liranch, and plans ICsponsil>itiiy in 111is area. Sister Anne spol

continue 111ere nTust be two focuses

.- - ' "' for' action; consideration of the teacher as a professional, and of the school CLIlture. Schools, through their CUI- lure, climate and ethos do make the difference, an <1 the difficulties arise in trying to find the ITTeans to translate this so all schools can make a differ- ence for all people. This is something that the Queensland model has en- couraged. Queensland can be proud of the directions it has established in education, for inucll that we do here leads the world I thank the Board of Trustees for providing David and myself willT The opportunity which the visit to the USA and Canada provided for. Tenec- tion and learning IUDITH A. HANCOCK --. ~*

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Canada, however, accepts the value of diversity and envisions a nTosaic within its population, with Govern- merit initiatives allowing for' the CUI-

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Julss will^^Ills 111 BOS!oil

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