The Presence of the Past: Melbourne High School in its Centenary Year

Abstract

Melbourne High School embodies the belief that the state has the right to offer secondary education, a view challenged by private interests when the school that became Melbourne High School was first proposed. It also affirms the conviction that state secondary schools play a crucial part in the opening of educational opportunities to all students. 2005 was the year of Melbourne High School’s centenary and this paper uses that occasion to reflect on the social optimism and determination of those who fought to establish the school and on the narrowness and arrogance of the market view of education that motivated many of those who opposed the state’s entry into secondary education. It also reflects on the appeals to the free market that many politicians, educational administrators and school principals today use to protect social and economic privilege

Citation

Selleck, R. (2006), "The Presence of the Past: Melbourne High School in its Centenary Year", History of Education Review, Vol. 35 No. 1, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1108/08198691200600001