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Book Review: The Renewal of Australian Schools: Essays on Educational Planning in Australia after the Karmel Report

Book Review: The Renewal of Australian Schools: Essays on Educational Planning in Australia after... BOOK REVIEWS D'Cruz, J. V., and Sheehan, P., The Renewal of Australian Schools: Essays on Educational Planning in Australia after the Karmel Re;bort. Melbourne : Primary Education, 1975. Pp. 180. $4.25 paper. In the past, educational planning in Australia has suffered from the absence of expert critical appraisal of the kind that can foster informed public debate. The Wyndham and Martin Reports, for example, were seldom subjected to the test of published scholarly assessment. This collection of critical essays is therefore a welcome break with tradition. The authors of the various chapters have in general sought, firstly, to analyse and assess the rationale and proposals of the Report and, secondly, to suggest additional or alternative measures likely to achieve either the objects of the Interim Committee or those valued by the authors themselves. The nine chapters are divided into five parts under the headings Philosophical, Sociological, Political, Economic, and Future Planning. This arrangement is only partly successful because of common ground covered in a similar mode in different parts. In particular, the distinction between the Sociological and Political parts lacks definition. A number of criticisms of the Report recur in several chapters. There is denunciation of the global aims and of the related absence of specific, closely defined objectives ; the unwillingness to accept, even though acknowledging, a lack of evidence to justify proposals, is condemned ; the contradiction between central disbursement of funds and advocacy of increased local autonomy is pointed to ; and the failure to resolve the conflict between " Equality " and " Diversity " is frequently criticized. Though there is inevitably some redundancy in a publication of this kind, in general the analysis and assessment is very ably performed. Proposing additional or alternative programs for educational renewal is of course more hazardous than is the task of critical appraisal. Musgrave suggests that more emphasis should be given to the Teacher Development and Innovations programs as these are closest to the learning process and thus more likely to raise levels of achievement than more remote reforms. Walker and D'Cruz appear to favour further decentralization of decision making and broader accountability, though Selby Smith seems to judge that more centralized planning could reduce economic inefficiency. Sheehan proposes a novel tax credit system for the financing of non-government education. The appropriate response to these proposals might be similar to that which the authors themselves made to the Karmel Report-interesting and well intentioned, but does the evidence suggest that they contain the seeds of renewal ? A collection of essays focussed upon a single topic almost inevitably suffers from occasional repetition and unevenness. In addition, the critic's role tends to condemn the ethical position of the subject whilst taking as given one's own commitment. Although there is some evidence of these perennial defects in this publication, it remains a major potential contribution to the education It is to be hoped that the potential will be realized. debate in Australia. GERALD L. JOHNSTON Faculty of Education of Tasmania University Tannock, P. D. (Ed.), The Organization and Administration of Catholic Education St. Lucia: University of Queensland Press, 1975. Pp. 244. in Australia. $9.00 cloth. Catholic education in Australia is in a state of tension as it moves into an era of substantial financial dependence on Government support at the same time as it http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Australian Journal of Education SAGE

Book Review: The Renewal of Australian Schools: Essays on Educational Planning in Australia after the Karmel Report

Johnston, Gerald L.
Australian Journal of Education , Volume 20 (3): 1 – Oct 1, 1976
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Publisher
SAGE
Copyright
© 1976 Australian Council for Educational Research
ISSN
0004-9441
eISSN
2050-5884
DOI
10.1177/000494417602000315
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

BOOK REVIEWS D'Cruz, J. V., and Sheehan, P., The Renewal of Australian Schools: Essays on Educational Planning in Australia after the Karmel Re;bort. Melbourne : Primary Education, 1975. Pp. 180. $4.25 paper. In the past, educational planning in Australia has suffered from the absence of expert critical appraisal of the kind that can foster informed public debate. The Wyndham and Martin Reports, for example, were seldom subjected to the test of published scholarly assessment. This collection of critical essays is therefore a welcome break with tradition. The authors of the various chapters have in general sought, firstly, to analyse and assess the rationale and proposals of the Report and, secondly, to suggest additional or alternative measures likely to achieve either the objects of the Interim Committee or those valued by the authors themselves. The nine chapters are divided into five parts under the headings Philosophical, Sociological, Political, Economic, and Future Planning. This arrangement is only partly successful because of common ground covered in a similar mode in different parts. In particular, the distinction between the Sociological and Political parts lacks definition. A number of criticisms of the Report recur in several chapters. There is denunciation of the global aims and of the related absence of specific, closely defined objectives ; the unwillingness to accept, even though acknowledging, a lack of evidence to justify proposals, is condemned ; the contradiction between central disbursement of funds and advocacy of increased local autonomy is pointed to ; and the failure to resolve the conflict between " Equality " and " Diversity " is frequently criticized. Though there is inevitably some redundancy in a publication of this kind, in general the analysis and assessment is very ably performed. Proposing additional or alternative programs for educational renewal is of course more hazardous than is the task of critical appraisal. Musgrave suggests that more emphasis should be given to the Teacher Development and Innovations programs as these are closest to the learning process and thus more likely to raise levels of achievement than more remote reforms. Walker and D'Cruz appear to favour further decentralization of decision making and broader accountability, though Selby Smith seems to judge that more centralized planning could reduce economic inefficiency. Sheehan proposes a novel tax credit system for the financing of non-government education. The appropriate response to these proposals might be similar to that which the authors themselves made to the Karmel Report-interesting and well intentioned, but does the evidence suggest that they contain the seeds of renewal ? A collection of essays focussed upon a single topic almost inevitably suffers from occasional repetition and unevenness. In addition, the critic's role tends to condemn the ethical position of the subject whilst taking as given one's own commitment. Although there is some evidence of these perennial defects in this publication, it remains a major potential contribution to the education It is to be hoped that the potential will be realized. debate in Australia. GERALD L. JOHNSTON Faculty of Education of Tasmania University Tannock, P. D. (Ed.), The Organization and Administration of Catholic Education St. Lucia: University of Queensland Press, 1975. Pp. 244. in Australia. $9.00 cloth. Catholic education in Australia is in a state of tension as it moves into an era of substantial financial dependence on Government support at the same time as it

Journal

Australian Journal of Education – SAGE

Published: Oct 1, 1976

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