More
Than Just Marks - Boys' Education
How
the book came about:
Susan Bell, Assistant Principal (1995–2004) and
Acting Principal (2002–2004) of Melbourne High
School, established a group to examine ways in which
the current research on boys’ education could
be used further at Melbourne High School. She suggested
to the Principal, Ray Willis, that the teaching staff
could pool their ideas and produce a manual on boys’
education. The idea was embraced as a goal in the School
Charter and the ‘manual’ became this book.
The
editor, Janet Prideaux, was the Head of Curriculum at
Melbourne High School from 2000 to 2004 and appointed
co-ordinator of More Than
Just Marks – Boys’ Education
in 2004.
She
was part of a committee of three, comprising Vic Evangelou,
Assistant Principal, and Raymond Pask, Geography co-ordinator
at Melbourne High School and executive editor of the
Heinemann Atlas series. In Vic Evangelou’s absence
on long service and sick leave on two occasions, Acting
Assistant Principals Warren Fall and Stefan Janus replaced
him. The committee encouraged staff to write papers
and proof read them when completed. All members of the
teaching staff at Melbourne High School were invited
to submit papers on any aspect of the school that would
contribute to the discussion on boys’ education.
Some brave souls volunteered immediately and others
had to be coerced. Writing a paper whilst teaching full
time is an enormous task. It was then Janet Prideaux’s
role to proof read again, and again, compile the papers
into a text format, organise photos, find a publisher
and work with the publisher on design, layout, printing,
publicity, a marketing campaign and distribution.
Introduction
to the book:
More
Than Just Marks – Boys’ Education
is a highly readable book that covers three areas.
First, it provides a context for boys’ education
through critical summaries of a variety of theoretical
findings and recent research.
Second, it demonstrates with practical examples how
practising teachers facilitate the education of boys.
Third, it discusses the equally important component
of the co-curricular program in the overall education
of boys. The text is designed for teachers, student
teachers and academics in the everyday exposition of
their craft, and draws on examples that seem particularly
powerful in the teaching of boys, but does not exclude
the possibility of their successful use with girls or
mixed groups.
‘More
Than Just Marks is a well deserved tribute
to the late Ray Willis, for twelve years the
tireless and inspiring Principal of Melbourne High School,
the only remaining state boys’ secondary school
in Victoria and one of very few in Australia. I derived
great intellectual stimulation from my years at MHS,
and the book demonstrates how the school still encourages
the spirit of enquiry, intellectual rigour, compassion,
openness to ideas, tolerance and a diversity of cultural
and community interests.’
Hon
Dr Barry Jones AO
Chair, Victorian Schools Innovation Commission
‘More
Than Just Marks is essential reading
for all those with an interest in the education of boys.
The first chapter by Ray Willis is remarkable for its
account of how the school has re-imagined boys’
education for the 21st century, but it is far broader,
dealing with leadership, learning and teaching in a
manner that transcends gender. Succeeding chapters show
how vision has been brought to realisation.’
Professor
Brian J. Caldwell
Dean of Education at the University of Melbourne 1998
- 2004
Managing DIrector, Educational Transformation
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