Funded Research Project

Project Title: Educating the Adolescent: An historical study of curriculum, counselling and citizenship in Australia 1930s-70s

Chief Investigators: Associate Professor Julie McLeod and Dr Katie Wright

Administering Organisation: The University of Melbourne

Funded by: ARC Discovery Project grant 2009-2011

Project Summary: This project is a history of the education of Australian adolescents during the mid‑twentieth century (1930s‑70s). It investigates international and Australian practices and debates concerning how best to prepare adolescents for citizenship; and examines changing ideas about the 'good student', and the role of school curriculum and counselling services in shaping student values and wellbeing. Combining documentary and oral history research, it provides historical perspectives on these topical issues, which will benefit policy, teacher education and teaching practice. It will create an oral history archive for, and deepen community and professional knowledge of, an important period of Australian educational history.