Ogilvie and New Town High Schools will become coeducational from 2022, the state government has announced
News that two Hobart single-sex public high schools will become coeducational in 2022 has sparked debate among the community. ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST + VOTE IN OUR POLL >>
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NEWS that two Hobart single-sex public high schools will become coeducational in 2022 has sparked debate among the community.
Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff’s announcement on Tuesday affecting Ogilvie and New Town high schools means the option of building a brand new public school in the Hobart local government area is off the table.
Mr Rockliff said consultation with school communities — including a survey of more than 1400 students, parents, teachers and community members — found strong support for more coeducational opportunities in Hobart and the preference was to use existing infrastructure.
He said research had found there was “ample capacity” across the schools in Hobart and building a new inner-city high school could draw students away from schools that currently have capacity.
The new model — including Elizabeth College — will encompass coeducational provision for Years 7-12, with $150,000 funding for a masterplan to determine how existing buildings and infrastructure at the three sites will be used.
“This is great news,” Mercury commenter Nick said.
“We are in the New Town High catchment area but were going to have to find a way into Taroona to avoid the outdated single sex school path.”
“What a pathetic capitulation to the ‘progressive’ left by the Minister,” commenter John said.
“Specious, disingenuous nonsense. This does not create one new classroom. Boys are already well behind girls in academic achievement because of the advantageous attention given to girls in co-ed schools, while boys are indoctrinated not to follow their natural instincts and to believe they are evil suppressors of females.
“All statistics show that boys perform far better in same-sex schools. The parents of almost all of these pupils have chosen these schools because they believe same-sex schools serve their children best. Their wishes have been totally ignored.”
Commenter Mark said single-sex schools was a set up “left over from the 50s and reinforces differences between sexes”.
But commenter Michael disagreed, saying it actually made more sense now than they did in the 1950s.
“They may actually make more sense now then they did in the 50s. Think about the sexualisation of young girls prevalent in today’s society for marketing purposes (what is a pre- teen for instance), the bullying, the social media, the access to online pornography, etc etc, many of these have been tied to increased suicide rates in our young,” Michael said.
“It is one thing to say there are no differnces between the sexes but is that true reflection of our society? Women are paid less, are less likely to get promotions, are subject to higher levels of domestic violence then males. This is a complex decision with pros and cons on both sides.”
A decision on a possible new identity for the schools under the new model has not yet been made, with further work to be done in 2021.
But the decision has not been universally popular, with some expressing disappointment they will no longer be able to send their children to a same-sex public school.
Kirby Crouch has daughter Isabella in Year 7 at Ogilvie, and her younger sister Charlotte will start high school there in 2022.
Ms Crouch went to Ogilvie, as did her two sisters and her mother, continuing a family tradition of going to the school.
“I’m not too impressed. I chose Ogilvie [for my daughters] because of the history of being all-girls,’’ she said.
“As a single mum I can’t afford to send my kids to Collegiate or St Mary’s or Mount Carmel [College].”
Among other concerns raised included the tradition of both schools potentially being compromised, while others claimed they were not properly consulted.
But Ogilvie High School Association chair Miranda Shepheard said the community had spoken and the majority wanted coeducational learning arrangements.
Mrs Shepheard said while the move had the potential to be unsettling for students, there was plenty of upside.
She said increased interactions between boys and girls would be a positive, as would leveraging each school’s learning opportunities and facilities.
New Town High School Association chair Karen Commane said the impending change was exciting.
“The consultation from our group of parents is that coeducational is the way they want to go,’’ she said.
“It’s moving with the times. It’s not something new, both schools have been co-ed previously and it’s what the community was telling us they wanted.”
New Town and Ogilvie had already started sharing classes.
Students including New Town High School’s Stanley Foster, 13, have given the news the thumbs up.
“I think it is something that needs to change. It reflects society and I think it should happen now,’’ he said. “Most of my friends are on board as well.”
But former students have questioned the change.
Melissa Anderson, who went to Ogilvie in the ‘90s, said she was “really disappointed” for the parents of future students they would no longer have the choice.
“There will now be no single sex education available in Tasmania outside of the private setting,’’ she said.
“There’s something to be said for things to evolve ... but the removal of the ability to choose is a great loss for the Hobart community.”
Neuroscientist and former Ogilvie student Lila Landowski said she trusted the decision was made with careful consideration of research about coeducational and single sex schools and the needs of the city.
“I loved going to Ogilvie, and felt it provided a great space to learn and grow,’’ she said.
But she said it was a learning curve when she finally attended a coeducational college setting.
“I think the impact on social development by fostering this co-ed social interaction sooner will be beneficial,’’ she said.
Philippa Duncan, spokeswoman for Hobart High Community which supported the establishment of a Hobart inner-city coeducational public high school said the group welcomed the choice.
“It was our key ask. We will now study the details and consult our members,’’ she said.
Mr Rockliff said the move was the next phase of the Hobart City Parner Schools’ collaboration with Elizabeth College.
He said partner schools would work with their school association reference groups on preferred models, which they would take to their community early next year ahead of implementation in 2022.
Labor education spokesman Josh Willie welcomed the decision, saying the lack of a public coeducational school closer to Hobart had forced parents to travel further afield to Taroona High School or beyond.
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