Guide to the Records of the Australian Council of State School Organisations
MS 9614
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Australian Council of State School Organisations
- Title
- Records of the Australian Council of State School Organisations
- Date Range
- 1947-1999 (bulk 1970s - 1990s)
- Collection Number
- MS 9614
- Extent
- 11.6 metres (10 cartons, 60 boxes)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- NLA
Introduction
Scope and Content
The collection comprises correspondence, submissions, reports, background papers, Canberra Office diaries, minutes, cuttings, annual conference papers and publications.
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn142848).
Conditions Governing Use
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Preferred Citation
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Records of the Australian Council of State School Organisations, National Library of Australia, MS 9614, [series and/or file number]'.
Provenance
The collection was donated to the Library by the Australian Council of State School Organisations in April 2001. Records from Containers 59 and PB3 were not included.
Arrangement
The Australian Council of State School Organisations stored the records in manila folders, ring binders and plastic bags. Each group of records were given a distinct container number. The size of these groups varies greatly, from one ring binder to a large carton.
The Library has preserved the original arrangement of the records and the numbering system of the various containers.
The guide to the collection is based on the list supplied by ACSSO. In some cases, for example containers 7 and 8, ACSSO has listed each document and the Library has preserved this information.
Administrative History
The Australian Council of State School Organisations (ACSSO) is the national parent organisation representing the interests of over two million children enrolled in government schools throughout Australia. It comprises 11 government school parent organisations in all States and Territories
ACSSO was formed in 1947 to develop national parent organisation policies in education and to represent these policies and the interests of its affiliates at the national level. Its activities includes submissions to the Federal Government on proposed policies and actions in education areas; consultations with Federal Ministers for Education, Commonwealth Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs and Commonwealth advisory bodies and education; and provision of nominees to represent parents' interests and viewpoints on a range of national bodies concerned with education.
The governing body of ACSSO is the annual conference to which each State and Territory sends four voting delegates. Each conference elects an Executive representing each of the affiliate member organisations to carry out the policies and coordinate the activities of ACSSO during the year. The Executive consists of the President (honorary and elected each year at the conference), an Executive Officer and staff. The National Office is located in Canberra.
ACSSO has produced numerous reports and a large number of publications. Its publications in the last few years include Literacy: parents make the world of difference (1999), GST information package for school-based parent organisations (2000), The new tax system and you (2000), Civics & citizenship education (2000), Inquiry into the education of boys (2000), Submission into the States Grants (Primary and secondary education assistance) Bill 2000 and Submission to the inquiry into definition of charities and related organisations - 3.1 (2001).
Item Descriptions
Series. Container 1
Master file: correspondence in and out filed chronologically, mid 1988 to end 1989. (File) - carton 1
Includes some relevant attachments: records of meetings of external groups, submissions, extracts from Hansard, as well as correspondence from Joan Sallis in response to a suggestion to compile a history of the ACSSO
Bodies include Australian Teachers' Federation, Australian Education Council, Australian Parents' Council, Higher Education Round Table, Human Rights Australia, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, National Language Policy Liaison Group, Forum of National Peak Non-government Organisations
1 ring binder
Series. Container 5
Master file: correspondence in and out filed chronologically, 1990 (File) - carton 2
Includes correspondence to/from/ about Department of Education Employment and Training, Australian Council of Social Services, Nutcote, Australian Teachers' Union, National Language Policy Liaison Group, various State/Territory Department of Education and ACSSO affiliates, Australian Curriculum Studies Association, Standards Australia, Youth Affairs Council of Australia, Macquarie University, How do we know they are learning? and Parents' report
1 ring binder
Series. Container 7
Youth unemployment: an information paper, 15pp.- Catherine Blakers, September 1980 (File) - carton 2
Transition from school to work: the Australian context, 8pp. - Catherine Blakers, July 1978 (File) - carton 2
National Advisory Body on Teacher Education - a background to Recommendation 7.2 of the Report to the National Inquiry into Teacher Education 9pp.- Catherine Blakers, December 1980 (File) - carton 2
Having a say: parent participation in school decision-making, 10pp., Catherine Blakers, November 1981 (File) - carton 2
Parent participation in school councils: a draft paper for publication in Curriculum Perspectives, 5pp., Catherine Blakers, December 1981 (File) - carton 2
Parent participation in decision-making: a draft paper for discussion and comment, 37pp., Catherine Blakers, March 1981 and comments from Bruce Milligan, Philip Hughes, Ian Wilson. (File) - carton 2
Participation - What for?, 4pp. - "for presentation to visiting OECD team on 1st December, 1983" (File) - carton 2
The purpose of parent participation in children's learning, 12pp., June 1985, "based on 'The Commonwealth role in improving the quality of Australian schooling' by Pat Reeve, Joan Brown and Pam Cahir" (File) - carton 2
Submission to Inquiry into the development and implementation of a coordinated language policy for Australia, 7pp., November 1982 (File) - carton 2
[Submission to] Review of Education in ACT Government High Schools, 12pp., February 1982 (File) - carton 2
Preliminary response to the Schools Commission Target Recurrent Resource Standards study, 7pp., November 1982 (File) - carton 2
Non-government school funding: information paper 4pp. - Joan Brown/Barbara Sekuless, November 1983 (File) - carton 2
Federal funding issues: briefing notes 3pp. - n.d. [makes reference to Joan Brown's minority statement"] (File) - carton 2
The basic grant to non-government schools - what did it really mean?, 2pp., March 1983 (File) - carton 2
The educational rationale for parent participation, 16 pp., Joan Brown, Pam Cahir and Pat Reeve, n.d. (File) - carton 2
Series. Container 8
'Joan [Brown] to '89': drafts, notes prepared by Joan Brown, ACSSO Policy Officer. The file includes (File) - carton 2
Notes on meeting of Commonwealth/State working party on the future of Commonwealth funding (File) - carton 2
"Parents and curriculum" - address to the NSW Federation of Infant School Clubs, September 1987 (File) - carton 2
Liberal and national higher education policy: comments in the light of ACSSO policy, 1989 (File) - carton 2
Questions for Minister/DEET on the implementation of General Recurrent Grants Program (File) - carton 2
Working outline of ACSSO contribution to discussions on Commonwealth funding for schools post, 1992 (File) - carton 2
Series. Container 9 - carton 2
'Poverty: human relations', 1974-1975. The file comprises background papers, correspondence and submission to the Australian Commission of Enquiry into Poverty. Much of the information for the background comes from Victorian Council of State School Organisations and Victorian Federation, including the Inner Suburban Education Action Committee, Melbourne and material from Susan Ryan, ACSSO Executive Officer
Papers relating to poverty and human relations (File Folders 1-3)
There are also correspondence between ACSSO (Susan Ryan) and Minister Kep Enderby re the proposed Human Rights Bill (1975) and submission to the Royal Commission on Human Relationships (1975) and related papers (including papers of Helen Shepherd, Executive Officer). Includes an address by Ann Deveson
Series. Container 10 - carton 3
'Political', 1982-1988. The records includes correspondence to and from the Prime Minister, Ministers (especially Susan Ryan), Shadow Ministers, parties
1 ring binder
Series. Container 11 - carton 3
The file contains records relating to a National Project on the quality of teaching and learning, 1991-1993. The proposals included the establishment of a National Teaching Council. Joan Brown represented ACSSO on the project's reference group attached to the National Professional Issues Working Party
1 ring binder
Series. Container 12 - carton 3
The file contains CVs of many ACSSO office-bearers and people nominated by affiliates to represent ACSSO on various bodies, 1982-1994
1 ring binder
Series. Container 13 - carton 3
'Schools' Commission Report 1978', comprising material from 1977 to 1978 on the Schools' Commission Report for the Triennium 1979-1981 (when Joan Kirner was the ACSSO nominee on the Commission). Includes documents from various sources including Jean Blackburn, DMB (?David Bennett from the SC secretariat?), Australian Teachers' Federation, John Carrick, E.G. Dunne, unsigned papers probably by Catherine Blakers, substantial papers by some ACSSO affiliates. Some papers marked "Confidential".
A second series of papers covers Guidelines for 1979-1981 for the two Commissions (the other being the Tertiary Education Commission) and ACSSO's responses to them.
A third series covers comments on the Report, including a paper by the Legislative Research Service, and comments on that by ACSSO and the Schools Council
1 ring binder
Series. Container 14 - carton 3
'Ministerial correspondence', 1988-1990 (John Dawkins). Includes a substantial paper by the ICPA on 'The AIC (Assistance to Isolated Children) Scheme and Austudy - an inconvenient marriage of convenience' and ACSSO support for the proposal; material on higher education, the ' focus and content of schooling', proposed NBEET and Schools Council, threats to CAP and DSP, AEC meetings and The ten common and agreed National Goals for Schooling-, 'Funding arrangements for non-government schools to the Year 2000', quality of teaching, Commonwealth-State Educational Standards Agreement, two addresses by Dawkins.
1 ring binder
Series. Container 15 - carton 4
"ACSSO News" - copies of ACSSO News from v.1, no.1 (1992?) - v.3, no.4 (Nov. 1994) together with drafts of articles used and address lists for mailouts; Parents report, special edition, issue no. 4, Feb 1992; ACSSO Communique, issues 1 and 2 (undated) - 'Parent Consultation and Clearing House on National Curriculum issues'
1 folder
Series. Container 16 - carton 4
Index to items in box files, alphabetical, covering period 1977-1983. Index ranges from 'Aboriginal education' to 'Youth'
1 ring binder
Series. Container 17 - carton 4
'National coalition', 1982-1983. Contains a copy of the National Education Campaign 1982-1983 Electorate Kit, complied by Bill Leslie (Australian Teachers' Federation), National Campaign Coordinator
1 ring binder
Series. Container 18 - carton 4
'UNESCO'. The file contains records relating to Joan Kirner's resignation from the Australian National Commission for UNESCO (10 Feb 1978) in protest at John Kerr's appointment as Australian Ambassador to UNESCO. The rest of the file consists of papers circulated by the National Commission to non- government organisations from then up to 1988
1 ring binder
Series. Container 19 - carton 4
'Registration of new schools', 1977-1982. Key papers on each system (Unsourced, about 1981), Commonwealth Department of Education (1977), ACT (long paper, 1982), Schools Commission (1985?), Australian Education Council (1987), and official reports by Commonwealth Schools Commission (1985) and Australian Education Council (1983)
1 ring binder
Series. Container 20 - carton 4
'National Language Policy', 1982-1987. Papers from the Senate Standing Committee on Education and the Arts Inquiry into 'The development and implementation of a Coordinated Language Policy for Australia', including ACSSO Submission (November 1982), Department of Education paper (Towards a National Language Policy (May 1982), related papers from Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia and like organisations, National Policy on Languages by Joe Lo Bianco (1986)
1 ring binder
Series. Container 21 - carton 4
'National Aboriginal Education Committee (NEAC)', 1980-1987. Papers from the Department of Education, and from the NEAC itself ( John Budby, Paul Hughes, Errol West), Australian Teachers' Federation
1 ring binder
Series. Container 22 - carton 5
'Forum of National Non-government Welfare Coordinating Bodies', 1984-1988. Includes meetings papers, minutes, correspondence with Ministers; papers on traineeships, bicentenary programs, members of the Forum, budgetary strategy, administration of Forum, reports on Forum by ACSSO representative to affiliates
1 ring binder
Series. Container 23 - carton 5
Commonwealth Tertiary Education Commission and (Education) Round Table (Commonwealth Tertiary Education Commission 1986-1987 and Education Round Table, 1980-1982).
The Education Round Table item relates to accreditation for teacher education courses which include parent participation. The Education Round Table involved like-minded bodies such as the Australian Teachers' Federation, State teacher unions, AUS, ACSSO and the ACTU. They lobbied Ministers, education commissions, the ACTU; and participated in at least one meeting with the Tertiary Education Commission
1 ring binder
Series. Container 24 - carton 5
'Pre-1983 election-political', 1976-1983 (Presidents: Joan Kirner, Joan Brown, Anthony Ketley; Ministers: John Carrick, Wal Fife, Peter Baume; Ken Wriedt, John Button, John Dawkins, Chris Hurford; Malcolm Fraser)
Correspondence with Australian Labor Party, Liberal/National Country Party and the Australian Democrats
1 ring binder
Series. Container 25 - carton 5
'Executive working file and diaries, 1994'. Copies of papers for Executive meetings, minutes up to July 1994 and diaries for late 1993
1 ring binder
Series. Container 27 - carton 6
Department of Employment Education and Training: National Professional Development Program, 1994-1995. Includes correspondence between DEET and ACSSO about the National Professional Development Program
1 folder
Series. Container 28 - carton 6
'DEET 1992-94". Records (1993-1994) include correspondence between ACSSO and Department of Education Employment and Training on a variety of topics, including release of reports, Grant-in-Aid, briefings and consultations, papers about evaluations of Commonwealth programs and Inquiries, draft papers for ACSSO comment, administrative guidelines, funding for ACSSO Quality Schooling Program projects
1 ring uni
Series. Container 31 - Box 7
Schoenheimer project, 1977-1980. Includes correspondence from 1973 and H.P. Schoenheimer's suggestion that ACSSO distribute his book Good Australian Schools. The correspondence and papers from late 1976 deals with ACSSO's wish to see Schoenheimer's writings published after his death. The book, Schoenheimer on Education, was eventually launched in March 1980 by Kim Beazley Senior
1 folder
Correspondence (mostly copies of letters written by Wendy Wilkins, Assistant to President and Joan Brown, President) concerning the visit of Professor Laurence A. Cremin from Columbia University in May/June/July 1980, sponsored by the Schools Commission. There is also correspondence between Joan Kirner and P.D. Tannock of the Australia-U.S. Education Policy Project.
1 folder
COPSE (Combined Organisations for Public Sector Expenditure) campaign: papers on an Australian Teachers' Federation-sponsored national campaign on Australian economic policies in 1977 (Malcolm Fraser), involving ACSSO (Joan Kirner) and a wide range of other bodies. Final papers from 1979
1 folder
Files on E Day 29 April 1976 (starts late 1975)
2 folders
Series. Container 32 - Box 7
SC-funded Schools Exchange and Travel Scheme. Comprising correspondence and reports between ACSSO and the School Commission, 1976-1984, evaluation of pilot project 1975 (Western Australia Department of Education) and later evaluation, 1975-1978 (Murdoch University, including Barry McGaw)
1 folder
Correspondence and papers concerning the Commonwealth Schools Commission National Schools Computing Committee, 1983-1984 (Paul Jeremy, ACSSO representative) and a copy of Teaching, Learning and Computers in Primary Schools, produced by the Second National Advisory Committee, 1985
1 folder
Papers on tertiary education, including Tertiary education fees public opinion poll, March 1985 (confidential report prepared for Federation of College Academics); Tertiary education report; education unions report to the Australian public (published by Higher Education Round Table, Nov 1984; items about access to and impact of Higher Education Round Table, November 1984); Higher Education Round Table media release attachment '18 questions about the Wran Report'
1 folder
Series. Container 33 - Box 8
'Progress report on General Building Grants program' by the Commonwealth Schools Commission, December 1974
1 item
'Comparative Capital costs of Government and non-government schools in Australia', Australian Government Printer, 1978
1 item
'A review of the Commonwealth's Capital Grants Program", a report to the Commonwealth Schools Commission, June 1985
1 item
Papers and cuttings relating to ACSSO's campaign on tax deductions and rebates for education, 1973-1975
1 folder
Building costs: government/non-government school, n.d.
1 folder
Miscellaneous papers, n.d.
1 folder
Series. Container 34 - Box 8
1976 Correspondence between ACSSO (Joan Kirner) and Senator John Carrick on Commonwealth Schools Commission's matters, including funding and Commonwealth Schools Commission report on Rolling Triennium, 1977-79
1 folder
Schools Commission Report, 1977. Includes ACSSO Submission to the Commonwealth Schools Commission for the 1978-80 Report, May 1977 (27pp. and appendices; probably written by Catherine Blakers), drafts, submissions by affiliate and other organisations (including the National Catholic Education Commission), papers from the Commonwealth Schools Commission, some correspondence and a copy of Commonwealth Schools Commission Report for 1978
1 folder
Schools Commission Report/funding, 1978-1979. Includes correspondence between ACSSO (Joan Brown) and Minister John Carrick on Commonwealth Schools Commission matters; Australian Teachers' Federation papers; ministerial statements; formal ACSSO response to Commonwealth Schools Commission Report 1979-1981 together with responses to information campaign; Government Guidelines for Education Commissions 1980 and responses from Australian Teachers' Federation, ACSSO, National Catholic Education Commission, affiliate responses, plus media references to Joan Brown's Minority Report in 1981 and paper by Joan Kirner and Catherine Blakers for 1979 ACSSO Conference 'ACSSO and the Schools Commission, 1973-1979'
1 folder
Series. Container 35 - Box 9
Commonwealth Schools Commission, 1973: contains correspondence between ACSSO (John Riddell, President and Susan Ryan, Executive Officer) and various parties concerning the establishment of the Commonwealth Schools Commission, including submissions to the Interim Committee for the Commonwealth Schools Commission (Peter Karmel, Chair) and its Report. The correspondents include Joan Kirner and VicFed, DOGS and Kim Beazley, other ACSSO affiliates.
1 folder
Commonwealth Schools Commission, 1974-1975: contains correspondence between ACSSO and Commonwealth Schools Commission, including copies of Commonwealth Schools Commission documents such as 'Progress report on expenditure in 1974-', ACSSO submission for triennium 1976-1978, the subsequent report and ACSSO's response (Helen Shepherd and Brenda Nicholson), supplementary submission by ACSSO
1 folder
Commonwealth Schools Commission papers: various addresses by Ken McKinnon, foundation Chair of the Commonwealth Schools Commission; another by Bill Cleland; critique of Commonwealth Schools Commission report in ACES including article by James McAuley; response from APC on Commonwealth Schools Commission report for 1976-1978; submission from NCEC to Commonwealth Schools Commission (1977?); document from Commonwealth Minister containing correspondence from the Prime Minister and the Minister to Peter Karmel, together with address by Minister at initial meeting of the Interim Committee
1 folder
Commonwealth Schools Commission National Development Conference, September, 1977: report to participants, background correspondence and a second file with full set of papers (or special ACSSO compilation of papers?) for the Development Conference
1 folder
Newspaper clippings, 1973-1975 about the establishment and early operation of the Commonwealth Schools Commission
1 folder
Series. Container 36 - Box 10
Related papers, including 'A selected annotated bibliography" (DEET), Report of National Basic Learning in Primary Schools Mathematics Conference (Commonwealth Schools Commission, 1987), Commonwealth Schools Commission Basic Learning in Primary Schools Program Recommendations 1984 and Commonwealth Schools Commission Guidelines 1985, correspondence from Julie Greenhill (ACSSO representative) on Basic Learning in Primary Schools and 'Parents as Partners'
1 folder
Early Literacy Inservice Course (ELIC): records include a copy of 'The other side of ELIC' (NSW Department of Education, 1986) and related minor documents
1 folder
Series. Container 37 - Box 10
Papers about the 1977 Commonwealth Schools Commission Work Program, including some correspondence, and a circular on the Commonwealth Schools Commission Program Administration for 1978.
1 folder
Papers on the Commonwealth Schools Commission Services and Development Program, including reports from the ACSSO representative on the National Advisory Group, Joyce Fitzpatrick. 1977-1980
1 folder
ACSSO paper on Unlimited Schools, based on a report to the Commonwealth Schools Commission, 1978
1 folder
Education 'Dossier' on the Commonwealth Schools Commission, 1982: press clippings and a draft commentary on the Commonwealth Schools Commission's performance
1 folder
Press clippings about government decisions to increase funding to non-government schools, plus Australian Teachers' Federation paper on "Trends towards privatisation of education in Australia", 1982
1 folder
Press clippings, government announcements and working papers about 1983 Funding Guidelines, 1982
1 folder
Press clippings about Australian Teachers' Federation withdrawal from Commonwealth Schools Commission, Jan 1983
1 folder
Series. Container 38 - Box 10
Correspondence between ACSSO (R.H. Russell, Honorary Secretary) and State Ministers of Education about 'regional control of schools' (i.e. school governance); papers from the National Association of Governors and Managers (Liverpool, UK), including a 1976 report on the government of schools and correspondence from Hedley Beare, Interim ACT Schools Authority, 1976
1 folder
State student organisations (1987); Student network: papers to/from Youth Affairs Council of Australia, Australian Network of Secondary Students, Federal Office of Youth Affairs (1978-1987), Youth Affairs Council of Australia (1983-1986), Youth/student allowances: TEAS, Austudy, youth allowances (1983-1987)
1 folder
Series. Container 38 - Box 11
Papers relating to Youth unemployment/traineeships (1980-1985), unemployment benefits, 1977-1983: correspondence on eligibility of school leavers for unemployment benefits and wider issue of youth unemployment, plus undated report from ACTCPCA on Unemployment, papers on the Williams Committee of Inquiry into Education and Training and the Kirby Report on Labour Market Programs
1 folder
Series. Container 39 - Box 11
The visit of Joan Sallis, July-August 1982, under the Commonwealth Visiting Fellowship Scheme. She was a British campaigner for national reforms in school governance in the UK. Her visit was organized by ACSSO. She went to all States and Territories. The file contains correspondence (including correspondence with Department of Education), photos details and reports of seminars, and copies of a number of articles and papers prepared by Joan Sallis, 1980-1983
2 folders
Series. Container 49 - carton 14
Issues 1970s-1980s: Box A: reports, press clippings and other records on the following subjects: religious education in schools, choice in schooling, ethnic education, devolution right of the child, funding, computer education, public education, gifted children, educational standards debate: quality of education
10 folders