AME School
Encyclopedia
The Association of Modern Education School (or AME School) was opened in 1972 and ran as an independent community based school in Canberra
until 1996.
Planning for the foundation of the school began around 1970 and the school took over the disused government school buildings in the Canberra suburb of Duntroon
, which had recently closed. The AME school first opened in 1972 with Robin McConnell as headmaster. The school was a progressively run educational institution, which sought to foster an atmosphere in which kids were encouraged to develop their own particular talents, instead of sticking to a rigid set curriculum. The school enrolled students from Kindergarten to year 10.
Being socially and politically progressive, the school attracted an interesting and eclectic mix of students, many being the children of ANU
academics and staff. Australian Senator Susan Ryan
and former UN chief weapons inspector and diplomat Richard Butler
were amongst the community of parents. Parent participation in the school curriculum was encouraged, strengthening strong ties and friendships between the school and families. Kids called teachers by their first names, which was unusual for the time at government schools in the ACT
. The school was featured in the book Good Australian Schools and Their Communities, published in 1973. The AME school also pioneered the teaching of the Japanese language
in ACT
schools, with the employment of Saeko Ogi as Japanese teacher in 1973.
In 1974, Bernie Perrett took over as headmaster and remained at the school until early 1994. In 1977, the school moved to permanent newly purpose-built school buildings in the Canberra
suburb of Weston
. Facilities at the new school were improved over those in Duntroon
. The new school buildings were also largely constructed of wood to give the design and structure of the new school an organic feel. Some AME students were involved in Canberra's punk music and alternative arts scenes.
AME as a functioning school, closed during late 1996. The school buildings were sold to the nearby Orana School
, a Rudolf Steiner
school, to pay off the then AME's bank overdraft. In 2003, the Canberra bushfires narrowly missed destroying the school buildings as nearby pine forests were decimated.
Former AME School librarian, Ann Furnass, edited a book in 1988 covering the history of the school, "The AME School An Historical Record". Former teacher Steve Shann also published the book "AME School: School Portrait" in 1987.
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
until 1996.
Planning for the foundation of the school began around 1970 and the school took over the disused government school buildings in the Canberra suburb of Duntroon
Duntroon
Duntroon may refer to:* Royal Military College, Duntroon, in Canberra, Australia* Duntroon, Australian Capital Territory, Robert Campbell's property in the suburb of Campbell, Canberra* Duntroon, Ontario, Canada* Duntroon, New Zealand* Duntroon, Scotland...
, which had recently closed. The AME school first opened in 1972 with Robin McConnell as headmaster. The school was a progressively run educational institution, which sought to foster an atmosphere in which kids were encouraged to develop their own particular talents, instead of sticking to a rigid set curriculum. The school enrolled students from Kindergarten to year 10.
Being socially and politically progressive, the school attracted an interesting and eclectic mix of students, many being the children of ANU
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
academics and staff. Australian Senator Susan Ryan
Susan Ryan
Susan Maree Ryan AO is an Australian educator who served as a Senator for the Australian Capital Territory 1975–87...
and former UN chief weapons inspector and diplomat Richard Butler
Richard Butler (diplomat)
Richard William Butler AC has served as an Australian diplomat, a United Nations weapons inspector and the Governor of Tasmania.-Life and career:...
were amongst the community of parents. Parent participation in the school curriculum was encouraged, strengthening strong ties and friendships between the school and families. Kids called teachers by their first names, which was unusual for the time at government schools in the ACT
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
. The school was featured in the book Good Australian Schools and Their Communities, published in 1973. The AME school also pioneered the teaching of the Japanese language
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
in ACT
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
schools, with the employment of Saeko Ogi as Japanese teacher in 1973.
In 1974, Bernie Perrett took over as headmaster and remained at the school until early 1994. In 1977, the school moved to permanent newly purpose-built school buildings in the Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
suburb of Weston
Weston
There are many places called Weston:-Australia:* Weston, Australian Capital Territory* Weston Creek, Canberra* Weston Park, Canberra* Weston, New South Wales, a suburb of the City of Cessnock-Canada:* Weston, Nova Scotia* Weston, Ontario...
. Facilities at the new school were improved over those in Duntroon
Duntroon
Duntroon may refer to:* Royal Military College, Duntroon, in Canberra, Australia* Duntroon, Australian Capital Territory, Robert Campbell's property in the suburb of Campbell, Canberra* Duntroon, Ontario, Canada* Duntroon, New Zealand* Duntroon, Scotland...
. The new school buildings were also largely constructed of wood to give the design and structure of the new school an organic feel. Some AME students were involved in Canberra's punk music and alternative arts scenes.
AME as a functioning school, closed during late 1996. The school buildings were sold to the nearby Orana School
Orana School
Orana School is a co-educational school in Weston, Canberra, Australia. It was founded in 1981. The teaching curriculum is based on the works of Rudolf Steiner. It currently enrolls children from pre-sessional kindergarten through to year 12. The school offers a wide range of subjects, and has a...
, a Rudolf Steiner
Rudolf Steiner
Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner was an Austrian philosopher, social reformer, architect, and esotericist. He gained initial recognition as a literary critic and cultural philosopher...
school, to pay off the then AME's bank overdraft. In 2003, the Canberra bushfires narrowly missed destroying the school buildings as nearby pine forests were decimated.
Former AME School librarian, Ann Furnass, edited a book in 1988 covering the history of the school, "The AME School An Historical Record". Former teacher Steve Shann also published the book "AME School: School Portrait" in 1987.
Some former students
- Andrew BarrAndrew BarrAndrew Barr is an Australian politician and Deputy Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory. He has been an Australian Labor Party member for the seat of Molonglo in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly since 5 April 2006, after being elected on a countback to replace...
, MLA, ACT Minister for Education and Training, Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Industrial Relations, Planning - Simon HolmesSimon Holmes (guitarist)Simon Holmes was the singer and lead guitarist for the Australian 1980s band The Hummingbirds.-Biography:Simon spent part of his childhood in Canberra, attending the AME School, an alternative education institution that ran from 1972 - the 1990s, and Hawker College...
, former lead singer and guitarist with Australian rock band, The HummingbirdsThe HummingbirdsThe Hummingbirds were an indie pop or jangle pop band from Sydney, Australia formed in 1986 from Bug Eyed Monsters. They were one of the most highly touted outfits to emerge from Sydney's inner-city scene during the late 1980s and were an early signing to the rooArt label. The Hummingbirds' single... - David Mark, ABCAustralian Broadcasting CorporationThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
Radio News & Current Affairs journalist - Kate BuchdahlKate BuchdahlKate Buchdahl was a classically trained, Australian-born, violinist.Catriona Alexis Buchdahl grew up in Canberra...
, classical violinist - Steve DargavelSteve DargavelSteven John "Steve" Dargavel is a former Australian politician.Dargavel was born in Traralgon, Victoria and received an Associate Diploma in Welfare Studies from Monash University. He then worked as a youth refuge worker, youth housing worker and employment counsellor...
former MP, local member for electorate of Fraser (1997–1998); currently Acting AMWU Victorian Secretary - Deej FabycDeej FabycDeej Fabyc is an Australian/British artist who works with what she calls a "forenzic biographical" type of art, with works in performance, performance installation, combined with drawing, video, photography and objects. Her work takes up the personal is political as read and does not differentiate...
Contemporary Artist known for her Performance and Installation work Now living in London - First Dog on the MoonFirst Dog on the MoonFirst Dog on the Moon is the professional name of Andrew Marlton, an Australian cartoonist. He is the in-house cartoonist for Crikey, a prominent Australian politics and news website....
Also known as Andrew Marlton, cartoonist for Crikey.com
External links
- Photo of Primary aged children from the Canberra Times, 1979
- http://www.ameschool.org/index.htm Website and Links for former students and staff of the AME School. Plans for a 40th anniversary reunion in late 2012 for ex students and staff