History

1878 – 2015

In 1872 the colony of Victoria passed the Education Act. The legislation was to enshrine the idea that all children should receive a free, secular and compulsory education. The pronouncement was visionary in that it recognised the importance education would make to individuals and indeed the whole nation.

The Education Act in 1872 was a mere six pages long. But it was to determine a uniquely centralised model of school education.

Victoria was the first of the Australian colonies to set up a central public school system based on the principles of free, secular and compulsory education.

The Education Act determined that the then Colony of Victoria assume direct responsibility for education from the churches, local groups and private providers. Until then, these private organisations had supplemented what was regarded as inadequate public schooling at the time.

Schooling was to become compulsory and children were required to attend school both because literacy and numeracy were a way to the common good, and because educated citizens were essential to self-government. Education was free, because it served the public benefit.

Prior to this, only about one third of the total population could read or write. However, the discovery of Gold in the colony, created wealth, a time of change & development and a growing demand for political freedom. The idea of democracy and “one man, one vote” grew. “The introduction of manhood suffrage in 1856 made it desirable, even imperative, that each adult male should be sufficiently educated to vote with some degree of judgment and discrimination.”

This was the context when, in the early 1850s, in the small settlement of Schnapper Point, a new school, Schnapper Point No.567, was established. Situated in Ross Street it soon, became inadequate for the needs of the community. With the pronouncement of the Education Act in 1872, a new school was proposed.

In 1878, six years after the Education Act became law, Schnapper Point School No. 567, ceased to exist and Mornington School No.2033 opened its doors under the headmastership of Richard Hutchinson, recorded as qualified to teach military drill and gymnastics. He was described by the then Inspector Main as, “… a man of gentlemanly deportment and a careful teacher.” And so began, what is now known as, Mornington Primary School, also referred to as Vale Street by many locals.

Mornington Primary School has served the local community since that time. In 2012, 134 years later, Mornington Primary School achieved a significant milestone in its history by becoming an International Baccalaureate, World School. We have come a long way! And yet, Mornington Primary School is still a school of the community – but one looking beyond the Mornington Peninsula and beyond our national borders. Our children are growing up in an era of global perspectives through international treaties and economic connectedness. Most of our children will probably travel overseas for recreation and employment purposes. Being an IB World School and being more internationally-minded will give our children the start they need to become effective global citizens.