South Australia was a very literate society. Only 10% could not read or write in 1871. So why was mass compulsory schooling introduced in 1875 in South Australia? There are many views as to why compulsory schooling was introduced. Some say that is was for the common good of all society and others argue that, it was imposed by the state to educate a work force and to socially control the working class. .
So what was school? It was a culturally specific invention. It was born in the industrial revolution when a work force was needed. It was set apart and designed for instruction. Teachers were put in charge of large classes and subjects were often taught in the style of lectures. The result was devastating for many families that relied on their children to contribute economically and socially to the family unit.
Miller and Davey (1988) state that the state school system was not set up to improve society but rather to efficiently run an unequal society. The foundations of schooling as we know it are built on a classist society and the effects of this foundation trickle down and remain to be a part of the society and schooling system we are still locked into in the late nineties. .
How is this foundation relevant to the questions we are asking about the future? It is extremely relevant, as the foundations of our Education system are no longer relevant to where our society is heading. This should alert us to the fact that we need to fundamentally change our approach to schooling if we are going to be relevant to a future society. We need to face that the reason compulsory schooling was designed is obsolete and begin to look at what is needed for the future.
The labour jobs that were brought about by the industrial revolution have become obsolete as we have moved head long into the post-modern era where a different kind of revolution has taking place. It is the technological revolution.