Set against the backdrop of Victoria's educational history, the Lawrie Shears story uncovers the evolution of education during the twentieth century.
From 1872, when education became compulsory, secular and free, the book traces the social, political and philosophical factors that influenced progress. It explores how these stirred the forward-looking Lawrie Shears; it examines how they shaped his philosophies as a teacher, teacher educator and administrator; and identifies the footprints of his vastly creative thought and initiatives that continue to influence education today.
Educational historian and teacher Eleanor Peeler has taught across the spectrum of schooling from infants to adults in schools, language centres and universities. Working across age groups, origins and cultures nurtured her interest in other people's lives. In this study she has inspired and tapped into oral histories from Shears and others who played vital roles in educational change. These she has woven with factual data into a thoroughly readable story. Expressed in the author's unique style, the book has broad audience appeal.
Although all readers have memories of schooldays, scholars of educational history will gain new insights into the unfolding dramas administrators face, and researchers will have access to a rich body of knowledge.