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News Articles
Quality Public Education - the Honourable Michael Kirby visits Perth Modern School
30/10/2011 20:03
Without any written notes at all, Justice Kirby spoke eloquently, with good humour, and from the heart on the topic: "Quality Public Education - an Opportunity for the Individual and an Opportunity for the Community". Also listening with great interest were the Principal Lois Joll, Deputy Principal Steve Jurilj, Perth Modernian Society Council members, donors to the Sphinx Scholarship Fund appeal, and other invited guests with an association with Perth Modern School, including His Excellency the Honourable Kevin Parker AC QC and Geoffrey Miller QC.
As an ex-student of Fort High School in Sydney, a co-educational, academically selective, public high school, Michael Kirby strongly endorsed the value of 'streaming'. He highlighted that in NSW there are now 33 public high schools that cater for gifted and talented students, and pointed out that the results of final year students from these schools are very much to the fore in the overall NSW education system. He therefore implored the audience to strongly uphold the extension of academically selective, public high schools in Western Australia - rather than being content with the special status of Perth Modern School - as this is nation building.
Michael Kirby was in Perth for CHOGM and he gave the audience a glimpse into what was about to unfold at CHOGM on some contentious human right issues around the Commonwealth of Nations.
Michael Kirby concluded by remarking on the singular beauty of the School Hall with its stained glass windows - contrasting this with the school gym at his former school! He then took several penetrating questions from the Politics and Law students, displaying a remarkable recall of specific High Court cases. Year 12 student Monica Brierley-Hay moved the vote of thanks and presented him with a copy of the Perth Modern School Centenary Book - Past, Present & Future.
At the morning tea which followed in the Refectory, Michael Kirby was besieged by students wanting to be photographed with him and to have him autograph things like their Politics and Law file!
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