From the Principal
Co-Educational Or Single Gender?
This week I was invited to join a panel of three Catholic Secondary Principals to discuss the relative merits of single gender and co-educational schooling. I was joined by the Principals of Santa Maria and Mercedes College for the roundtable conversation.
Each panel member was invited because we have had the experience in leading both single gender and co-educational Catholic schools. It was a fascinating conversation. In the audience was the Headmaster of Guildford Grammar School. His attendance was interesting given Guildford’s recent decision to become co-educational.
At enrolment interviews I am often asked for my view on this very interesting topic. I always explain that it is great to live in a part of Perth where we are blessed for choice and there are lots of excellent schools.
In recent decades there has been a move towards more co-educational Catholic and Independent schools. Historically, there have been pragmatic reasons for those changes. In the Catholic sector the declining number of teaching Religious Priests, Brothers and Sisters has meant that the amalgamation of schools has made good economic sense.
At John XXIII College we believe that co-education provides a comfortable environment in which students learn and grow. Gender is a core element of our identity and the formative years of childhood and adolescence are the right times to establish respectful, collaborative patterns of understanding and behaviour. One of the reasons our students are successful and comfortable in the tertiary sphere is because they are accustomed to co-education.
Studies suggesting that either gender performs better in the presence or absence of the other are counteracted by studies suggesting otherwise. Last year it was enlightening to undertake a course on Instructional Leadership through the University of Melbourne. I studied with Deputy Principal, Mrs Jessica Bouwman. ‘Collective teacher efficacy’ was very much the number one factor identified in schools throughout the world as the important indicator of academic success (John Hattie 20-15). Gender differences in schools was of far less significance.
There are wonderful co-educational schools and single genders schools throughout Australia and the world. It is brilliant that we live in a society where families can make informed choices. We are very proud of our Loreto and St Louis heritage and thrilled that we now offer the benefits of 40 years of co-education at John XXIII College.
Together, let us seek justice.
Yours sincerely
Robert Henderson
Principal
John XXIII Private Bus Service
"We have a fantastic new private bus service taking children to and from school through Swanbourne, Cottesloe, Mosman Park, North Fremantle and East Fremantle. This initiative is aimed at getting more students travelling independently, helping busy parents, improving sustainability and reducing car traffic. We are looking at other routes to trial further new bus services in the future. See below for more information on the new service."
JOHN XXIII COLLEGE PRIVATE BUS SERVICE
Looking for an easy way to get a ride to school…
No Cars, no parents, no worries…
John XXIII College now has a private bus that will take you directly to and from school
Calling all families from:
Swanbourne
Cottesloe
Mosman Park
North Fremantle
East Fremantle
The bus runs to and from school each day and is a safe, convenient and affordable option for all primary and secondary students in the area – the students love it and so do their parents!
Get onboard: Tickets and more information available from the main administration office.
