Talking about notable events reminds me of something that happened 60 years ago which I believe was of outstanding importance and significance for our State—the establishment of Government High Schools. Adelaide High was the first, and W. J. Adey was its founder and the architect of the State system of secondary education…A second landmark in the history of secondary education in South Australia was the establishment of Junior Technical Schools (now called Technical High Schools) and Area Schools by a very forward-looking Director of Education, Dr Charles Fenner. That was in 1940, more than a quarter of a century ago. Dr Fenner foresaw the time when nearly every boy and girl would go to secondary school because primary school would no longer be a sufficient preparation for life. He also realized that children differ widely in interests, needs and aptitudes as well as academic ability, and only a fraction of those who passed through secondary schools would go on to tertiary study.

At the time our High School courses were directed towards gaining a Public Examination Board certificate at the Intermediate or Leaving level. The Leaving was the matriculation for University entrance so the courses were essentially a preparation for University study. Dr Fenner thought it was unreasonable to suppose that these University-oriented courses would be appropriate for all secondary students. And so the curriculum in the Junior Technical and Area Schools was custom-built to suit the needs of the majority who would leave school after the third year.

The courses in English, mathematics, science, social studies, art and craft, music and physical education in these new secondary schools were not soft options. Every student was stretched to do his best so that with few exceptions each of them left school with a sense of achievement and fulfilment; and surely every boy and girl is entitled to this. The examinations were conducted by the schools themselves with guidance from senior officers in the Education Department. After some years of trial, most employers were glad to accept boys and girls from these schools on the Head's recommendation. They judged the schools by their reputation—and by the worth of the young people who passed through them (reproduced in Jolly, 2001).