The general public relied on them for an assurance that state schools were operating effectively and that, in particular, those children compelled to attend school were receiving instruction of the kind that assured the country’s future. They were very important people in the scheme of things. The Minister of Education, as the representative of the public, needed this network of experts in his role as the political incumbent charged with the prime task of providing the very best possible conditions for those that the government incarcerates in its schools. If this is not the main business of government, what is?In undertaking this mission, Inspectors of Schools operating in a particular geographic area also controlled the future of aspirants for higher teaching duties. School systems need the best leaders and the selection of these used to be a very demanding exercise.
During this time span of Ray Kelley and his contemporaries, the modus operandi changed. There was once an approved degree of autonomy possessed by District Inspectors or D.Is. as they were called. Each assessment, finite in its expression, was telling the Minister that one person was deserving of promotion and that others were uncertain. Being so independent, some D.Is. were described as Santa Claus and some as tough cookies. Indeed some of these assessors were not products of the primary teaching discipline and were inexperienced in its essentials. It didn’t seem fair to anyone so the appointment of such personnel as ex-TTC lecturers and ex-Secondary Principals faded. They were out of their depth.
D.Is. were selected from those who had been there through all kinds of remote service, lengthy school leadership and who had survived the rigours of the assessment processes themselves. During the seventies, these experts gathered annually to moderate the appraisements that they had assigned to all applicants for promotion. After a week of intense effort in assessing measures of equity, each applicant was ranked on a scale of perceived potential for the next hierarchical level. Then, depending on expressed preferences, appointments to leadership roles in schools were made. See “Departmental Officer”.
Even though Ray chose the name because it rhymed, there might be a hint that some could hector. While there was sometimes a need for the exercise of hierarchical clout, generally school leaders appreciated the change of role and they felt secure in their promotional chances. Principled Inspector and Principal learned from each other and messages of good practice spread easily. Ray’s “Hector the School Inspector” is a gem that describes Hector in action. “Buddies” illustrates the team effort that was evolving during the seventies and eighties and things looked promising for the maintenance and growth of the quality of primary schooling and curriculum development in Queensland… until 1990* [see below].
John Fahey was one such Inspector. While visiting Emerald where Ray was Principal, John provided one of those stories that people like to talk about. “The Door With No Glass: A Modern Faheyble” had such a comic sequel that the story lives today.
“Dialogue” is a humorous description of the possible over-lapping of districts. It involves Joe Bennett and Ray Town. Both served for an extended time in Central and North Queensland. Ray, incidentally, was the first Australian across the Normanby Coast on D-day, at 00.20 to be precise. He left his base at Harwell, Berks at 23.05 on his 22nd birthday, 5 June 1945. In the second plane to cross the coast, dropping the first British parachuters behind the lines, he had a fine view of the invasion forces on the beach later in the day while towing gliders.
*In 1990, the Department changed its structure from a school-based model to a business-based. Down-sizing became a thing to do because big business was. For no plausible reason, out went the Inspectorate. However, the stimulation of Moderation Week had helped to develop such an esprit amongst members of the Inspectorial team that some of the younger turks decided that they should continue to meet annually…. for an Immoderation Week on Fraser Island.
They started in 1991, when their administrative, teaching and organisational expertise was gratefully being utilised by schools and corporate organisations and in business ventures of their own. 2008 represents the eighteenth year that the dozen or so ex-DIs. have met. Thanks to host Peter Freney, it continues.
