Host Dave_9msn: ninemsn in association with A Current
Affair presents a live chat with Graeme Crawford, who is the founder of
Reddam House.
Host Dave_9msn: Good evening Graeme and thanks for joining us tonight.
Host Graeme Crawford: Pleasure.
Ian: Graeme, fantastic concept, how did you get it through the education
system?
Host Graeme Crawford: We had to register through the Board of Studies
and we had to meet quite rigorous requirements. Academically, it's a very
intense program and the Board of Studies was very excited about it, but
our philosophical approach was left to our own interpretation - for the
whole different approach was completely allowed by the Board of Studies.
Christine: Graeme, what type of extra subjects does the school provide?
Host Graeme Crawford: We have to fulfill all the Board of Studies' requirements
and that stipulates a number of hours per subject and then beyond that
we're allowed to add to create the flavour of our particular school. There
we'd bring in compulsory public speaking as a subject, compulsory drama,
computers and then we have the choice between dance — classical
ballet, contemporary and jazz — through to the creative arts —
sculpture, photography, ceramics. The last skills program we were talking
about includes study skills, time management, through to the table etiquette,
high maintenance etc.
Laura: Graeme, I just wanted to know what your theories on education
are?
Host Graeme Crawford: To produce confident, self-assured personalities
that know how to express and be comfortable about their individuality
by respecting others despite their differences; to teach thinking, understanding
application skills, to allow children to achieve their maximum results
in HSC exams using the thinking skills we've developed, to allow them
to go on and be successful at university and life beyond by using those
same thinking and application skills taught at school. To pursue a complete
truly all-rounded education, including the best of academics, a complete
cultural exposure and a strong sports element.
Sal_au: Graeme, are all subjects covered in the one fee or are there
extra fees for music studies, dance, etc.
Host Graeme Crawford: Fees wise, instrumental music is charged extra.
They can choose tuition in any instrument, but that is at an extra charge.
The theory lesson for music would be part of the school fees. All other
subjects would be included, except for some of the academies in the morning
— dance being one of them.
Cheryl: Graeme, what is the student/teacher ratio of the average class
and what discipline model does the school follow?
Host Graeme Crawford: The teacher/pupil ratio in the school is about
eight to one. The class sizes in the compulsory subjects at the moment
averages about 18. We have a code of conduct that each child and parent
signs when they enter the school. By the system, if a child is to be punished,
they are rewarded debits and demerits; enough demerits would result in
the students being asked to leave the school. Positive behaviour and praise
for good work receive credits, which can cancel out debits and demerits.
The system is quite unique to our schools and has proved to be incredibly
successful. We believe that writing lines, detentions and screaming teachers
are archaic and a thing of the past and we try and teach the students
responsibility and accountability for their own actions.
dissy: Mr Crawford, how do you select the children that attend your school?
Host Graeme Crawford: We are selective based on academic ability, but
in a much wider interpretation than Australian selective schools. We accept
students from average through to gifted and we teach towards the top end
and thereby stimulate the gifted and lift the average towards that expectation.
Average children do not stay average in our environment while gifted are
extended and enriched as they deserve.
casper: I am interested in the classroom management techniques. I am
shortly about to do four weeks prac. with year seven at a school where
yelling at the kids is a frequent exercise. What is the ultimate result
of demerits?
Host Graeme Crawford: If the child receives three demerits, they get
suspended for a week. When they come back, one further debit and they
must leave the school. A demerit is for a serious offence, while classroom
misbehaviour or lack of performance can result in one debit. Four debits
are converted to a demerit. The result is that a student that starts to
accumulate demerits realises they have a shortening lifeline and start
performing very quickly. They do love the school and the worst thing they
could think of would be having to go back to the schools they've left.
This does however rely on the entire school being run according to the
same rules. That is one of the really exciting aspects of starting a new
school. You have a chance to re-write the rules and run the school the
way you believe is necessary. It's very difficult to change direction
in a school where screaming and shouting is the norm.
Ruth: Graeme, how did you decide on the curriculum so it would suit Australian
students?
Host Graeme Crawford: The curriculum is structured by the NSW Board of
Studies and one of the strengths of our school is to handpick the best
teachers from the area we move into. We have chosen the best of Sydney's
teachers, all of them with well-established Australian track records.
As a team we have adapted where necessary to come up with the best of
both worlds.
teacher: Do you also accept those with a learning difficulty?
Host Graeme Crawford: We do, in our pre-school and primary school, where
students show average to above average ability but have learning difficulties.
We carry out remediation at these younger levels so that by high school,
if these problems are not re-mediated, their academic performance would
reflect it and sadly they would not be accepted into our schools.
Redder: How are teachers selected?
Host Graeme Crawford: We look at their qualifications and their track
record in terms of HSC results, and we ask students and parents about
what kind of teacher they are in the classroom. The personality of the
teacher is crucial. We look for the right kind of personality for our
Reddam environment that can teach within our philosophy of mutual respect.
Each teacher within the school has to treat each child with dignity and
respect as an individual, and demand a mutual respect in return. Not all
teachers can do this and our selection is to try and find those that can.
We want dynamic, creative, energetic, motivating and inspiring teachers
in every classroom. A good teacher in a traditional environment might
not always make a good teacher in the Reddam environment. Our teacher
selection is therefore absolutely crucial.
frog: Graeme, does the school have scholarships for "gifted"
students and in what areas?
Host Graeme Crawford: We do have scholarships that are advertised in
August/September. We recognise excellence in academic, sporting and cultural
areas. This year we are encouraging gifted academic children in year 11
to join us by first year of HSC.
TASH: Graeme, what evidence is there that students have outperformed
other schools?
Host Graeme Crawford: This school is still in its first year, but if
it follows the trend set by its predecessors in South Africa, it should
perform incredibly well in HSC and all other comparative examination evaluations.
The schools in South Africa have been top in the country from the first
year of their existence. They have annually broken the best results set
by any schools in the history of the country. With the quality of staff
we have here and their motivation and enthusiasm shown by students and
teachers, I'm sure the trend will continue.
Dancer: Graeme, the show didn't focus a lot on traditional subjects —
are they presented in the "usual" format like other schools?
Host Graeme Crawford: Each subject has a dynamic, outstanding teacher
and their brief is to make their subject as three dimensional and stimulating
as possible. They teach towards stronger academic students with extension
and enrichment beyond the syllabus. They have all the technology support
available, such as data projectors, laptops and computers in all the classrooms,
with Internet available in all the classrooms. They must also interact
with the students within the Reddam philosophy at all times. We have a
regular cycle test system where the students write an exam every Monday
and Friday in each subject on rotation to keep the students consistently
working at all times.
Ruby_Scarlett: Graeme, why don't you accept students with a learning
difficulty? Shouldn't all students have the chance to take advantage of
the opportunities in learning and education your school seems to provide?
Host Graeme Crawford: We'd love to, but by teaching for stimulation and
extension of the stronger academic students, the average children are
motivated to achieve way beyond what they would have in a normal environment.
The below average children can become de-motivated and start feeling inadequate
and possibly "stupid". It is sometimes too much for them. Our
school is structured to promote self confidence above all and these feelings
of inadequacy that it sometimes can cause in below average students is
the last thing we would want.
Asgard: Graeme, what do the students enjoy most about this type of schooling?
Host Graeme Crawford: They love what they call the sense of freedom,
which is carefully structured within the parameters of the code of conduct.
It allows them to express who they are and what they are, and to be comfortable
with their own individuality. The sense of release while experiencing
what the parents describe as "blossoming" is a symptom of the
sharp contrast between our schools and traditional schools. They love
the uniform (which we call a "multiform": jumpers, pants and
shorts), also the radio station, the canteen, the dynamic campus and the
outstanding teachers.
Asgard: Graeme, in watching ACA, I was wondering with text books and
reading material, do you offer the highest quality, or leave it to whatever
students want?
Host Graeme Crawford: No, we offer the highest quality and the students
are guided by the teachers in using various resource materials —
that's books, the Internet etc.
noners: Do you have plans to open other schools around the country?
Host Graeme Crawford: We are busy working on our primary school at the
moment. We will then, with time, be looking at other opportunities around
the country. We have been approached by various communities excited by
what they've heard and experienced, and we'll work with those parents
towards establishing schools when the time is right.
Host Dave_9msn: Our final question.
merty: Graeme, do you have a website and how do we contact you?
Host Graeme Crawford: We have a website, it is www.reddamhouse.com.au
and it is only an introductory site. Our students are working on our real
site at the moment. If you want to get a feel of our old schools, go to
www.crawford.co.za in South Africa — they were called the Crawford
Schools. My email address is graeme.crawford@reddamhouse.com.au. Our telephone
number is (02) 9300 8200. Fax is (02) 9300 8255 and postal address is
Locked Bag 3322, Bondi Junction 1355.
Host Dave_9msn: Thank you again Graeme for being with us tonight and
answering our chatters' questions.
Host Graeme Crawford: Thanks for inviting me, it's been great chatting.
We are very excited about what we're doing and enjoy the opportunity to
share it. I know most questions weren't answered, so please feel free
to give us a call so we can take up any aspect. Cheers from Reddam and
goodbye from a couple of hundred very happy children.