This Special Collection presents digitised historical documents and personal writings compiled and authored by Brother Kelvin Canavan fms AM, tracing the evolution of Catholic education in Sydney and New South Wales from the late 1930s to the early 2000s.
Formation of a System of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Sydney
In the 1960s, Catholic parishes and Religious Institutes were struggling to find sufficient teachers and classrooms to cope with increasing enrolments. The decreasing availability of religious women and men was a further challenge. The gradual introduction of progressive government financial assistance ("state aid") provided some much-needed relief as did the availability of places at recently established Catholic Teachers' Colleges.
As a direct response to the challenges of the late 1960s, the Archdiocese of Sydney responded with an opportunity for the Sydney Catholic schools to form a single network with a consolidated budget. The Archdiocese made an immediate decision to bring all parish primary schools into this network and to invite Provincials with responsibility for secondary schools and colleges to consider joining this new arrangement.
Most Provincials saw the advantages of the proposal and indicated support. Principals were freed from having to find sufficient cash to pay salaries for teachers each Friday afternoon.
Secondary schools and colleges conducted by Religious Institutes (generally in buildings and on land owned by the Archdiocese) continued to function as regional schools in the traditional manner. The Catholic Education Office (CEO) was expanded to cater for additional responsibilities across a developing system. For most parishes and teachers, it was business as usual.
I was appointed Inspector of Schools in 1968, aged 31. There was little by way of signed agreements with Religious Institutes. The reality was that the Catholic Building and Finance Commission (CBFC) took responsibility for paying all lay staff from about the late 1960s. Stipends were paid to religious communities. Prior to this, the school Principal would pay the lay teachers from school fees received by the school—often insufficient to meet salary costs.
Archival copies of these communication records are scarce. The CEO, CBFC, and Archdiocesan archives at that time were still developing. Many Religious Institutes were only beginning to establish administrative procedures and record keeping. Initially, schools had no designated secretaries.
There was plenty of goodwill across the network and enrolments remained strong. Parents continued to seek enrolment in Catholic schools in growth areas, and increasing government financial assistance was greatly appreciated by families and helped sustain enrolment growth.
--Brother Kelvin Canavan fms AM