Being Special

What is it about?

In an oral history study, we compare the memories of three groups of female and male school students who attended three selective high schools from the 1920s to the 1950s in New South Wales, Australia. In looking specifically at memories about the learning Latin and the wearing of school uniforms, the analysis pointed to the existence of a memory community across time and place about this form of schooling in terms of 'being special'.

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Why is it important?

This article points to the power of academic selection for high school and its capacity to sponsor a memory community around being chosen. The study is unique methodologically, reconceptualising 'history from below' to 'history from within'. The 'informal curriculum' is re-cast as the 'social curriculum'.