28 February 2012

AME School 40th Anniversary

| M0les
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I had the good fortune to attend briefly in the 1970’s the “Association for Modern Education” (AME) School. It was an interesting take on alternative education that I usually describe in post-board-meeting cocktail-parties as “hippie private school”.

The school closed-down in 1996, but several prominent names there (Not the least of which is Bernie Perrett) are “getting the band back together” for a 40th anniversary reunion on 17th-18th November this year. Click-on through to their website below for more details and some teensy little photos.

AME School 1972 – 1996

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EvanJames said :

I-filed said :

Only one student was ever expelled, one A*** H***** – not sure what he did.

holy crap, if the numbers of stars correspond to the letters in the name, I knew… that person. And their sibling and studied under their parent. Didn’t know they were expelled though.

No, doesn’t fit the profile, so not your guy. Not such uncommon initials or I wouldn’t have posted them!

plausibly_deniable5:21 pm 29 Feb 12

I went there during the Weston years in the early eighties. Still plenty idealism, cross-country skiing and and woodwork. Cubbies were built, self-initiated projects failed to materialise, personal freedom and responsibility in equal measure. Good times.

I-filed said :

Only one student was ever expelled, one A*** H***** – not sure what he did.

holy crap, if the numbers of stars correspond to the letters in the name, I knew… that person. And their sibling and studied under their parent. Didn’t know they were expelled though.

farnarkler said :

I remember when I was in highschool in the mid 80’s that AME was some sort of scholastic paradise where the students could do what they want. Is that just an urban myth or was it really like that???

In the early days, pretty much. It was excellent. Spent days making candles, or playing hockey or storm the castle, or rescuing fish stranded by the mid 70s floods, or going on camps to wee jasper (caving), or just stooging around climbing trees and/or the library (good roof, the library).

I hear it got very serious and proper when they moved to Weston.

brento said :

Word from a mate in the earthmoving game is that the original AME buildings that have been standing at Duntroon all this time are going to be “quietly” demolished this week.

I heard this too. Those buildings were built for the original Duntroon school, you’d think they’d be heritage listed, and in fact I went hunting on the ‘net to see if I could find anything about that when I stumbled on the AME site and the reunion. Serendipitous. Meanwhile, the original buildings are set to go.

farnarkler said :

I remember when I was in highschool in the mid 80’s that AME was some sort of scholastic paradise where the students could do what they want. Is that just an urban myth or was it really like that???

Student teacher ratio was 5 students for each teacher (hence the cost: similar to Grammar). Students couldn’t do what they wanted, exactly, but the school relied on enthusiasm and inspiration rather than discipline. Only one student was ever expelled, one A*** H***** – not sure what he did.

I remember when I was in highschool in the mid 80’s that AME was some sort of scholastic paradise where the students could do what they want. Is that just an urban myth or was it really like that???

Word from a mate in the earthmoving game is that the original AME buildings that have been standing at Duntroon all this time are going to be “quietly” demolished this week.

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