Shepparton High School began in 1909 as Shepparton Agricultural High School and as such was one of 10 Agricultural High Schools established in Victoria between 1907 and 1912. Despite its agricultural origins, emphasis has always been towards academic studies.
During the formative years prior to moving to the Verney Road site in 1929 many traditions were laid which appear to have been based on the tenets of traditional secondary education as characterized by the legendary Mr Chips. The Agricultural courses as such did not long survive, being replaced by Agricultural Science as a single subject based on University prescriptions and without a large practical component. Although the farm lingered for some years eventually the word agricultural was to be dropped from the school's name. Already significant numbers of students were gaining access to the professions and the school itself earning a reputation for sound scholarship.
Further extensions to the buildings on the Verney Road site enabled the school from 1961 to operate on a single campus. Since that date there have been further extensions and the school can now boast academic and sporting facilities of a standard commensurate with those of most Government and non-Government schools in this state.
Shepparton High School has retained a strong academic thrust but now shares the responsibility for secondary education in this district with Wanganui Park Secondary College, Mooroopna Secondary College, McGuire College, Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE, Notre Dame College (formerly St. Colman's College and Sacred Heart College) and the Goulburn Valley Grammar School.
In the following chapters an attempt has been made to examine the role of Shepparton High School in a community whose population numbered about 3000 in 1909 and in 75 years has grown to nearly 25, 000 in the city of Shepparton along with many thousands more in the hinterland. This school has grown from 33 students in 1909 to 1926 in 1974 and approximately 1000 in 1984. Socially it has felt the impact of world war, depression, world war again, immigration and more recently the permissive age.
Educationally it was born in the Mr Chips era and has proceeded through the ball point pen revolution into the post-sputnik era and is now adjusting to the impact of the micro-chip and digital culture. During this time some thousands of students have gained their secondary education in the school where Labour Conquers All and many of them, men and women, have made major contributions to local, national and world society.
This short history has been researched and written largely during the latter half of 1983 and is perhaps concerned more with themes that with individuals, the latter being mentioned where they seem relevant to the theme. Inevitably people who have made major contributions to the development of Shepparton High School may have been overlooked for which the author apologizes. Should information become available about ex-students as a consequence of publication of this book and the 75 anniversary celebrations then the author would be pleased to document such material so that it can be included in any future publication.
Since the launch of Mr Chips to Microchips in 1984, Shepparton High School has continued to serve the community. It should also be noted that Ron Michael, a former Principal and author of Mr Chips to Microchips passed away in 1999.
In the 90's, enrolments reached a high of 1080 in 1994, following the closure of North Shepparton Technical School, and in recent years enrolments have been around 840. The school had relocatable buildings for many years, however most of these were moved in 1997. 1994 saw four new classrooms constructed on Ford Reserve to cater for Metals, Plastics, and Electronics as well as for general classroom use. One room is now used for our extensive English as a Second Language(ESL) support program.
In recent years the School Council has built a VCE Study Centre and a Community Music Centre. These buildings have provided excellent facilities for the students, with the VCE Centre being used as an after school study centre. The Music Centre, completed in November 2000, was built to accommodate the schools ever increasing music program.
In October, 1999 a 90th anniversary celebration was held at the school. About 500 former students visited the school and/or attended the various functions held over the weekend. As the former students toured the school the noted the many changes that have occurred in education. Whilst the physical surrounds have changed over time, the classroom has certainly changed with the advent of the microchip. Computers have certainly advanced since 1984, and the classroom of today is significantly different to that of 1984. The school has almost 200 computers for staff and student use, with all computers having direct internet access.
