Like many other countries that backed up the British government, World War II Australia was also a direct victim of the ravages of the war. The country was attacked at different times by enemies, causing it a considerable number of casualties. Every crucial aspect of the country was greatly affected. In Australia, education during WW1 was greatly affected.
Unlike now that I can easily get my assignment help from an essay service for students from AU as a result of the advancement in science and technology, a typical Australian in World War 2 could not get the same help from a professional essay writing service with their assignment. Even education after World War 2 has significantly been influenced.
Whether you are writing an essay or you’re just only reading, it is a great source of information about schooling during WW2. You are in the right place and will learn greatly from this article.
During the course of WW2, Australia fought at the forefront with the United Kingdom against Nazi Germany to hold the British Empire together. Reports have it that about one million Australians, both women and men, served in different capacities and that the country greatly contributed to the regional and ultimate defeat of Hitler Germany his allies by the British. For example, the Royal Navy was chiefly responsible for the 1940 attacks against Italy. And the Australian army also played a quite momentous role after they joined in the battle on September 3, 1939.
● Mass Evacuation
There was a mass evacuation of people from urban centers to the rural districts. Many of the children were evacuees, and a large number of them couldn’t go to school because of this migration from one region to another to escape the war. Parents also found it difficult to meet their children’s need, forcing them to take them out of school. There was also an increase in juvenile delinquency. Crimes committed by young people became drastically high. Children who already lost both parents decided to altogether abandon and commit petty crimes.
● Active Male Participation
As with every war, male participation was high because men were then considered to be more effective and stronger. Men were heavily enlisted, reducing the number of men available in the country. Young men, who were teachers before the break of the war, were conscripted into the fight. And as a result of this and the massive evacuation of people from the urban to the rural districts, the student-teacher ratio became unbalanced. The shortage of teachers made learning even more difficult. One teacher was expected to teach 50 to 100 students at a time. Women were mainly responsible for instructing the children, and this is why the women’s role after WW2 Australia has been quite remarkable.
● Requisitioning of Schools
Many of the schools in Australia were requisitioned to the military. Schools that were supposed to be learning centers became military bases. This caused students their classes. School administrators were forced to look for alternative learning environments that affected the learning process of the children at that time. The double-shift system was also operated, in which children from the rural areas attended classes in the morning, while those from the urban were scheduled for afternoon classes, despite the shortage of teachers. A wartime curriculum was designed in place of the regular educational curriculum. Students were instead taught how to survive. Air-raid drills had to be instilled in young children.
● Limited Educational Funding
Before the war, there was a Great Depression of which Australia seriously suffered from. There was a rapid spread of poverty, unemployment, low income, deflation, and so on. The economy continued to decline until 1932 when a slow recovery began before the WW2. This caused the country a lot. There was no direct funding for education by the government. Most of the funds that were generated were diverted to the acquisition of weapons and also the welfare of soldiers. Funds for education were received from private local as well as international organizations.
● Failed Education Reform Schemes
Although the education system returned to its initial state, following the 30 years economic boon after the war, however, unlike Britain and other countries involved in the war, Australia was still unable to effect the fundamental change needed in the system. A great gap still has to be filled. Even immediately after the war, the number of instructors and students recorded in the university was still considerably low. The Australian government has to definitively establish some educational policy to change the educational system forever and make it better than it presently is. Truly, Australian students can now get professional help from an essay writing service; nonetheless, a lot still has to be done to fill that great gap in the education sector.
