Social:Erasmus Primary School

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Short description: School in Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia

Short description: Independent school in Australia
Erasmus Primay School
Erasmus ps logo.jpg
Location
Hawthorn, Victoria

Australia
Information
TypeIndependent
MottoLuceat Lux Vestra
(Let your light shine)
Religious affiliation(s)School of Economic Science
Established1996; 28 years ago (1996)
FounderLeon MacLaren
GradesP-6
Enrollment114
Websiteerasmus.vic.edu.au

Erasmus Primary School is a school in Hawthorn, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, serving children from prep through year 6. It is founded by the Education Renaissance Trust,[1] which is connected with the School of Economic Science, also known as the School of Philosophy.[2]

Pedagogy

Erasmus has a unique curriculum for an Australian primary school. The school incorporates meditation and mindfulness practices on a daily basis from early grade levels; in addition, the curriculum includes Latin and Sanskrit, the latter of which former headmaster Jonathan Tickner described as 'almost scientifically perfect'.[3] The school also teaches once-a-week classes in philosophy and scripture, drawing from a mix of Eastern and Western philosophy, particularly relating to the Advaita Vedanta school.[4] The school's website features quotes by Shantanand Saraswati, former head of the Jyotir Math Hindu monastery and pioneer of the Advaita movement.[5] The unusual curriculum and pedagogy of Erasmus Primary School has received mention in the national media.[3][4]

Statistics

Erasmus is a small school, with 95 students enrolled in 2020.[6] The school's NAPLAN results are above the national average; students in years 3 and 5 average 55 points above the national average in reading, 40 in writing, 48 in spelling, 58 in grammar, and 47 in numeracy.[7]

Connection with the School of Economic Science

Erasmus Primary School names Leon MacLaren of the School of Economic Science as its founder.[8] Schools associated with the School of Economic Science have been the subject of child abuse scandals[9] and cult accusations.[10] Erasmus was discussed extensively[11][12] in internet forums for former students of the London-based St James Independent Schools, another SES-related educational institution, regarding child abuse experienced by the former students and their families; this forum was later the topic of a private inquiry finding that children were "criminally assaulted" during their time at the St James and Vedast schools.[13]

References

  1. "Education Renaissance Trust". http://www.education-renaissance-trust.org.uk/. 
  2. "Erasmus". https://practicalphilosophyvic.org.au/erasmus/. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Quiet please, learning in progress". 12 June 2006. https://www.theage.com.au/education/quiet-please-learning-in-progress-20060612-ge2hpw.html. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 Kellahan, Kristie (3 August 2016). "The young philosophers at Erasmus Primary School". https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/the-young-philosophers-at-erasmus-primary-school-20160801-gqijws.html. 
  5. "About Us – Erasmus Primary School". https://erasmus.vic.edu.au/about-us/. 
  6. "Erasmus Primary School". https://www.goodschools.com.au/compare-schools/in-Hawthorn-3122/erasmus-school. 
  7. "Erasmus Primary School Naplan Scores". https://www.goodschools.com.au/compare-schools/in-Hawthorn-3122/erasmus-school/naplan-score. 
  8. "Founder – Erasmus Primary School". https://erasmus.vic.edu.au/about-us/founder/. 
  9. "Poster Children of New York's Happiness Academy – The School Of Practical Philosophy". 25 May 2011. https://observer.com/2011/05/poster-children-of-new-yorks-happiness-academy-the-school-of-practical-philosophy-2/. 
  10. Potton, Ed. "Emily Watson: 'I saw incidents of cruelty that have been very scarring'". https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/emily-watson-i-saw-incidents-of-cruelty-that-have-been-very-scarring-6nckv722m. 
  11. "Erasmus school acknowledges its relationship with SES / SOP". SES Forums. 14 February 2006. http://www.ses-forums.org/viewtopic.php?t=413. 
  12. "The Melbourne School". SES Forums. 20 February 2006. http://www.ses-forums.org/viewtopic.php?t=421. 
  13. Townend, James (14 January 2006). "General Report of the Townend Inquiry into St James Independent Schools". http://www.reference.ses-forums.org/wp-content/uploads/townend-report.pdf.