The Don College
| Don College | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | |
| Devonport, Tasmania | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1973 |
| Principal | John Thompson |
| Grades | 11-12 |
| Number of students | 985 (as at April 2016) |
| Mascot | Douglas the Polar Bear |
| Website | http://doncollege.education.tas.edu.au/ |
The Don College is located in Devonport on the North-West coast of Tasmania. "Don", as it is commonly known to residents of Devonport, is situated by the Don River and enjoys commanding views over the river and surrounding forest reserve. Students completing year 10 in local secondary schools have the option of moving to Don College to complete years 11 and 12 before attending a tertiary education institution, or entering the workforce. Students come to study there from as far as Penguin and Deloraine.
The Don College, commenced in temporary class rooms behind Devonport High School in 1973, while the college buildings were in construction. Students moved into the new buildings beside The Don River in February 1976 and the college was officially opened by Neil Batt, Minister For Education, in November of that year. Don College, designed by architect John Gott, is an excellent example of Brutalist Architecture. Its scale makes it one of the largest examples of the style in Devonport. The site was covered with Tasmanian Tea Tree, also known locally as paper bark, which was used to construct the boxing for the concrete in the buildings. This left a distinctive texture on the concrete, a connection with the natural environment surrounding the college.
The first principal of The Don College was Thomas (Tom ) Bailey. Tom was renowned for his progressive view of education.
"Tom had been frustrated by the petty rules of high schools, which he felt existed more to reinforce the authority of teachers than to benefit students"
Tom did not see a school as a place where students were controlled. He believed that students should be guided and given a safe place to make mistakes.
During the late 1970s the Tasmanian State Government developed proposals to amalgamate secondary colleges with the technical colleges (TAFE) and Adult Education to form Community Colleges. This proposal resonated with Tom Bailey's vision of providing further education to a wider section of the community, the lost "60%". In 1980 The Don College combined with the Devonport Technical College and Mersey-Leven Adult Education to become the Devon Community College. The new college was managed by a board consisting of the principals of the three component institutions.
The community college concept failed to gain wide enough support and a change of government finally saw the Devon Community College disbanded back to its component parts in 1982.
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