The Eleanor Davis Memorial Project : one piece of the jigsaw..

Abstract

This study is primarily concerned with the Eleanor Davis Memorial Project, a mentoring program for women teachers aspiring to the Principal Class in the Victorian Department of Education.

To understand more fully the nature of this unique mentoring program, it is first necessary to explore issues pertaining to women's under representation in leadership positions, particularly in the Victorian teaching service. A number of obstacles confronting women generally, such as culture of educational systems and traditional domestic roles of women are identified and discussed.

Whilst mentoring has been noted as an excellent vehicle for career advancement, associated gender issues and obstacles still restrict women from taking full advantage of opportunities.

The Victorian Department of Education, in an attempt to increase the number of women seeking and successfully gaining principal class positions, introduced the Eleanor Davis Memorial Project in 1992, along with numerous other 'Women in leadership' initiatives.

This study examines the perceptions of ten women, all former mentee and mentor participants, who today hold varied leadership positions within the Leading Teacher, principal class and higher Regional levels. Their views on women's inequality, mentoring and the Eleanor Davis Memorial Project are discussed and interpreted in light of related literature.