The School Magazine is well-known to generations of those who attended primary school in New South Wales. Commenced in 1916 – whilst Australia and the world was at war – the magazine was intended to give school children their own reading material – a monthly publication full of stories, history, songs, poems, illustrations and plays.

The magazine was established by Stephen Henry Smith (1865–1943) whilst Smith was employed by the Department of Education as an inspector of continuance schools. Smith worked on the magazine until Doris Chadwick was employed as editor in 1922, a post she held until 1949 (however until this time she was only ever listed as ‘Assistant Editor’ by the Department, despite being the magazine’s sole employee).

In the earlier decades of the magazine, themes of nationalism, good citizenship and devotion to the British Empire were prevalent. Non-fiction articles commonly focused on the exploration of the new world and the feats of ‘brave’ and ‘wise’ men, and generally centred around grand themes in history and geography, whilst fiction articles ranged from fantastical fairy stories to abridged versions of the classics such as Robinson Crusoe. The magazine was designed to supplement the reading material available through New South Wales public schools, and was intended to be entertaining as well as educational. With such a broad readership, it is understandable that the magazine often had to take the ‘middle road’ – skirting the fine line between conservative and controversial.

In 1977, furore erupted over a School Magazine article entitled ‘You work it out: How do you feel?’, published in the March edition. The article outlined differing opinions on drug use, asking students to make up their own minds about the issue. Marijuana use amongst young people was an issue hotly devated in the media at the time. Written for students in their final year of primary school, the article included statements such as “…you see people who use marijuana every now and then. They use it to relax and feel nice, and because they enjoy it, just as other people have a glass of wine with their meals. They’re not addicted to it, and it doesn’t stop them doing the things they want to do.” The article, by assistant editor Joanne Horniman, angered officials in the NSW Department of Education, and both Horniman and the magazine’s editor, Lilith Norman, were temporarily suspended whilst an official inquiry was undertaken. The then Leader of the Opposition, Sir Eric Wallis, lay blame with the government of the time. Sydney Morning Herald reported Wallis as being “saddened by not surprised at the article which amounted to an endorsement of drug taking by juveniles…the Labor government [have] created a climate which led increasing numbers of people to believe that it was pursuing a soft line on drugs, prostitution, homosexuality and vagrancy.”

The NSW Department of Education instructed teachers to tear out the three offending pages. Luckily, the Library’s copy remains intact. It is hardly surprising that a magazine designed for a primary school aged audience would attract the judgement and criticism of parents, teachers and the broader community – each with their own opinion on the correct way to introduce young people to social issues. The magazine never turned away from the pressing issues of the day, and published on a wide range topics such as immigration, war, animal rights and social inequality – with the intention of presented balanced information, so children could work out their own opinion.

The School Magazine also provided a balance between issues and imagination – each edition contained fictional stories, poems and illustrations, as well as the more serious articles and history pieces. And it is indeed these stories, and their illustrations, that many readers remember most fondly when they recall The School Magazine. The State Library of NSW collection contains original artwork from the magazine, by illustrators Sheila Hawkins, Pamela Allen and Gaye Chapman, as well as the archives of regular contributors such as children’s author Pixie O’Harris, who both wrote stories and illustrated them. Many authors - Robin Klein for example – got stories published in The School Magazine in the early parts of their careers – and went on to become prolific in the world of children’s literature.

The Library holds the full run of The School Magazine – from its humble black and white beginnings in 1916, through to the four-part, full-colour magazine that is produced today. In 1983 the magazine’s four parts (for the four levels Years 3, 4, 5 and 6) were renamed Countdown, Blast Off, Orbit and Touchdown. In 1985 it became a two colour publication and then full-colour in 1999. But perhaps the biggest change has been in its distribution – in 1993 the magazine became a subscription-based (fee paying) service, rather than being given to all NSW school students free of charge as it was in the beginning. Nevertheless, the subscription service has expanded the geographic reach of the magazine, and it is now purchased by schools in all Australian states and territories.   

The School Magazine has always published up and coming writers and illustrators, and it continues to welcome unsolicited manuscripts from across the world. It is significant not only for what it has meant for generations of young readers, but also countless writers and artists who found in it an outlet for their words and ideas.