Erasmus Primary School
{{Short description|School in Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Erasmus Primary School
| logo = Erasmus Primary School logo.png
| motto = Luceat Lux Vestra
| motto_translation = Let your light shine
| location = Hawthorn, Victoria
| country = Australia
| type = private
| religious_affiliation = School of Economic Science
| established = {{Start date and age|1996}}
| founder = Leon MacLaren
| grades = P-6
| enrollment = 114
| website = {{URL|https://erasmus.vic.edu.au}}
}}
Erasmus Primary School is a private school in Hawthorn, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, serving children from prep through year 6. It is founded by the Education Renaissance Trust,{{Cite web|url=http://www.education-renaissance-trust.org.uk/|title=Education Renaissance Trust|website=www.education-renaissance-trust.org.uk}} which is connected with the School of Economic Science, also known as the School of Philosophy.{{Cite web|url=https://practicalphilosophyvic.org.au/erasmus/|title=Erasmus|website=Melbourne School of Philosophy}}
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'.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/education/quiet-please-learning-in-progress-20060612-ge2hpw.html|title=Quiet please, learning in progress|date=12 June 2006|website=The Age}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/the-young-philosophers-at-erasmus-primary-school-20160801-gqijws.html|title=The young philosophers at Erasmus Primary School|first=Kristie|last=Kellahan|date=3 August 2016|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}} The school's website features quotes by Shantanand Saraswati, former head of the Jyotir Math Hindu monastery and pioneer of the Advaita movement.{{Cite web|url=https://erasmus.vic.edu.au/about-us/|title=About Us – Erasmus Primary School}} The unusual curriculum and pedagogy of Erasmus Primary School has received mention in the national media.
Connection with the School of Economic Science
Erasmus Primary School names Leon MacLaren of the School of Economic Science as its founder.{{Cite web|url=https://erasmus.vic.edu.au/about-us/founder/|title=Founder – Erasmus Primary School}} Schools associated with the School of Economic Science have been the subject of child abuse scandals{{Cite web|url=https://observer.com/2011/05/poster-children-of-new-yorks-happiness-academy-the-school-of-practical-philosophy-2/|title=Poster Children of New York's Happiness Academy – The School Of Practical Philosophy|website=The New York Observer |date=25 May 2011}} and cult accusations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/emily-watson-i-saw-incidents-of-cruelty-that-have-been-very-scarring-6nckv722m|title=Emily Watson: 'I saw incidents of cruelty that have been very scarring'|first=Ed|last=Potton|via=www.thetimes.co.uk}} Erasmus was discussed extensively{{Cite web|url=http://www.ses-forums.org/viewtopic.php?t=413|title=Erasmus school acknowledges its relationship with SES / SOP|work=SES Forums|date=14 February 2006}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ses-forums.org/viewtopic.php?t=421|title=The Melbourne School|work=SES Forums|date=20 February 2006}} 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.reference.ses-forums.org/wp-content/uploads/townend-report.pdf|title=General Report of the Townend Inquiry into St James Independent Schools|first=James|last=Townend|date=14 January 2006}}