P&C North Sydney Region

Northern Sydney Regional Council of Parents and Citizens Associations.

Newspaper Articles

Was held this year on

Friday 2 May 2008

Only in America

Nine-year-olds plot to injure teacher

Nine-year-olds at a school in the US state of Georgia brought a broken steak knife, handcuffs and electrical tape to school in a plot to injure their teacher, authorities said.

Federal Election Results 2007

The Federal Budget

May, 2007

Budget speeches

Liberal Hansard (see P37) pdf

Labor SMH pdf

Greens SMH

Democrats SMH

Family First SMH pdf

The Australian’s Budget Coverage

SMH Budget Coverage

Opinion from the USA

Raising Accountability for Parents Too
By Stanley Bippus

From the American Society of School Administrators Guest Column

What is most interesting in the big debate over how to improve public education is the lack of discussion over parent accountability.

The truth is that except in extreme cases, school officials do not come close to having the impact on a child’s success as does a parent. Between birth and age 18, children spend only 10 percent of their waking hours at school with the bulk of their time spent in the home environment where, with no standards of accountability, parents may choose to be unsupportive and uninvolved in the education process.

Why are there not more efforts to hold parents accountable for meeting child-rearing responsibilities when public schools face intensifying pressure?

Offbeat

From the land of the free: Parents who illegally enroll their children in Seminole County’s highly regarded schools will go to jail—if the School Board has its way.

The board instructed Superintendent Bill Vogel this week to give police agencies the names of parents whose children have been caught attending out-of-zone schools.

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More me time for under twos in care centres SMH 25.10.08

Childcare fees could rise by several dollars a day because of a State Government decision to reduce the ratio of children to staff, but advocates have heralded it as a historic victory for children.

School and pool at fault for drowning SMH 25.10.08

Maralyn Parker’s Stories and Blogs Daily Telegraph

Recent topics include:

School Chaplains take over public schools – Queensland

Double standards for giving us vital information about schools – NSW DET won’t release info on private school enrolments

Back to phonics and grammar with National English Curriculum

Aussie kids read more newspapers and log on daily

Enrolments in public schools will boom in the gloom as Catholic schools tighten belt

National History Curriculum proposals

Are local libraries obsolete in the age of Google?

Mental illness ravaging nation's youth The Age 24.10.08

Junk food TV ads to be banned in prime time Daily Telegraph 24.10.08

Advertisements for junk foods such as chocolate and chips will be banned from children's TV time under a landmark decision by the food and grocery industry.

Formal literacy, numeracy testing for five-year-olds Daily Telegraph 23.10.08

Formal testing of the state's five-year-olds will be dramatically increased, with 40,000 kindergarten students to be assessed on their literacy and numeracy skills.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the program, aimed at identifying children with potential learning problems, will next year be extended to more than 1000 schools across NSW.

Govt MP slams 'education revolution' The Age 21.10.08 SMH

One of the Rudd government's own MPs has blasted its "so-called education revolution," saying Labor is merely locking-in the coalition's favouritism of private schools.

Labor MP breaks ranks over 'education revolution' ABC News 22.10.08

The Federal Government's "education revolution" has come under attack from one of its own backbenchers.

Muck up day at private schools in Melbourne

Friend claims culture of bullying at Xavier The Age 23.10.08

The 17-year-old Xavier College student taken to hospital with leg fractures on Monday had been the target of years of bullying, a close family friend said yesterday.

The friend, who wanted to remain anonymous but is not a student at Xavier, said he was concerned that Monday's injuries would be dismissed as the result of an isolated accident, and criticised the school for failing in its duty of care to protect vulnerable students. He said Nick Mooney, a year 12 student at the Kew Jesuit school, was the same student targeted in the wheelie bin incident last year and in the earlier fight club footage where two students were bullied into fighting in front of about 100 jeering peers.

Schools dig in for students' muck-up mayhem The Age 22.10.08

In the past week, Caulfield Grammar and the Catholic Regional College at Sydenham have been hit by student vandalism.

Xavier College students who allegedly caused $5000 damage to a woman's car have been warned they could face criminal charges.

Xavier suspends whole of year 12 The Age 21.10.08

An exclusive Melbourne boys school has suspended its entire year 12 group after end-of-year high jinx resulted in one student being taken to hospital and complaints of drunken, disruptive behaviour by neighbours.

The Age understands some Xavier students let off fireworks at Balaclava train station, while three others ran through school assembly wearing little else but their school ties as g-strings.

A neighbour of the Kew school also contacted The Age complaining that students were "blind drunk" and disruptive.

Marist Catholic College, Canberra

Ex-staff wash hands of abuse Canberra Times 17.10.08

Former teachers and headmasters of Marist College say they had no duty to protect students at the Pearce school from sexual predators on the teaching staff.

The former educators are being sued in the ACT Supreme Court by 28 men who say they were molested by teachers at the school over three decades.

Documents lodged to the court by lawyers acting for the former educators say they had no ''duty of care'' towards the men when they were students at the Pearce, ACT school.

''The defendants deny they owed a non-delegable duty of care to exercise reasonable care for the safety of the plaintiff,'' the documents say.

The Marist order is claiming that it was not responsible for the operation of the school during the time the sexual abuse of the students was taking place and is not liable for damages to the victims.

Interview ABC Lateline 08.07.08

Canberra-based lawyer Jason Parkinson says the Catholic church has been avoiding its legal liabilities. He will be representing former students who are among more than 30 involved in abuse claims being brought against the Marist College in Canberra.

Marist denies duty of care to victims of paedophile Canberra Times 17.10.08

Lawyers acting for Marist Brothers have moved to strike out three civil claims against the organisation relating to its alleged knowledge that paedophile Brother Kostka Chute was molesting students in the 1980s and 1990s.

The ACT Supreme Court will hear an application by the trustees of the Marist Brothers next week to strike out the lawsuits on the grounds they are ''embarrassing, vexatious and oppressive''.

Backgound and comment Broken Rites – a private advocacy organization.

National Curriculum

The National Curriculum Board is responsible for developing an Australian national curriculum for all students from Kindergarten to Year 12, starting with English, mathematics, the sciences and history. National Forums, mainly involving suppliers of education (professional educators), but with a few outsiders such as parents, were held in Melbourne between October 13 to 17. The articles below arose from the publicity surrounding the forums. See more including information papers at the NCB’s website.

A national system to take students to the top of the class Editorial The Age 16.10.08

A new, more relevant national curriculum for schools makes sense.

There are few matters that evoke as much passion or ideological division as the education of our children. After a slow start, the Federal Government's much-vaunted education revolution has gathered momentum through its plans to develop a national curriculum that would see all students being taught the same syllabus, irrespective of which state or territory they live in.

Over the past week, the National Curriculum Board has been unveiling draft curriculums for the core subjects of history, maths and science. The draft English curriculum will be released today, completing the first stage in what could amount to the most significant reform of Australian schools for many years.

It is a change that is long overdue, not only regarding the structure of the current disparate system, but the content and relevance of the subjects being taught. With a population of only 21 million, it makes little sense for the nature of syllabus and assessment to change with the crossing of every border. A standardised curriculum in these four subjects (the board will tackle geography and languages after 2010) has the potential to liberate schools and students from the the confusing curricular clutter, and enable schools to use resources more efficiently.

Back to basics proposal for English pupils SMH 17.10.08

Children will be taught grammar for the first time in more than 30 years, under changes to the school curriculum proposed by the National Curriculum Board.

In a shift set to excite English language purists, the board has recommended students once again learn to sound out words, spell and correctly punctuate and structure sentences.

Schools to go back to basics to lift flagging literacy The Age 17.10.08

English will be stripped back to basics under a draft national curriculum so students learn more about grammar, punctuation and spelling in a bid to raise flagging literacy standards in schools.

Decades after English shifted dramatically in the 1970s away from a grammar-based curriculum to a more literary approach, schools are set to reinstate phonics — the explicit teaching of letter-sound combinations — as a routine method to help students learn to read and write.

Studying the past informs our lives now Opinion The Age 14.10.08

History is as foundational and challenging as the disciplines of science, mathematics and English. Awareness of history is an essential characteristic of any civilised society, and historical knowledge is fundamental to the way we think about ourselves and others. This is the starting point of the advisory group's report to the National Curriculum Board.

The history we should teach must assist understanding of contemporary events as well as the enduring significance of earlier ones. It should introduce students to the variety of human experience, enable them to see the world through the eyes of others, enrich their appreciation of the causes and consequences of change.

History in the remaking in schools The Age 13.10.08

All students from kindergarten to year 10 will have to study history, with more emphasis on world events rather than just the Australian narrative, under the proposed national curriculum.

Politicians should leave history to the teachers Opinion The Age 16.10.08

Tony Abbott’s recent doorstop comment that there were not enough facts about English history in the current National Curriculum Board framing paper on school history has a familiar ring.

A curriculum for the future, not a mantra for the past Letters The Age 04.10.08

Gillard under fire over curriculum board The Age 02.10.08

Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard has been forced to defend the board charged with developing a national curriculum for Australian schools after the Coalition accused her of allowing the process to be captured by ideologues.

Sophie Delezio's father lashes out at Labor SMH 16.10.08

The father of car crash survivor Sophie Delezio has criticised the NSW Government for failing to spend enough money on putting flashing lights in school zones.

25 NSW schools defying computers grant ban The Australian 10.10.08

Health

Teen health at risk from fat, lazy life Sun Herald 05.10.08

Healthy eating and exercise levels decline sharply at the age of 14, the largest nationwide study of children's diet and physical activity over a decade has found.

Ballet should step up fight against disorders Sun Herald 05.10.08

Swimming star stays dry to teach kids danger of alcohol Sun Herald 05.10.08

When it comes to status, the teachers get less than top marks The Australian 04.10.08

By Kenneth Wiltshire, Australia's representative on the executive board of UNESCO. He was chairman of the review of the Queensland school curriculum and special adviser to the Australian National Training Authority. He is J.D. Story professor of public administration at the University of Queensland business school.

According to teachers organisation Education International: "Every day in millions of classrooms around the world, the universal endeavour of teaching and learning takes place. The gift of literacy is passed on from one generation to the next, along with a love of learning and thirst for knowledge. When knowledge is shared, skills are gained and lives can be changed."

The world faces an acute shortage of teachers. UNESCO estimates that 18 million more teachers are needed worldwide if universal primary education is to be achieved by 2015, one of the UN Millennium Development Goals. So this year's emphasis is on professional training for quality education.

Children to learn fear, depression coping skills in school

Brisbane Courier Mail 05.10.08

Queensland Education and Training Minister Rod Welford will launch the social and emotional learning program for Queensland state schools this week.

Betrayal of trust

Sun Herald 05.10.08

Parents have expressed outrage over revelations that controversial artist Bill Henson was allowed into a primary school by its principal to search for models.

Bill Henson patrolled Victorian primary school for models NEWS.com.au 04.10.08

Henson 'school scouting' outrage SMH 04.10.08 5:11PM

Art or exploitation? The Australian 04.10.08

Many would object to Henson scanning schoolyards

Gillard shocked by Henson school visit SMH 05.10.08 3.14pm

Rich schools fear public scrutiny Daily Telegraph 30.09.08

Maralyn Parker Blog

Tara Anglican School for Girls and the elite Catholic school, St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill are refusing to disclose how they qualified for hundreds of new computers in the first round of the Rudd education revolution computer roll-out.

Tara received funding for 200 computers and St Joseph’s funding for 270 computers.

It is a mystery how such wealthy schools could qualify in round one of the computer roll-out when the most disadvantaged schools in the country were supposed to get their computers first.

Poor schools don't spell poor results SMH 01.10.08

A treasury study has proved what many parents already know to be true: the quality of a school can have an important impact on students' academic performance.

But the findings, released today, counter fatalistic arguments that students in poor schools will always under-perform when measured against schools in wealthier areas.

"These results provide some evidence in favour of the proposition that socioeconomic status does not determine a school's destiny," say the report's authors, Andrew Leigh, an economist from the Australian National University on secondment to the Treasury, and Hector Thompson.

See Report web page pdf main page

Childhood obesity a myth - advertisers Daily Telegraph 01.10.08

The advertising industry has denied there is any link between food advertising and childhood obesity.

Uni students to be taught basic English Daily Telegraph 01.10.08

Monash University will teach its first-year students grammar and punctuation after discovering that most arrive without basic English skills.

Want brighter kids? Pack them off to granny's Daily Telegraph 01.10.08

Young children and babies looked after by their parents at home are healthier than those in childcare, a report shows.

But kids who stay at home with mum or dad learn less than those looked after by grandparents and other family members.

Results from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children - which measures children's development, health, parenting, learning, and wellbeing at home and out of the home - were released yesterday.

Many Australian students struggle to cope socially and emotionally DT 25.09.08

Maralyn parker blog.

A new study shows more than 40% of Australian primary and secondary students have poor emotional and social skills.

University of Melbourne Professor, Michael Bernard, collected data from 11,000 Australian children to come up with his startling findings.

Download Report

Courses trim for global outlook The Australian 24.09.08

A revolution from below is transforming Australian higher education as leading universities unleash radical course reforms in advance of the Rudd Government’s policy overhaul.

The University of Western Australia has joined a group including Melbourne, Macquarie, Monash, South Australia and Victoria universities undergoing radical course reform unprompted by government policy.

Melbourne, UWA and Macquarie have jettisoned the smorgasbord of credentials characterising Australian higher education in favour of a much smaller number of broad undergraduate courses integrating the humanities and science.

Flawed School Assistance Bill introduced to parliament DT 24.09.08

Maralyn parker blog.

The School Assistance Bill was introduced to parliament today by Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard - cementing the flawed Howard government’s SES funding for private schools for the next four years.

This Bill is only about private schools. It gives $28 billion to the nation’s private schools based on the supposed socio economic status of parents.

Teacher failed to watch drowned Armani Dirani, kids DT 24.09.08

Nine killed in Finnish school massacre: media SMH 23.09.08 9.07 pm

Girl drowned as lifeguards staffed canteen, court told SMH 23.09.08

Secular schools of thought tainted SMH 22.09.08

Opinion Jane Caro

English teachers have lost the plot SMH 20.09.08

Opinion – Miranda Devine

Of all people, you would think those who run the professional organisation representing English teachers in NSW would be able to write a clear, precise sentence. You would also think they would want students to read books.

Alas, no. The English Teachers Association’s submission (pdf, 120 kb) to an HSC syllabus review by the NSW Board of studies uses the sort of incomprehensible cant George Orwell warned against, to argue against the inclusion of more Australian literature in the syllabus.

English Teachers’ Association website

Yes, minister, you pay for public schools SMH 19.09.08

After just days in her job as the state’s Education Minister, Verity Firth was shocked to discover that the State Government provided most of the funding for public schools.

Minister Firth asks Rudd for more money for NSW public schools DT15.09.08

Maralyn Parker Blog

Schoolgirl bites, flees bearhug abduction in Carlingford DT 19.09.08 12.20pm

A Sydney schoolgirl bit a man on the arm to break free after he grabbed her on the street and tried to force her into his car.

Parents unite to learn the lesson SMH 19.09.08

Australian parent groups will explore the boundaries of parental expectations of schools after concerns that some parents become too pushy with teachers.

Pushy parents shown the rulebook SMH 18.09.08

From the US: “Helicopter parents” who hover around private schools pestering teachers have become so annoying that they are being asked to sign behaviour contracts. (Perhaps they are looking to ensure value for money – a novel concept – Ed).

Anger as Koori schools to close The Age 19.09.08

The State Government will close Victoria’s only public Aboriginal schools, forcing junior students into mainstream education and placing senior pupils into short-term “transitional” colleges to boost their results.

Commonsense part of brain is a dead zone when texting SMH 18.09.08

Teacher Stopworks

Teacher strike misses the action Maralyn Parker blog

The teacher strike over the new staffing arrangements in NSW public schools is missing the target.

The union called teachers to strike in support a teacher from Chifley College in Mt Druitt who, even though she is top of the transfer list, has not been automatically given a job she wanted at Cumberland High.

Instead the principal has decided to advertise the position. This is a choice he can make under the new staffing arrangements.

No doubt this teacher is disappointed to say the least. However by advertising the position Cumberland High principal has given a chance to ALL teachers who want the job. The school gets to choose its best match - and that has to be good for its students.

I am suspicious of the union focusing on a pregnant woman when there were eleven other teachers in the same situation. In NSW we have anti-discrimination laws that could be invoked if it really does believe it is a case of discrimination.

Teacher transfer backlash Mt Druitt – St Marys Standard 17.09.08

School staffing plan’s first local casualty St Marys - Mt Druitt Star 16.09.08

A national curriculum, a bad choice SMH 15.09.08

By Jenny Allum, Principal of SCEGGS Darlinghurst.

The National Curriculum Board meets in Sydney today with representatives of the various stakeholders in education in NSW. What do we in NSW stand to gain by a national curriculum? What do we stand to lose?

Minister Firth asks Rudd for more money for NSW public schools DT15.09.08

Maralyn Parker Blog

Shocked at how little the federal government pays to support NSW public schools, NSW Education Minister Verity Firth, has asked the federal government to pay more for the nation’s public schools.

A hand-up to school offers a way out of poverty SMH 15.09.08

A young Sydney medical student started a charity to help others learn in Uganda.

She has also established a partnership with an Aboriginal health and education program in Arnhem Land, which has been so successful that medical students at the University of Sydney can participate as an elective in their degree.

School kids run gauntlet of sexual predators SMH 15.09.08

Husband freed from wife of crime SMH 15.09.08

Over $1m stolen from SCECGS Redlands by staff member ends in court.

Mother admits starving her son on religious grounds DT 15.09.08

A mother has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her four-year-old son, after she denied him necessary medical treatment on religious grounds.

St Stanislaus College police investigation explodes DT 15.09.08

The police paedophile investigation into St Stanislaus College in Bathurst has exploded with 40 alleged victims of just one of the charged men, a court heard this morning.

Pre-school teachers battle for equal pay Sun Herald 14.09.08

Early childhood teachers are calling for equal pay with their school counterparts, saying the inequality is causing teachers to opt out of the early childhood education system.

Parents will supply alcohol for Schoolies Sunday Mail, Brisbane 14.09.08

One-third of parents plan to supply their children with alcohol at this year’s Schoolies Week even though most believe binge drinking among teenagers is a problem.

A survey on alcohol and Schoolies found parents were scared of what could happen to their teen but planned to help them party anyway.

Schoolies Week, which starts on November 22, attracts up to 100,000 young people for end-of-Year-12 celebrations on the Gold Coast, and tens of thousands to other Queensland party hotspots.

A real sizzle for young readers Sun Herald 14.09.08

Mount Riverview Public School - Premier’s Reading Challenge success celebrated with a barbecue.

NSW tops the first national spelling test SMH 13.09.08

NSW students have topped the spelling bee in the first national comparison of literacy and numeracy test results.

In May, children in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 from around the country took the same tests in reading, writing, spelling, grammar, punctuation and numeracy.

The results were posted yesterday on the website of the national education ministers committee (Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs - MCEETYA).

NSW kids the smartest in the country Daily Telegraph 13.09.08

Students from NSW have blitzed the country in the first national literacy and numeracy tests, scoring well above the Australian average in every subject and year level.

NAPLAN results - what does it all mean?

Maralyn Parker – ARTICLE & BLOG

NSW blitzed the nation in with the highest percentage of top achievers the most subjects -we topped in Spelling and Numeracy across all years in the first National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy. NSW teachers take a bow. But as a nation we get a big CAN DO BETTER.

Hard yards of child’s play SMH 13.09.08

The Government wants to lift child-care standards, but that will bears its own cost, writes Stephanie Peatling.

Rise and rise of care demand SMH 13.09.08

The child-care industry has grown exponentially over the past 25 years. The dramatic increase of women in the workforce as well as the shift in family dynamics to either both parents working or single parents has meant many children need to be looked after by someone outside the immediate family.

Eat me, drink me: study shows junk ads burden SMH 11.09.08

Children are subjected up to three inducements to eat junk food for every hour of television they watch, a study has found.

The NSW Health Minister, John Della Bosca, likened junk food advertising to tobacco advertising but stopped short of saying he would do anything about it.

Unlicensed driver - and a teenager dies Daily Telegraph 11.09.08

The unlicensed 16-year-old driver of a car that ploughed into a power pole, killing a teenage passenger, had taken her grandmother’s car while her family thought she was sleeping.

Dr Ted Boyce, principal of Pacific Hills Christian School where the three girls attended, said fellow Year 10 students were shattered.

‘iPod distraction’ used as defence in St Laurence’s College Brisbane Courier-Mail 11.09.08

A teenager charged over a private schoolyard attack in Brisbane claimed he knew nothing of an intention to wound students because he was listening to an iPod when plans were made.

Matt Graham Maguire, 18, appeared at a bail hearing in Brisbane Magistrate’s Court yesterday after 43 days in custody on charges of grievous bodily harm and wounding.

Maguire was one of eight youths, aged 13 to 18, charged over an attack on pupils at St Laurence’s College in Brisbane’s inner south on July 28.

Degrees of earning overshadow learning SMH 11.09.08

Universities are no longer seen primarily as centres of learning but as corporations most concerned about the bottom line, a survey from a leading Australian university has found.

Hector the safety cat and other life leaders Daily Telegraph 10.09.08

Opinion: Naomi Toy

It’s no wonder teachers, who belong to an undervalued and underpaid profession, sometimes feel overloaded and overwhelmed.

But what a giant flick pass they delivered to parents this week with the results of a survey and subsequent guide by the Australian Scholarships Group and the National Excellence in Teaching Awards organisation.

Parents don’t teach manners to children Daily Telegraph 09.09.08

Angry teachers are sick of lazy parents who leave it to them to educate their kids everythying from manners and morals to eating habits and hygiene. A new guide, Parent-Teacher Partnerships (PDF 1.96 MB), has been produced by the Australian Scholarships Group and the National Excellence in Teaching Awards organisation.

Public schools funding shame Daily Telegraph 10.09.08

AUSTRALIA’S government spending on public education is the second lowest among developed nations, a new report has found.

1. Belgium only country that spends less on education

2. Experienced teachers paid significantly less

3. Report shows Howard’s “education neglect”

School sex abuse case widens SMH 10.09.08

Allegations of sexual abuse at St Stanislaus’s College in Bathurst are likely to widen, with two more former teachers at the school to be named to police.

Hillsong’s schools recruitment drive SMH 09.09.08

A network of Christian youth ministries with links to the Hillsong Church is attempting to recruit members in public schools through free lunchtime concerts and barbecues called “Exo days”, church manuals reveal.

Exo or Excellent days are free events run by Christian students under the direction of Youth Alive, an arm of the Australian Christian Churches - formerly the Assemblies of God - of which Hillsong is the largest member.

Catholics welcome, Muslims not SMH 09.09.08

It is the tale of two schools. The Camden residents’ group that fought a Muslim society’s proposal for a school in rural Camden has welcomed a Catholic organisation’s plans to build a school nearby because “Catholics are part of our community”.

We’ll take Catholic school - not Muslim Daily Telegraph 09.09.08

Parents demand lead risk guide after water scare Daily Telegraph 09.09.08

Parent groups have called for the swift distribution of a lead poisoning symptoms guide so they can check whether children have suffered from contaminated school tank water.

Parents don’t teach manners to children Daily Telegraph 09.09.08

The failure of schools to educate SMH 08.09.08

The head of The King’s School, Tim Hawkes, throws down a challenge to educators.

Despite being a headmaster for nearly 20 years, I am just developing a conviction that I have been manifestly unfaithful as an educator because I have been teaching an inadequate curriculum. The fact that this inadequacy in curriculum is probably to be found in most Western schools brings me no comfort at all.

Top graduates targeted for tough schools SMH 08.09.08

The Rudd Government is on a collision course with education deans over proposals to shorten teacher training times and recruit non-teaching graduates to work in the nation’s toughest classrooms.

Verity Firth new Minister for Education

Verity Firth attended North Sydney Girls High School and in 1991, whilst at NSGHS she won the Sydney Morning Herald Plain English Speaking Award.

More biographical details at ALP site Wiki + Inaugural Speech to Parliament 08.05.07

Who’s Who in the new Ministry Pics and details SMH 09.08.09

Maralyn Parker’s Blog – Daily Telegraph 08.09.08

Verity Firth is NSW Education Minister number 7 in six years

Old boy calls school a pedophile paradise SMH 06.09.08

Speeding fine blitz at school zones Daily Telegraph 06.09.08

School zones have turned into a $50 million-a-year fines nightmare for motorists, with the number of people caught breaking the 40km/h limit soaring by almost 500 per cent.

We’re getting only weasel words on junk food ads SMH 05.09.08

Opinion: Clare Hughes, Choice’s senior food policy officer.

After months of anticipation that the Australian Communications and Media Authority might crack down on junk food advertising, its draft standards were released last week with a whimper.

Articles on changes to the NSW government SMH 06.09.08 Daily Tele 06.09.08

Stalking horse or tried stayer? SMH 19 July, 2008 – an article speculating on Nathan Rees’ chances of becomimg premier

NSW Premier Morris Iemma quits as Premier, will leave politics SMH 05.09.08 - pm

New NSW new Premier says he’s short on political experience but long on life’s

Carmel Tebbutt agrees to be deputy premier SMH 04.09.08 4:14PM

Tebbutt tempted by deputy role SMH 04.09.08

Carmel Tebbutt to replace John Watkins as NSW Deputy Premier DT 04.09.08

Seems there’s a correlatioin in recent times between experience as Education Minister and as Deputy Premier! (Andrew Refshauge, John Watkins and now Carmel Tebbutt).

Sexual abuse of students in schools

Old boy calls school a pedophile paradise SMH 06.09.08

Just seven weeks ago Pope Benedict XVI apologised for the “evil” of clergy sex abuse in Australia during his World Youth Day visit, but the legacy of predatory priests still preys on St Stanislaus’ College in Bathurst.

While sex abuse by priests, brothers and teachers at Catholic schools and orphanages has been an issue since the 1980s, the arrest of three Vincentian priests who once taught at the school, coupled with the apparent suicide of a brother and the order’s $40,000 payment to a former student - while permitting the priest he accused to continue contact with children - has irrevocably stained St Stanislaus.

“John”, the 51-year-old local who received the payment after he accused Father Guy Hartcher of interfering with him when he was 14, told the Herald he now realised the school was a kind of “pedophile paradise”.

He recalled priests “grooming” pupils with pornographic magazines, students hiding from staff members when they came “hunting” for first and second formers, and a teacher he knew by the nickname of “Toad” who was notorious for grabbing pupils by their privates if they answered questions incorrectly in class.

“We were all just kids at Stannies, a real smorgasbord,” “John” said.

School community’s great pain Bathurst Western Advocate 05.09.08

More men accused in school sex scandal SMH 05.09.08

The Vincentian Congregation yesterday admitted that as many as four former priests and brothers and one lay teacher at St Stanislaus’ College, Bathurst, have been caught up in allegations of sexual abuse.

World Youth Day link to school sex charges SMH 04.09.08

A Catholic brother charged over 28 alleged sexual offences when he taught at St Stanislaus’ College in Bathurst during the 1970s and 1980s returned to his former school earlier this year as a World Youth Day chaperone. (Pastoral care page)

More priests arrested over abuse at St Stanislaus Daily Telegraph 04.09.08

The former president and vice-president of St Stanislaus College were charged with 32 sex offences in a day of explosive developments in a police paedophile investigation yesterday.

Priest charged in sex swoop Daily Telegraph 03.09.08

Police have swooped on a former St Stanislaus College brother at his Sydney home as their paedophile investigation dramatically widened.

John Gaven, 66, a Vincentian brother, was led from his church lodgings in Vincentia St, Marsfield, shortly after midday today.

The dramatic arrest comes a day after 65-year-old former priest Brian Joseph Spillane, from Sydney, had 33 charges of sexually abusing students at the Bathurst college during the 1980s upgraded to a total of 93 charges.

In another development, police have arrested a 63-year-old former teacher from an Anglican school in Bathurst relating to alleged sexual assaults at that school dating from the late 1970s.

Former chaplain on 60 new child sex charges SMH 03.09.08

Two more arrests over school sexual abuse SMH 03.09.08 1:42PM

Scroll down to 31.08.08 for more articles

Teachers will maintain the rage with more strikes Daily Telegraph 03.09.08

Private schools wary of cuts SMH 02.09.08

Independent schools would oppose any reduction in funding as a result of a new Federal Government directive for all schools to publish their income from student fees, investments and fund-raising from next year.

Private school fees have continued to rise - to more than $20,000 a year - despite schools receiving up to $10 million in annual government subsidies.

For example, Cranbrook School in Bellevue Hill made a profit of $4.6 million in 2006 and received $3.1 million in state and federal government funding - up 12.5 per cent since 2003. (So why do they need any government funds at all?- Ed)

Teachers strike

Pay teachers more - but striking over staffing is futile Daily Telegraph 02.09.08

Maralyn Parker Blog Most of us sympathise with teachers striking over salaries. Pay teachers a lot more and watch many of our problems in staffing schools disappear.
But the teachers strike, according to the union, was also over new staffing arrangements, already in place, giving schools the option of advertising direct to fill vacancies.

I can’t help thinking what a futile protest against state policy this was in face of the Rudd federal juggernaut coming our way in schooling.

Rolling strikes add HSC stress: parents SMH 02.09.08 10:32AM

Pay rise dispute: teachers promise more action SMH 02.09.08 12:49PM

NSW public school teachers have promised more industrial action if the state government does not meet their pay demands.

Teachers’ strike today throws parents, students into chaos Daily Telegraph 02.09.08

Parents and school students have been thrown into chaos across the state today by a teachers strike slammed by Premier Morris Iemma as unjustified and unnecessary.

Thousands of teachers walk off the job Daily Telegraph 02.09.08 07:54am

School settles with Sikh boy’s family over hair The Australian 02.09.08

An exclusive private school that refused to enrol a Sikh student unless he cut his hair and removed his turban has apologised and is reviewing its uniform rules as part of an out-of-court settlement.

Maralyn Parker Blogs on the Education Revolution Daily Telegraph

No place here for this New York program 02.09.08

As far as closing schools down that are failing… 28.08.08

Three things I like about the Kevin Rudd schools plan 27.08.08

Link to audio of Rudd speech

Julia Gillard - parents need more information 26.08.08

Bagging teachers a Ruddy insult Daily Telegraph 31.08.08 Steve Price

Rudd’s public war with teachers Daily Telegraph 29.08.08 Opinion: Bruce McDougall

Despite turbulent times ahead, public school teachers are banking a fair dollop of goodwill from parents and the general public.

A Galaxy poll conducted for The Daily Telegraph shows almost 75 per cent of the community is happy with public school teachers’ performance.

However, there are warning signs in that just 19 per cent of people go as far as to rate their school teachers as “very good”.

The PM’s plan to publish performance data showing which schools are doing well and which are not, will be applauded by parents across Australia.

For too long families have been deprived of even a modicum of information that would enable them to make meaningful comparisons between schools.

Old school union standing in way of equity, says PM The Australian 29.08.08

Kevin Rudd has accused education union officials of promoting inequity, vowing he will crash through their opposition to his plans to crack down on underperforming schools.

A day after announcing plans to give states extra funding if they demand greater transparency and accountability from schools, including publishing details of their relative performances, the Prime Minister urged his critics to back his reforms as delivering on a core aim of the labour movement: equality of access to education.

As the Australian Education Union began lobbying Labor backbenchers to resist changes that also include sacking underperforming teachers and principals, Mr Rudd said the reform was aimed at rescuing large numbers of children at risk of being let down by poorly performing schools.

PM aims to teach unions a lesson SMH 29.08.08

KEVIN RUDD and Julia Gillard turned up the heat on the education unions yesterday with the Prime Minister telling them it was time to move into the 21^st century.

But as Mr Rudd and his deputy began the hard sell of tough new measures to improve school standards, the trade unions continued to flex their muscles behind the scenes over a number of policy measures.

School rankings will measure student respect NEWS.com.au 29.08.08

Schools would be rated for their safety records and the respect shown by their students under the Federal Government’s proposed report card system.

They would also be judged on attendance and academic expectations under the model being considered by Education Minister Julia Gillard

Schools ‘could fake it’ NEWS.com.au 29.08.08

Schools may rig test results to protect their funding under Kevin Rudd’s education revolution, a Melbourne principal has warned.

Education Minister Julia Gillard yesterday said schools had nothing to fear from changes that would require them to publish a range of performance data.

Under the reforms, schools that consistently under-perform could be closed or merged and principals and teachers sacked.

Latchkey children scandal as poll shows kids left home alone Daily Telegraph 29.08.08

Three per cent of children aged 5 to 9 are going home alone after school, the first poll ever done on the issue has found.

The Newspoll survey has also found one in five of the nation’s 10 to 15 year olds are latchkey kids.

School leavers prefer job to further study Courier Mail 29.08.08 Queensland

Sexual abuse of children in schools

Cardinal George Pell knew of John Fleming sex claims Daily Telegraph 31.08.08

Bathurst sex abuser now helping police Daily Telegraph 29.08.08

A convicted paedophile teacher from St Stanislaus College is assisting police with an investigation into allegation of a child sex ring at the school.

Evil spirit, broken children, empty lives Daily Telegraph

By Dr Gary Schoener, a US-based psychologist who has treated more than 2000 sex abuse victims.

Over the years I have dealt with around 2000 victims of child sex abuse involving clergy.

A typical comment: “Look, my parents worked three jobs to pay tuition so I could go to Catholic school so as to avoid sex and drugs and bad things and despite their efforts that’s what I got. I do not want them to know this, it is of no benefit to tell them.” Without confidentiality, most would not have come forward.

Sex crime unit called to St Stanislaus college Daily Telegraph 28.08.08

The police sex crimes squad has been called in to investigate a flood of new abuse claims involving St Stanislaus College as a former college boarder subjected to horrific late-night prayer sessions told his story yesterday.

School ‘urges students to read Penthouse’ Daily Telegraph 28.08.08

Man at the centre of an unholy scandal SMH 28.08.08

For years Father Brian Spillane presided over a flock of young, impressionable boys at St Stanislaus College in Bathurst.

A chaplain and a teacher, he officiated at school Masses, led the pupils in prayer and gave them religious guidance.

He also, according to allegations by 13 former students, repeatedly sexually assaulted them.

Forty students allege sex assault SMH 27.08.08

About 40 students have alleged they were sexually abused by staff at the prestigious St Stanislaus Catholic College in Bathurst.

Priests, teachers ‘in paedophile ring’ at St Stanislaus school Daily Telegraph 26.08.08

Police investigating claims up to 40 boys were sexually abused over seven years by priests and teachers at this exclusive private school have urged more alleged victims to come forward.

Rudd’s education revolution

Kevin Rudd’s addresses and media

Quality Education: The Case for an Education Revolution in Our Schools,
Address to the National Press Club, Canberra 27 August 2008 Short Version

Questions and Answers, National Press Club, Canberra 27 August 2008

Other recent interviews on education

Pugilistic Prime Minister has picked a classy fight SMH 28.08.08

Peter Hartcher Political Editor, Comment

Kevin Rudd is playing an old but reliable political gambit - to define yourself, pick a fight.

And his truculent declaration that he wants some “argy bargy” on “hard principles” of school standards is a good fight to pick. So now Rudd has demanded all schools provide detailed reports on their students’ results and overall school performance. He has proclaimed that Australia needs “excellent teaching”, with incentives for schools to attract high-performing principals and teachers, and funds for intensive learning.

Rudd sets tough rules for school funding SMH 28.08.08

Kevin Rudd has threatened the states and education unions by declaring future federal education funding will be conditional on information about the performance of individual schools being made available to parents. The information would make it easier for parents to decide where to send their children. It would also allow them to “vote with their feet” and send their children elsewhere if the school they were using was found to be underperforming.

The president of the Australian Education Union, Angelo Gavrielatos, condemned the proposals as “more about slogans than substance” and said Mr Rudd was no better than the Howard government. The president of the NSW Secondary Principals Council, Jim McAlpine, said tied funding was a good idea only if fair comparisons were made between schools.

PM ties school funds to results The Australian 28.08.08

Kevin Rudd will demand states take tough action against failing schools, sacking principals and teachers and even closing sub-standard schools, as a condition of a multi-billion-dollar education fund to ensure all students have a good education.

Gillard speaking for parents, children The Australian 28.08.08

Julia Gillard is one of only two education ministers in the nation without children, and she is the only one speaking out for parents. Post your comment.

Every parent has the right to know their child’s school is as good as the one down the road.

If a school fails to meet a minimum standard of quality, principals should be held accountable, teachers should be removed, the school should close. Every child deserves no less.

Standoff on Julia Gillard school reforms The Australian 28.08.08

Rudd’s education revolution demands state’s cooperation 7.30 Report, ABC TV

Text and Video: Wednesday, 27 August, 2008

Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd has announced a new chapter of his ongoing education revolution. The scheme links Commonwealth education funding to individual school performance. The states will need to agree to meet the conditions under the new national schools agreement due to be signed next year.

School performance reporting backed by Rod Welford Brisbane Courier-Mail 27.08.08 4.25 pm

Education plan labelled ‘Schoolwatch’ by AEU Daily Telegraph 27.08.08 5.28 pm

But Australian Secondary Principals Association deputy president Jim McAlpine said the plan was positive.

ACSSO (national P&C) said they weren’t consulted and didn’t want league tables

Govt denies public schools funding cut SMH 27.08.08 2.58pm

The Rudd government has rejected a new report which suggests funding for public schools will be cut over the next four years, resulting in the loss of 1,000 teachers.

The report, commissioned by the Australian Education Union (AEU), says under current budget projections there’ll be a 1.8 per cent decrease in real funding for public schools by 2011-12.

$1.5bn ‘needed to reverse school legacy’ Daily Telegraph 27.08.08 5.24 am

The Rudd Government needs to invest at least $1.5 billion in public education just to restore the sector’s commonwealth funding share to 1996 levels, a new report said.

The study, commissioned by the Australian Education Union (AEU), said that without urgent action public school funding will be cut in real terms within three years.

Government schools’ share of commonwealth funding declined from 43 per cent to 35 per cent under the Howard Government, and will drop further to just 33.8 per cent by 2011-12, University of Sydney academic Jim McMorrow says in Reviewing the Evidence. Download the REPORT (pdf, 424kb) from the AEU site.

PM outlines system to compare school performance The Australian 27.08.08

Kevin Rudd has announced individual school performance reporting will be a condition of funding under a new national schools agreement from next year.

Pledging to deliver increased information to parents within a year, Mr Rudd said today within three years his government aimed to provide for parents “a report that shows not just how their child is doing but how their child’s school is performing compared to similar schools”.
In a speech to the National Press Club in Canberra today, the Prime Minister has outlined the government’s agenda for the education revolution, including greater autonomy for schools to hire and fire teachers, and greater transparency for parents. Kevin Rudd’s Education Revolution

Parents to get report card on schools Daily Telegraph 27.08.08 01.10pm

Kevin Rudd has announced individual school performance reporting will be a condition of funding under a new national schools agreement from next year.

Pledging to deliver increased information to parents within a year, Mr Rudd said today that within three years his Government aimed to provide for parents “a report that shows not just how their child is doing but how their child’s school is performing compared to similar schools”.

Islamic school will appeal rejection decision Daily Telegraph 28.08.08

School asked to overturn cartwheel Daily Telegraph 26.08.08

A north Queensland school principal is under pressure to perform a policy backflip after he banned students from doing cartwheels and handstands in the playground.

Belgian Gardens State School in Townsville has banned all gymnastics activities during breaks, claiming it is protecting students from injury.

(The world is indeed becoming a sad place when kids can’t even play normally in the playground - Editor)

Truants ‘have no chance in life’ Herald-Sun 26.08.08

Children who fail to attend school have no chance in life, high profile Labor MP Maxine McKew said.

Ms McKew was commenting on her Government’s plan to suspend welfare payments to parents who don’t send their children to school.

Teacher in gay sex scandal quits Daily Telegraph 26.08.08

A senior teacher at an exclusive $15,000-a-year Northern Beaches, Sydney school has resigned after students viewed naked pictures of him on a gay dating website.

The Pittwater House High School teacher, who had taught at the school for 15 years, used a strange word as his username while accessing an educational website during a presentation to Year 11 students.
The word he used was his profile name for a gay dating website and was visible on the projector for students to see, The Manly Daily reports.

Just think: it’s important SMH 25.08.08

Why is philosophy as a subject such a fizzer in schools, asks Laura Parker.

“Some people don’t understand what we mean by philosophy - they think it’s just discussion. The truth is it’s a rigorous and analytical subject; you have to do it properly. We don’t discuss the meaning of life. As a subject, I think it’s more fundamental than maths or English.”

Parents ‘charged’ for kids out of school in NSW Daily Telegraph 25.08.08

Bullied kids get home school Daily Telegraph 25.08.08

Parents of children bullied at school are teaching their children at home in an effort to protect them.

NSW tops diagnosis of ADHD as scripts rise 43.5 per cent Daily Telegraph 25.08.08

Catholic teachers seek 16% pay rise, more credit SMH 25.08.08

Teachers can be outstanding ABC Radio – The World Today 24.08.08

Audio in three formats: REAL AUDIO WINDOWS MEDIA MP3 or find the links at the top of this page

ELEANOR HALL: The Teachers Union says a program identifying ‘outstanding’ teachers won’t work unless it’s linked to better pay. New South Wales teachers can now be classified as ‘outstanding’ if they meet the requirements of a new assessment system designed to identify high level performance.

The day all hell broke loose at high school Sun Herald 24.08.08

Five youths attacked Merrylands High School in apparently mistaken revenge. They have pleaded guilty in the Children’s Court.

In a class of their own Sun Herald 24.08.08

A Sydney school has more than 90 students in one kindergarten class in what is being hailed as the future of learning. A Catholic Primary School at Stanhope Gardens has introduced “team teaching” to its kindergarten class with the approval of the Parramatta diocese Catholic Education office. We’re trying to change 100 years of teaching practice of ‘Sit down, shut up and I’ll teach you what you need to know and we’ll test you at the end of the year’.

But the plan has not received support in all sectors, with the NSW/ACT Independent Education Union (IEU) - which represents teachers at the diocesan schools - labelling the idea of having so many children in the one class as retrospective and voicing concerns it contradicted the industrial agreement in place which limited class sizes.

(These are exciting times for education with new technology and new approaches available to meet contemporary challenges and expectations. Education is all about learning, and it is a pity to see some teacher organisations like the IEU taking a negative stance on innovation. One would hope that teacher organisations would be in the lead – Editor.).

Science in schools

Girls boldly go where teacher went before SMH 23.08.08

First she commanded a space shuttle mission. Then she repaired a satellite. Now a teacher at Eastwood Public School is on a mission to get her female students more interested in science by taking them on space camp in the US. The simulated rocket mission experience gained by Jackie Slaviero (see her blog) after she won a business-sponsored scholarship to the six-day space camp last year stretched her boundaries beyond imagination.

School choice is ‘guesswork’: Julia Gillard The Australian 23.08.08

Julia Gillard says parents have no guarantee their child’s school meets a minimum standard of education, acknowledging that choosing the best school is little more than guesswork.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister said parents choosing a school for their child were forced to rely on rumour and prejudice, rather than being able to make a decision based on facts. “A lot of guessing goes into the decision and there should be more objective information,” she said.

Ms Gillard called on the states and territories to agree to greater transparency of school results and features. Inspired by the changes made in New York City by the education chancellor Joel Klein, Ms Gillard is proposing schools make public as much information as they can, from the qualifications of their teachers to comparing their students’ performance and improvement against groups of similar schools.

One of the features of the New York system is that schools consistently failing to meet benchmarks are closed, giving parents confidence that their child’s school is meeting expected standards.

(See Julia Gillard’s speech to the ACER Research Conference 11 August 2008, Brisbane).

New York School Reports

Surveys of Students, Teachers and Parents

The Achievement Reporting and Innovation System (ARIS) Only available to Principals at this stage

Progress Reports grade each school with an A, B, C, D, or F. These reports help parents, teachers, principals, and others understand how well schools are doing—and compare them to other, similar schools.

More at Student Performance & Accountability

UK school and college achievement and attainment tables

(formerly called performance tables)

Scroll down for previous articles 13.08.08

Former priest charged with sex offences SMH 23.08.08

Tests for teachers will grade the best SMH 22.08.08

Teachers in NSW schools will no longer be equal in status from today when they are invited to apply for new professional standards that will elevate them above their colleagues, putting the state and federal governments under greater pressure to provide them with extra financial rewards.

Teachers who apply for the new standards will be assessed by independent inspectors who will observe them in the classroom and interview their colleagues and parents.

NSW teachers set for ‘new standards’ SMH 22.08.08

Teachers in NSW schools will be invited to apply for new professional standards that will elevate them above their colleagues, Fairfax newspapers report.

The move is expected to put additional pressure on the state and federal governments to provide them with extra financial rewards.

Welcome to flexi-school with the part-time HSC Daily Telegraph 22.08.08

Senior secondary students will be helped to juggle work commitments by doing a shorter school day or being allowed to do their HSC over three or four years, under radical proposals.

Professor Margaret Vickers, from the University of Western Sydney’s Centre for Educational Research, said young people were becoming overburdened with dual expectations - that they get good grades and also work outside of school hours.

The web still nets a zero in HSC SMH 21.08.08

Students in all schools should be taught and examined on how to identify credible sources on the internet, the national parents association said yesterday, amid debate over a trial at one Sydney girls’ school of the use of mobile phones and the internet during examinations.

Revolution on campus SMH 21.08.08

The Rudd Government is set to reintroduce compulsory fees for university students to reverse a decline in sporting and social services on campuses.

ADHD plan quick fix to disaster, say education academics Daily Telegraph 22.08.08

Plans to train school teachers to identify ADHD students in the classroom will fuel a disastrous blowout in the number of children misdiagnosed with the condition.

Medical experts expose ADHD misdiagnoses Daily Telegraph 21.08.08

Two of Australia’s most senior medical experts have blown the whistle on the misdiagnosis of ADHD, with at least one in three children wrongly diagnosed with the condition.

Violent boy had to sleep in office SMH 21.08.08

A deeply disturbed nine-year-old boy with violent tendencies was forced to spend four nights sleeping in the Department of Community Services offices in Wollongong because no other accommodation was available.

TAFE teachers demand equal pay in Vic SMH 20.08.08 6:46PM

Statewide teachers’ strike call for public schools Daily Telegraph 20.08.08

Hundreds of public schools will be disrupted and some may be forced to close when teachers take strike action across the state on September 2.

The Teachers Federation has ordered all of its members to walk out of classrooms and has refused to authorise minimal supervision for thousands of students.

It will be a day of chaos for parents, many of whom will have to take a day off work or find minders for children.

Endurance and perseverance pay off SMH 20.08.08

Western Sydney public school, Westfields Sports High School, whose motto is “endurance and perseverance”, has been awarded this year’s International Olympic Committee’s Sport and Youth Trophy for its contribution to the promotion and development of potential Olympians.

It’s old boys and girls, such as footballer Harry Kewell, cricketer Michael Clarke and Olympic discus thrower Dani Samuels, who are used to picking up trophies. Now the school that produced them has won this gong of its own.

Phone a friend in exams PLC Croydon SMH 20.08.08

A Sydney girls’ school is redefining the concept of cheating by allowing students to “phone a friend” and use the internet and i-Pods during exams.

Presbyterian Ladies’ College at Croydon is giving the assessment method a trial run with year 9 English students and plans to expand it to all subjects by the end of the year.

Sniffing girls expelled from exclusive Pymble Ladies’ College Daily Telegraph 19.08.08

Four Year 8 Pymble Ladies College students and a Year 9 student were expelled for sniffing aerosol fumes - known as chroming. Pymble Ladies College charges $19,000 a year for girls in Years 10, 11 and 12 - with another $15,000 on top for boarders. Even enrolling a child in kindergarten costs $11,000 per annum.

Big future in forward thinking Maralyn Parker Blog Daily Telegraph 19.08.08

At the recent Australian Council for Educational Research conference in Brisbane Dr Richard Slaughter called for future studies to be taught to Australians at every school level from primary school up.

No, future studies is not about predicting the future. Dr Slaughter, founding professor of the course at Swinburne Uni, explains it as being a bit like history - but instead of looking back you look forward.

On his website he says, “If history is concerned with origins, roots, where, in some sense, we have collectively been, futures studies is about goals, purposes, where we are going, how we may get there and the problems and opportunities we will encounter en route.’’

Indigenous sports centre under way at Redfern PS site SMH 19.08.08

Construction has begun on Australia’s first national academy for young indigenous athletes in Redfern, two years after it was announced. The Indigenous Land Corporation bought the former Redfern Public School site from the State Government for $14.8 million in 2006 with a plan to develop it into a training site for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sportsmen and women from around the country.

Accused manager at work SMH 20.08.08

A man accused of defrauding the NSW Fire Brigades of $1.5 million was, until Monday, a project manager on $43 million worth of Federal Government construction projects for Aborigines in Redfern.

Friday is D-Day for Della Bosca SMH 19.08.08

THE suspended NSW Education Minister, John Della Bosca, expects to return to his post as early as the end of this week after more than two months in political exile.

Iguana-gate MP expects to be cleared Daily Telegraph 19.08.08

Tired teens at risk of breaking their hearts SMH 19.08.08

Politics in play on GPS rugby field SMH 19.08.08

It’s not just VCE (Victoria’s HSC) books the left controls The Age, Melbourne 19.08.08

A quick look at much “good” literature shows the socialist conspiracy.

It’s about time that somebody blew their cover. For too long, VCE English teachers and their political wing, the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, have been waging a secret war against everything decent and Australian. They are taking their orders from somewhere, Cuba possibly, and the directions are pretty clear: use the VCE English reading list to convert Victorian students from God-fearing consumers into bleeding-heart liberal lefties who worry about the environment and the treatment of marginalised groups.

NSW on the hunt for cheap laptops SMH 18.08.08

Is it possible to buy a durable, sophisticated laptop for $500? The NSW Government is about to find out; it’s looking for a company prepared to provide 200,000 of them at the same bargain price.

Class struggle marches on Sun-Herald SMH 17.08.08

Opinion - Tony Smith, federal shadow minister for education.

Last year, when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd promised an “education revolution”, school communities, parents and students expected big things quickly.

Teachers vote to stop work again Sun-Herald SMH 17.08.08

Teachers will stop work again next month in their dispute over controversial staffing arrangements and pay.

Three hundred delegates voted in favour of the two-hour stopwork action on September 2 at yesterday’s monthly NSW Teachers Federation council meeting. Teachers Federation notice

School children barcoded for tardiness Daily Telegraph 13.08.08

St Christopher’s Primary in Melbourne attached barcodes to the schoolbags of its 550 students a year ago, with dramatic results. Catholic News

Comparing school performance in New York

Little information is dangerous SMH 13.08.08

Opinion: Mark Coultan – whose son went to school in New York

New York has produced a new measure of school performance. The middle school our daughter went to is still one of the top-performing schools on academic results; in English it outperforms 97.2 per cent of other schools - and yet its overall rating was just a middling C. The reason is because it was at the bottom of the rankings for increasing students’ grades. In other words, although its academic performance is first class, it isn’t making very bright students any brighter.

While the educational establishment cloaks its opposition with a concern for the lower socioeconomic groups, the system disguises the great work many public schools do with disadvantaged students.

If Julia Gillard wants to replicate the New York reporting system, it may be the top performing schools that stand to lose the most.

The New York system is far less centralised than the monolithic NSW system. In New York, if you have a bright idea and the energy and vision to pursue it, you can start your own school.

Replications Inc finds successful schools that have succeeded in producing results in low-income African-American and Latino neighbourhoods and, as the name suggests, clones them.

All talk - give us the info Daily Telegraph 12.08.08 Maralyn Parker Blog

We have been told many times the government is going to publish information to help us compare school performance. Julia Gillard has been talking about it since way before the election. Julie Bishop, the former education minister under the Howard government, talked about it regularly also.

The trouble is no-one has the gumption to actually do it. I predict a lot more talk and the kicking over of the stale debate yet again and we will still get nothing.

And the reason is simple, the NSW teachers union, the most powerful teacher union in the most populous Australian state, is totally opposed to releasing any information where schools can be ranked.

Australia and NSW in particular, run the most secretive education systems in the western world.

Giving teacher a Big Apple lesson Daily Telegraph 12.08.08 Piers Akerman Blog

PSSST. Want to know a secret? I agree with Julia Gillard on the need for greater transparency in our education system.

Tell-all report cards to rate schools SMH 12.08.08

The Rudd Government is on a collision course with Morris Iemma and teachers’ unions who say its push for transparent report cards that identify test results, class sizes, teacher qualifications and even the wealth of students’ families will lead to unfair school league tables.

The federal Minister for Education, Julia Gillard - having met the chancellor of schools in New York, Joel Klein - says Australia can learn from his methodology of “comparing like schools with like schools to measure differences in school results”. (See Julia Gillard’s speech to the ACER Research Conference 2008 11 August 2008, Brisbane).

New York School Reports

Surveys of Students, Teachers and Parents

The Achievement Reporting and Innovation System (ARIS) Only available to Principals at this stage

More at Student Performance & Accountability

UK school and college achievement and attainment tables

(formerly called performance tables)

Headcount checks on class funds SMH 12.08.08

Random headcounts of schoolchildren are being conducted following claims that a private school principal inflated student numbers and obtained $2 million in government funding to save his school from closure.

As revealed in the Herald in March, the principal of Lakeside Christian College in Tweed Heads was sacked for allegedly inflating student numbers by 120 to claim extra funding for the school.

Earlier articles

Funding alarm over school’s $2m fraud SMH 29.03.08

Fallout from the Lakeside Christian School fraud Daily Telegraph blog 01.04.08

Schools escape rort check SMH 27.05.08

Catholic teacher’s pictures shock family groups Daily Telegraph 12.08.08

Push to cut uni fees for indigenous students SMH 12.08.08

Cashed-starved public schools chase corporate dollars Daily Telegraph 11.08.08

Cash-starved public schools are turning classrooms into branded advertisements to attract funding from corporate giants.

What was once just the library at Cromer Public School is now The Panasonic Learning Common, complete with distinctive signage and product placement.

Students at Killara High meanwhile could soon be studying in a Microsoft Technology Centre or Oracle Science Lab, with the school seeking $18 million worth of private investment to cover government funding shortfalls.

Public Education - any sponsors? Maralyn Parker Blog Daily Telegraph 11.08.08

Public schools a charitable event Maralyn Parker Daily Telegraph 12.08.08

Time for teachers to seize the pay SMH 11.08.08

A study shows we are paying less than our best teachers deserve, writes Anna Patty.

More than half the public school teachers in Australia should be claiming salary increases of at least $25,000, the Australian Education Union said following a survey of their professional accomplishment.

Reform vital to keeping staff in class SMH 11.08.08 Opinion

A rigorous, rich and rewarding curriculum for all students is only possible with a highly qualified and well-paid teaching service.

The Australian Education Union is seeking real reform of career structures aimed at retaining accomplished teachers in the classroom. This reform pursues a high quality option as opposed to discredited “cash for grades” performance pay proposals.

AEU media release (pdf) AEU Background Paper (pdf)

UNSW Report: National Survey of Professional Accomplishment of Government School Teachers (pdf)

Abuse victims took their own lives: classmate Sun Herald 10.08.08

Five former students of a high-profile Catholic school committed suicide years after being sexually abused by a priest there, says an alleged sixth victim.

Why we should let sleeping teens lie Sun Herald 10.08.08

Teenagers who get less than eight hours’ sleep do not perform as well at memory tasks such as dictation and multistep maths, a new study has found.

So hooked on books, he now reads them to mum Sun Herald 10.08.08

Harrison Chung loves books. So much so the Floraville Public School kindergarten student, who has been a regular borrower at his public library since he was two, has charged ahead in the Premier’s Reading Challenge, clocking up more than 150 books.

First HSC exams start tomorrow Sunday Telegraph 10.08.08

The first Higher School Certificate (HSC) exam for 2008 will begin tomorrow involving about 700 New South Wales dance students.

Primary principals release a position paper on major issues Maralyn Parker Blog Daily Telegraph 08.08.08

Curriculum consensus: schools teach too much SMH 08.08.08

Australian primary school principals have warned against further overloading of the already-crowded primary school syllabus in the move towards a national curriculum.

In its first comprehensive policy statement, endorsed by principals from public, Catholic and independent schools, the Australian Primary Principals Association says that in the past curriculum designers have “consistently overestimated” what can be covered in a school week. The association suggests a national curriculum should specify only the minimum essential content.

Don’t create failures at HSC, principals warn SMH 08.08.08

Up to 15 per cent of students would fail to gain a higher school certificate and be branded as failures if minimum standards of literacy and numeracy were introduced for year 12 students, NSW high school principals say.

SMH’s HSC page

Poorest parents lose in new child-support plan SMH 08.08.08

More than half of the poorest parents will receive up to $20 a week less in child-support payments because of changes to the scheme.

Federal Government estimates on the numbers of parents affected by the changes show that 37 per cent of all those who receive payments will get more under the new scheme but 49 per cent will get less.

The futile 13 years: lid lifted on HSC SMH 07.08.08

Most students can complete 13 years of school without having to demonstrate basic literacy and numeracy skills, says a leading educational assessment expert.

The chief executive officer for the Australian Council for Educational Research, Geoff Masters, says minimum standards of reading, writing and maths should be met by all students before they are awarded an HSC or equivalent qualification. Media Release (pdf 49kb) Paper presented by Prof Masters (pdf 135kb)

Students leap into the great unknown SMH 07.08.08

Year 12 students will hip-hop their way through their first Higher School Certificate exams from next Monday.

Kareena Bridgement, from Georges River College in Oatley, is one of 659 dance students preparing for their practical assessment next week.

Teachers not coping with stress: report SMH 06.08.08 5:40AM

More than 600 Victorian teachers have been forced off the job because of workplace stress in the past three years, with Workcover paying out more than $17 million in compensation.

Victorian Premier John Brumby on Tuesday announced that executive contracts would be offered to top principals to take jobs in underperforming schools, and a new $10 million “leadership institute” in a bid to improve educational standards.

Most parents want junk food ads junked SMH 06.08.08 6:14AM

Home is young boy’s only refuge Daily Telegraph 06.08.08

Sara Henderson’s son Tomas, now aged 12, first became a victim of bullying when he was in kindergarten.

Govt backs push for highly-paid teachers SMH 04.08.08 2.53pm

The federal government has welcomed an education union proposal that more than 50 per cent of teachers be classified as “accomplished” professionals and be paid at least $100,000 a year.

A report commissioned by the Australian Education Union (AEU) and compiled by the UNSW’s Educational Assessment Australia unit, follows a similar push for performance pay earlier this year by the Business Council of Australia (BCA), which wants to see talented teachers better paid.

It also follows comments last month by federal Education Minister Julia Gillard that top teachers should be better “rewarded”.

AEU media release (pdf) AEU Background Paper (pdf)

UNSW Report: National Survey of Professional Accomplishment of Government School Teachers (pdf)

Private colleges dumped for high-quality public schools Daily Telegraph 04.08.08

Families are dumping private colleges in droves as figures show a dramatic turn-around in enrolments in high-quality public schools.

Rebecca Duncan quits Roseville College for public school Daily Telegraph 04.08.08

Rebecca Duncan turned her back on an elite private school to finish her education at a local public school.

The 17-year-old defected from the boutique Roseville College at the end of Year 10 after inspecting the newly rebuilt Freshwater campus of the Northern Beaches Secondary College.

Like other public school converts, the mix of broader subject choice, TAFE college links and relaxed tuition appealed to Rebecca, who will sit her HSC this year.

“At Roseville they seemed to want you to achieve academically so the school gets a good reputation,” she said.

Top 10 public school for enrolment figures

List of schools with biggest increases in enrolments for K, Year 7 and Year 11 since 2003.

Do you think NSW public schools have improved? Your Say

Why these kids are in her good books Sun Herald 03.08.08

Dozens of students at Sydney’s Manly West Primary School are meeting the Premier’s Reading Challenge head-on while taking part in the MS Readathon.

Teacher-librarian Ellen Lo said 49 students had taken part in the Readathon, raising more than $4000 for people with multiple sclerosis.

Leading schools open doors SMH 02.08.08

The country’s biggest indigenous boarding school scholarship scheme is preparing to go national with a $5 million endowment fund to send hundreds of Aboriginal children to private schools throughout Australia.

Signs that could help save your child NEWS.com.au 31.07.08

Psychologists are warning parents to arm their children against bullying before they start school as “bullycide” becomes one of the biggest issues facing the education system.

One in six kids every day is bullied in the playground or, in an alarming new trend, over the internet.
Bullying expert and psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg has laid the blame squarely on schools and has called for an overhaul of the education system.

Bullying led to Alex Wildman’s suicide NEWS.com.au 31.07.08

Google enrolled for schools email deal SMH 30.07.08

Google has snatched what is believed to be its biggest single client in the world - the NSW Department of Education - away from its rival Microsoft to claim up to 1.3 million new users of its free email product.

The NSW Director-General of Education, Michael Coutts-Trotter, said the department had exploited its size to get the best deal for students and teachers, who will each receive customised Gmail accounts.

Influence of religious organisations in public schools

Pro-lifers infiltrate schools in NSW Daily Telegraph 30.07.08

The Department of Education was under fire last night for allowing the Presbyterian Church to infiltrate lessons into public schools opposing abortion.

The Presbyterian and Baptist churches have taken over teaching Year 5 and 6 primary and Years 9 to 12 high school children about human sexuality in some public schools.

The churches have backed a program called The Choices of Life which is being presented as part of regular school curriculum in Personal Development, Health and Physical Education lessons.

Parents and Citizen’s president Di Giblin yesterday said: “Parents believe the (Education Department) is responsible for every program in state schools and all content should be secular - free from any religious viewpoint.”

Hillsong accused of closet zealotry SMH 29.07.08

Students opting out of scripture classes at a Sydney high school are being invited to attend a personal development program run by the Hillsong Church where they are hearing personal testimonials from church members, a teacher at the school says.

The teacher’s federation representative for Cheltenham Girls High, Doug Williamson, said non-scripture students at the school were being invited to join the Shine program, where they were exposed to religious content.

My understanding is that on a number of occasions the facilitators have spoken about their own lives and how they came to be members of the Hillsong Church,” Mr Williamson said. “It is inappropriate for students to be subjected to this kind of closet evangelism.”

Hillsong Citycare said grooming was an aspect of the program but not its main focus.

Hillsong’s school grooming talks ‘help girls’ ABC News 28.07.08

Hillsong hits schools with beauty gospel SMH 26.07.08

The Education Department has lost control of our public school classrooms

Maralyn Parker article & blog. Daily Telegraph 29.07.08

The way churches are influencing the curriculum in NSW schools is frightening.

It appears the public schools running this “free’’ Choices of Life program were not fully aware of the religious agenda. It is highly unlikely had parents been told the full agenda of Mr Coleman’s program, they would have agreed to their children attending.

Funding and charitable status of schools

Talking about Noblesse Oblige…

“Noblesse oblige” is generally used to imply that with wealth, power and prestige come responsibilities. The phrase is sometimes used derisively, in the sense of condescending or hypocritical social responsibility (Wikipedia).

Maralyn Parker article & blog. Daily Telegraph 28.07.08

Central Coast Grammar is offering to lend its sporting grounds to the surrounding poor public schools.

Central Coast Grammar is funded by federal and state governments to more than $5.9 million each year, according to The Green’s Dr John Kaye. It was established in 1985.

What an insult to nearby public schools many of them 100 years old - with 100 year old buildings needing to be continually (badly and not often) refurbished - for a new generously funded private school to offer its lovely well-maintained ovals and indoor courts.

Nearby Gosford High school gets about $400,000 in recurrent funding each year from the state government and no recurrent funding from the federal government. It has one oval, a hall that is so inadequate it cannot fit all of its students in at the same time. Its hundred year old terracotta pipes are continually blocking up and the school’s teaching kitchen badly needs replacing.

The taxing question of funding

Maralyn Parker article & blog. Daily Telegraph 29.07.08

The Rudd Government’s tax review is set to shake up schooling across Australia.

Treasury boss Ken Henry is embarking on an examination of the $25 billion financial activities of the country’s churches as part of the review. Some of these, including those of church schools, could not clearly be described as charitable work.

So, as part of the process, for the first time the tax-exempt status of church schools may come under the spotlight.

If what follows is like what is happening in the UK, expect a huge ruckus.

Charities and churches stand to lose billions in tax review The Australian 28.07.08

Charities and other non-government organisations could lose billions of dollars’ worth of tax perks as the Rudd Government’s taxation review prepares to examine whether the concessions offered to the $80 billion non-profit sector are justified.

Business enterprises run by religious groups range from pizza chains, insurance companies, wineries, farms, schools, hospitals and aged-care facilities. All are exempt from tax. Australia is one of the few countries in the world where religious groups are not forced to pay tax on business ventures.

Independent schools in UK forced to be ‘more open’ 17.01.08 Telegraph.co.uk

In the UK, under Labour’s 2006 Charities Act, organisations including independent schools, hospitals and religious groups no longer have an automatic right to call themselves charities.

UK Charity Commission: Consultation on draft supplementary guidance on Public Benefit and the Advancement of Education.

Computers cold comfort for students with little else SMH 28.07.08

Opinion: Michele Smart, formerly a teacher at Fairfield High School, is now a mother and freelance journalist.

Last week on a particularly cold winter’s morning, I helped my six-year-old daughter get dressed for school. She left layered like a Russian doll, to survive not the chill of the playground but the arctic conditions of her classroom. She goes to our local state primary school and the heater in her classroom doesn’t work.

Keyboard kids losing art of handwriting SMH 28.07.08

More than 150,000 students in years 11 and 12 at schools across NSW have a problem. Almost all are skilled users of computer keyboards. Most can easily outperform their elders when it comes to text messaging on their mobile phones.

But within the next year or so all of them will have to sit 15 to 20 hours of examinations for the Higher School Certificate, and the exams will be almost entirely handwritten. Unless they have a proven disability and cannot write on the day of the exam, the only acceptable exam paper is one handed up in an individual’s handwriting.

Note to self - dump pencil case SMH 28.07.08

The days of aching fingers and sore arms from scribbling frantically to keep up with a fast-talking teacher are over for students at one Sydney private school.

Queenwood School for Girls, in Mosman, is installing voice-recognition technology into the school’s 500 desktop computers.

Kids fear outdoors, like Timezone, Disneyland, Questacon Daily Telegraph 28.07.08

Children and teenagers are scared of the outdoors and prefer to hang out in shopping centres, play computer games or go to school, a new report shows.

The data from the state’s child watchdog, the Commission for Children and Young People, comes as the State Government fails to act on a two-year-old inquiry that warned children were missing out on play time.

Sponsorship for schooling Sun Herald 27.07.08

Big business is being urged to contribute cash and expertise to Australia’s public education system in an American-style corporate philanthropy plan being touted by Education Minister Julia Gillard.

Hillsong hits schools with beauty gospel SMH 26.07.08

A program called Shine, created by the Hillsong Church, is being run in at least 20 NSW public schools, numerous small community organisations and within the juvenile justice system

Parents groups from Queensland and the Northern Territory have complained that their schools have tried to sneak Shine in almost unnoticed.

“In our view, this is a way of getting religion into schools through subterranean means,” said one parent, Hugh Wilson. “The principal or the chaplain decides it’s a good idea and, next thing you know, your kids are being taught about make-up by the Hillsong Church.”

Notebook nominates Min Bonwick for Pride of Australia

School lessons for street kids cannot be found in text books - as inner-city teacher Min Bonwick knows too well. English and maths curriculums at Key College, the school she co-ordinates, is combined with cooking, budgeting and parenting classes.

Della Bosca not fit to return, say principals SMH 21.07.08

The Public Schools Principals Forum, representing more than 700 principals(primary and high school), says Mr Della Bosca should be held accountable to the same code of conduct that requires all Department of Education staff to behave in a professional manner that “models appropriate standards for students”.

However, not all principals oppose the reinstatement of Mr Della Bosca to the education ministry.

Jim McAlpine, president of the Secondary Principals Council, representing the heads of more than 470 high schools, said his organisation would welcome him back as a “competent” education minister.

Halls of shame: schools still wait for state Sun Herald 20.07.08

Not one of the 52 new public school halls and gyms promised by Premier Morris Iemma in February last year has been built.

The first of the buildings hailed as a cornerstone of the Government’s commitment to school upgrades will not be ready until the end of this year - almost two years after the promise was made.

Mr Iemma pledged a hall for every primary school with more than 500 students, and a gymnasium or hall for every high school with more than 900 students, as part of his March 2007 re-election pitch.

“Parents and teachers tell me that our school facilities could be so much better,” he said at the time.

Naked teacher: I am suing Manly Daily 16.07.08

Nude pose teacher unveils plan to sue Daily Telegraph 12.07.08

**Sacked Sydney teacher Lynne Tziolas - fired after she posed nude with her husband in Cleo magazine - is launching legal action against the NSW Education Department.**

Safety warnings a new chapter for fairytales NEWS.com.au 13.07.08

Teachers in South Australia are being urged to give children safety messages after reading them fairytales warning not to copy characters such as Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks and Hansel and Gretel.

Medication like Ritalin pushed for ADHD kids, not diet, exercise Daily Telegraph 12.07.08

Ritalin and other ADHD drugs have been officially endorsed by the Federal Government as a “first-line treatment” for children, under new guidelines.

Parents have also been warned to ignore alternative treatments, such as diet and exercise, which the guidelines claim have “limited or no benefit” in treating ADHD.

The draft guidelines have been compiled by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, following a Government review last year.

But parents and experts yesterday rejected the guidelines saying drugs should be a “last resort”.

Redevelopment of the Guidelines on ADHD – Download draft guidelines and make a submission to the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

No framework - teach this Daily Telegraph 09.07.08

Maralyn Parker Opinion and Blog

The National Curriculum Board has been talking about “core content” ( maybe something like core promises?) and using words like “flexible” and “discretion” when talking about states and regions.

This made many teachers very wary. They suspected the national curriculum was intending to be what some educators loosely call a “framework”.

And this usually means ticking boxes, extra paperwork for principals and extra taxpayer money spent on salaries for fat cats - and not much else.

However President of the National Curriculum Board, Professor Barry McGaw assured me last week the national curriculum will indeed replace state curriculum

See Maralyn Parker’s recent articles and blogs

Including: < The new noblesse oblige sweeping through Australian schooling allows the very schools that have benefited most from generous funding to now be lauded for “helping” disadvantaged children and communities > < This will shock Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The public versus private debate she tried to kill off by declaring it dead has just exploded with renewed fervour. >

Meet Max: He’s chess king of the castle Manly Daily 09.07.08

There is every chance that come next June Dee Why teenager Max Illingworth will be a chess international master.

The 15-year-old Manly High School student is ranked second in the Australian junior under-18 category by the Australian Chess Federation and the World Chess Federation.

Healthy food? It’s growing on them SMH 09.07.08

When students at Blackheath Public School discovered their beloved fizzy drinks and lollies were being replaced with organic fruit and low-fat muffins, they decided it was time for action.

“Soon after we made the announcement I was presented with a petition, signed by dozens of students, campaigning against the new green canteen,” says the school’s principal, Anne Bahnisch.

Despite the controversy, the new canteen, dubbed the Wholesome Kids’ Cafe, went ahead. Now, nearly two years later, all junk food has been replaced with healthy, home-made organic food including soups, spinach and cheese pasties, vegie burgers, pies, sausage rolls and pasta.

“Absolutely everything, even down to the iceblocks, is home made with the best available ingredients,” Bahnisch says. “We’ve completely won everyone over, especially the kids. More people are ordering from the canteen than ever before and I don’t think any of us have ever eaten so well.” What we’re trying to achieve here is this whole sustainable process, where we grow quality food, that then becomes something we eat, that then goes back into the garden to grow more quality food.

Elwood Primary School, Victoria – runs a Garden to Kitchen Program as seen on Gardening Australia 12^th July, 2008

Teachers fed up with instability SMH 05.07.08

Six hundred teachers will protest outside NSW Government headquarters on Tuesday to demand stability in the education ministry, which they say is rudderless and in limbo.

A little risk-taking when young could be best vaccine against danger SMH 05.07.08 Opinion – Lisa Pryor

Principal sues parent over inflammatory email SMH 05.07.08

Beecroft Primary School principal is suing for defamation a parent who allegedly criticised her in an email sent to other parents.

Selective schools offers come with a benchmark SMH 05.07.08

Primary school students seeking entry to selective high schools in NSW will now receive details of their mark and how it compares to others around the state along with their notice of acceptance.

Poor sleep linked to education problems SMH 05.07.08

Nearly a quarter of children aged six and seven have trouble sleeping, and their disturbed slumber has a drastic effect on their health, behaviour and ability to learn and interact at school. Children with the most persistent sleep issues suffer the most serious health, behavioural and learning problems. Researchers from Melbourne’s Centre for Community Child Health at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, used results from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children to identify how many children had sleep problems and what the effects were.

The other education revolution Daily Telegraph 02.07.08

Maralyn Parker Blog

This will shock Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The public versus private debate she tried to kill off by declaring it dead has just exploded with renewed fervour.

Some of the best minds among public school supporters met in the NSW State Library on Saturday for their own 2020 Education Summit.

Its sole purpose was to discuss how to fight the growing divide between Australia’s public and private schools.

Rural revolt at teacher crisis Daily Telegraph 02.07.08

Public high school pupils have missed up to 400 lessons this year due to teacher shortages as the Iemma Government brawls with Kevin Rudd over the cost of the education revolution.

The dispute between NSW and the Prime Minister is irrelevant to frustrated parents who have taken to the streets in open revolt.

Thou shalt not annoy on Youth Day SMH 01.07.08

Extraordinary new powers will allow police to arrest and fine people for “causing annoyance” to Catholic World Youth Day participants and permit partial strip searches at hundreds of Sydney sites, beginning today.

The laws, which operate until the end of July, have the potential to make a crime of wearing a T-shirt with a message on it, undertaking a Chaser-style stunt, handing out condoms at protests, riding a skateboard or even playing music, critics say.

NSW folds in computers row SMH 01.07.08

The NSW Government last night backed away from its threat to scuttle Kevin Rudd’s computers-in-schools program but had not given up its demand for extra funding.

After negotiations which included a phone call between the Prime Minister and the Premier, Morris Iemma, NSW agreed to join other states and sign up to round one of the program that involves 116,000 computers being installed in 896 schools, of which 302 are in NSW.

Parents urged to keep receipts SMH 01.07.08

Parents should start saving receipts from expenses relating to their children’s education from today, the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has said.

Labor’s $4.4 billion education tax refund announced by the Treasurer, Wayne Swan, in his first budget, will come into effect from the new financial year which begins today.

Mr Rudd said parents would be able to claim 50 per cent of up to $1500 worth of expenses for high school children, equating to a maximum refund of $750.

$25m plan to test health of preschoolers Sun Herald 29.06.08

A comprehensive medical check-up program to ensure children can hear their teacher and see the blackboard, before they start school, will begin from Tuesday.

Four-year-olds will have their sight, hearing, teeth and developmental abilities measured by a GP, practice nurse or child health nurse in a $25 million federal scheme attempting to pick up learning difficulties and behaviour problems early.

Height and weight will also be measured as part of the Government’s promise to tackle rocketing rates of obesity. If a child’s body mass index is too high, parents will be encouraged to refer them for further medical help.

Children’s author goes live to schools Sun Herald 29.06.08

Aussie writer Andy Griffiths, in Melbourne, read from his new book Treasure Fever and poems from The Big Fat Cow That Goes Kapow live to students, including Plunkett Street Primary School, at the Distance Education High School at Woolloomooloo.

See more at 2008 Premier’s Reading Challenge

High Court ponders Catholic World Youth Day largesse SMH 27.06.08

Opinion - Richard Ackland

Five days before the last federal election John Howard dipped with desperation into his grab bag of tricks and came up with $22 million of Commonwealth money for World Youth Day - the Catholic Church’s proselytising and marketing extravaganza to be held in this city next month.

Is that expenditure in breach of the constitution? The issue has hurriedly come before the High Court. It has had a couple of rounds already, and is on again this morning.

NSW State Schools Providing Attendee Accommodation

How John Howard shored up private education, by God SMH 26.06.08

Opinion – Michael Gawenda

There is no constitutionally enshrined separation of church and state in Australia. The great battle over state aid for non-government schools was fought and decided a half century ago and it was basically about state aid to the Catholic school system. The proponents of state aid won.

They continue to win. The former prime minister John Howard once told a group of newspaper executives at a dinner at the Lodge that one of his greatest achievements, looking back, would be his government’s support for parents’ rights to choose the sort of education they wanted for their children.

What he meant was that his government had significantly increased funding for non-government schools. This was designed to accelerate the trend away from the government school system.

worked. Around 33 per cent of Australian children now attend non-government schools - and that percentage is even higher in NSW and particularly in Victoria where around 40 per cent of year 11 and 12 students attend non-government schools.

The Rudd Government has more or less abandoned any attempt to arrest this trend to private education. Howard has triumphed.

Fewer units, same anger at uni land sale SMH 26.06.08

The University of Technology, Sydney, has been forced to scale down its plans for a $216 million residential development on its leafy Ku-ring-gai campus, but critics say any attempt by the university to sell the site would amount to theft of a public asset.

ABC Learning raises fees SMH 23.06.08

Federal Labor’s promise of computers in schools

Labor feels weight of promises SMH 23.06.08

Opinion: Kerry-Anne Walsh

Take the computers in schools promise, for one. A centrepiece of Labor’s election platform, the firm pledge to deliver a computer to every upper secondary school child is the engine driver of Labor’s education revolution.

It is a promise that, if delivered, will be worth waiting for. But the path to achieving it is filled with potholes that could be costly to fix.

Cost shock puts school PCs at risk Sun Herald 22.06.08

A brawl is brewing between the NSW and Federal governments over the education revolution, risking the roll-out of thousands of computers to NSW schools.

Other Labor states are warning the Federal Government that its pledge to spend $1.2billion on computers for schools could cost the states up to four times that to implement.

A week ago NSW schools were awarded $75million in the first funding round of federal Labor’s promise to give every upper secondary school student a computer. A little more than $56million of that went to 302 NSW government schools.

Julia Gillard’s Media Release