Public Education

Celebrate on May 21

By

Kathy Deacon

Public Education Day will be celebrated nationally on Thursday May 21.

This event provides an opportunity to highlight the wonderful achievements of public education as a cornerstone of Australian society. It also enables us to highlight the Federation's continuing public education campaign.

The inaugural nationwide Public Education Day was celebrated in 2001 and focused on the place of public education in every community and the need for support and increased funding from governments. This tradition continues in 2009.

Federation will produce materials to support Public Education Day. Associations, schools and colleges are encouraged to plan activities for the day which would ideally involve the broader community.

Typically, activities have ranged from associations conducting public education dinners, through to schools and colleges arranging activities such as a morning tea with the P&C, tree planting ceremonies, performing arts displays and lunchtime concerts and barbeques.

The day also provides an ideal opportunity to invite local MPs to schools and colleges to acknowledge and celebrate the excellent work undertaken by teachers and students. It is essential that Federation members develop positive working relationships with their local politicians to ensure that governments acknowledge the true value of public education and support it accordingly.

Public Education Day this year will occur on the Thursday in the week preceding Education Week, May 24-31. The Department of Education and Training's theme for Education Week is NSW Public Schools - leading the way.

Kathy Deacon is the Public Education Campaign Coordinator.

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Last Modified: 12 Mar 2009