Date set for Women's Conference

By Michelle Rosicky

Mark in your diary and on your calendar May 26, because that is the date for this year's Women's Conference.

To continue the great work started on March 15, Public Education Day, the theme for our conference this year is "Women Working for Public Education", another day to celebrate and reflect upon the achievements of public education and women's participation in its success.

Women have always been major players in the development and enhancement of public education, from the parents who demanded access for all to their schools, and to the teachers who extended and enriched the curriculum over time.

Very few of us in society are very distant from the teaching fraternity, and it is with very special pride that I fondly remember my maternal grandmother, a teacher in a one teacher school at Barraba, in the now Tamworth District, around 1910. Her job was to teach the local children reading, writing and arithmetic. How schools have changed since then, and what excellent work women have contributed to the change process.

Once again, our Women's Conference explores new ground, this year we are trying a new way of presenting information and that is the "Great Debate" format. Federation has been most fortunate in attracting excellent women to participate in this ground-breaking forum which will hopefully be an entertaining approach to discussing a challenging question. The participants are Jozefa Sobski, a previous Assistant Director-General of TAFE; Darelle Duncan, a previous Federation Women's Co-ordinator and currently principal of Ferncourt Public School; Judy King, principal of Riverside Girls High School; Bev Baker, Federation of Parents and Citizens Association president; Maralyn Parker, The Telegraph education journalist and Dorothee Lean, Rowena Public School principal. The facilitator is Helen McMahon, Leumeah Technology High School principal.

The workshops at this year's conference will continue to celebrate the work of women teachers by sharing teaching and learning experiences in the form of a professional development expo.

Wendy Herbert from Sydney Girls High School will share ideas about girls and technology. Anne McMahon from Petersham TAFE will talk about affirmative action strategies for women in TAFE through the Work Opportunities for Women program. Robyn Woolley for Northern Sydney Institute of TAFE will report on the development of 'WizeGirls' and girls' experience with vocational education and training; plus Jane Law, Ryde East Public School principal Jane Law and Rooty Hill High School principal Christine Cawsey will discuss women and promotion positions and Women in Educational Leadership (WIEL).

Women teachers who are interested in running a workshop by sharing their challenging teaching and learning programs around educational issues such as literacy, numeracy, anti-bullying/homophobia, student leadership and reconciliation at a primary or secondary level, please do not hesitate to contact the Women's Co-ordinator to discuss your possible inclusion at our conference.

The afternoon session will be addressed by Dr Lori Beckett, education lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney and long time co-worker with Federation on matters dealing with gender equity. Lori will be discussing the need to include gender understanding in one's teaching practice and share her views on the current boys' education debate, including an historical perspective on this vexing question.

At this conference Federation will be discussing the development of a gender equity recommendation which will be taken to our Annual Conference in early July.

So mark that day down and come along to an exciting stimulating day at the Masonic Centre in Sydney. Registration forms are with Association Secretaries or contact Federation Women's Co-ordinator Michelle Rosicky on 1300 654 369 or (02) 9217 2100.

Michelle Rosicky is the Women's Co-ordinator.

For further information

April 2001 contents