Collectively engage the community

By Angelo Gavrielatos

At the 2006 Annual Conference in the July vacation, about 600 delegates represented our broader membership in key debates including public education investment, the Your Rights At Work campaign, student reports, improved support for beginning teachers and a plan for teachers and schools in rural areas.

The scope and gravity of our engagement with contemporary issues is epitomised in the contributions of the keynote speakers, who included NSW Director of Public Prosecutions Nicholas Cowdery QC, media commentator Phillip Adams and ACTU Secretary Greg Combet.

One of the lasting impressions of the conference was the spontaneous applause when Greg Combet entered the hall. The significance, intensity and urgency of the Your Rights at Work campaign were encapsulated in this one gesture.

The conference launch of an unprecedented relationship between UNICEF and public schools, supported by the Federation and the Department, exemplifies the best of those values that underpin public education. On October 25, Universal Children's Day, students will be asked to make a gold coin donation to UNICEF and in doing so, reflect on the plight of children in desperate circumstances beyond Australia's shores and on their contribution as global citizens. Whilst contributing towards humanitarian assistance, this action goes beyond charity. It is also an act of solidarity.

To assist in the development of a platform to further advance our TAFE campaign, the scope and nature of the TAFE Futures Inquiry were outlined at the conference by its chair, Associate Professor Peter Kell. In his words: "the aim of the Inquiry is to find the best way forward for TAFE, to ensure that it is well equipped to handle the skills crisis in this country and to ensure it meets the needs of businesses and local communities." The Inquiry is currently conducting hearings across NSW.

Federation's Annual Conference decisions will guide our work leading into the March 2007 state election and the federal election to follow. The outcome of these elections and in particular the subsequent policies on public education and industrial relations will define the kind of Australian society we'll be living in for the decades to come.

It is imperative, therefore, now more than ever, that we collectively engage in the campaign to win the hearts and minds of the Australian electorate, to build the movement necessary to ensure a future society underpinned by the values of decency, a fair go and the pursuit of individual excellence for the common good.

A great demonstration of this movement was the highly successful Public Education Dinner in Wollongong on July 25. Nearly 400 parents, students, teachers and principals came together to celebrate the wonderful achievements of public education and to mobilise and prepare for the necessary campaign for the maintenance of a public education system of the highest quality.

The dispute on student reports with the federal and state governments continues. As a result of continued pressure from the profession, the Department of Education and Training announced changes to what had previously been described as an immutable student report format. Whilst the Federation welcomes the decision of July 21 to exclude all key learning areas other than English and mathematics from an A-E grade in years 1 and 2, it does not go far enough. We must continue to work towards improving student reports so that the reporting of student strengths and weaknesses avoids labelling, provides clear information and creates trust between students, parents and teachers. No matter how it is dressed up, an A-E grade is nothing short of labelling. While it may recognise success, it reinforces failure.

The Federal Government yet again has failed teachers and public education. Blinded by their ideological obsession with the denigration of teachers, on July 10 Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop resurrected the baseless, simplistic and offensive proposal on bonus pay for teachers on the basis of student results. Failing to recognise the social and human dynamic of education, the Minister's proposal reduces teachers and students to commodities on a production line.

This lack of understanding shows that there is no place for politicians in our classrooms. There is certainly no place for politicians to determine curriculum. The current manufactured debate about the teaching of Australian history and desire by the Howard Government to determine an official Australian history not to be "questioned or repudiated" (John Howard, National Press Club, January 25), is rejected. History is contestable and we must continue to equip our students with the skills, knowledge and understanding to be able to analyse historical events. Case in point -- the leadership tussle between John Howard and Peter Costello. Were an official history to be determined, whose version would be taught?

Finally, we have all been affected by the suffering of innocent people in the Middle East. The school term commenced with Federation members and more than 100 students trapped in Lebanon. We hope that they have all been safely evacuated and returned to Australia. But this hope is no narrow focus on our own citizens.

We are appalled at the continued suffering of innocent civilians. According to Article 147 of the 4th Geneva Convention, "extensive destruction...not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly" constitutes war crimes.

Let us hope this death and destruction ceases.

Angelo Gavrielatos is the Acting President. Maree O'Halloran is on leave.

Annual Conference reports and decisions

For further information

August 2006 contents