DG makes the agenda clear

Teachers wanting to talk to the Director-General about the staffing dispute were eventually given the chance, despite the 'protocols'.

By Henry Rajendra

Prior to a planned visit by Education and Training Director-General Michael Coutts-Trotter to St Clair High School, staff were initially refused permission for teachers to discuss the staffing dispute or present him a letter outlining their views. The Department of Education and Training (DET) stated there were "protocols" forbidding such approaches.

In response, teachers planned a rally outside the school gates at the end of the Director-General's visit seeking a meeting with him.

In an atmosphere of mounting media pressure and growing public embarrassment, the Director-General agreed to meet with teachers.

St Clair High School Federation Representative Petra Greyling said: "I was astonished at the extent to which the DET aims to deny teachers opportunities to discuss a significant issue with the head of the NSW public education system."

"What is it about his position that warrants such protocols?"

During the meeting, Ms Greyling put to the Director-General: "Our biggest concern is that day 1 next term we will be without a staffing agreement and we will be at the mercy of a stroke of the pen by you as Director-General."

Ms Greyling recalls the Director-General responding that the current agreement had not been in place for very long and besides that, no corporations or big businesses have a staffing agreement.

Also, that the CEO determines the staffing of the company, therefore he could not see the need for a staffing agreement.

Ms Greyling recalls Mr Coutts-Trotter said the situation would be monitored every three months.

She said the Director-General said this was not proven practice but theoretical and therefore an eye would be kept on how it was going.

If the profession was in any doubt of the intent of the Director-General, the message to St Clair High School makes it clear: dismantle, deregulate and give the power to one person.

Weakening of the curriculum guarantee

"In your recent email to all teachers, you wrote: 'The department remains responsible for ensuring each class in every school is taught by a qualified teacher. It is not the responsibility of any single school to find permanent staff. That's the department's responsibility, and ultimately mine.'

"Well Mr Coutts-Trotter, I am deeply concerned, if the track records of your predecessors are to be taken into consideration, that you will not be around long enough to be held accountable for your actions when your new system fails schools, students and teachers.

"Considering the long term impacts of the changes you are implementing, I would ask you to consider how long do you intend to remain as the Director-General of Education? Most DET school teachers are committed to teach until retirement. Can you make a similar assurance?

"Mr Coutts-Trotter, we ask that you acknowledge and accept the enormous breadth of experience and care public school teachers have to offer. The teaching profession does not favour your changes. This will be clearly demonstrated at the April 8 Sky Channel meeting.

Yours sincerely
Petra Greyling
Federation Representative

Henry Rajendra is a City Organiser.

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Last Modified: 03 Apr 2008