Politics at the gate brings success

by Kerri Carr

Corflute signs erected on the fences of public education workplaces across the state in the past five years have raised the awareness of the values and needs of public education.

Federation president Maree O'Halloran said: "The Federation has integrated the corflute sign program into its general public education advertising to great effect in the past. We hope to be able to continue to do so."

Federation first used the signs in the lead-up to the 2001 federal election. Signs reading "The issue is public education" met electors as they walked into polling places at schools and TAFE colleges. These signs were reprinted in 2002.

"Our Future -- Public Education" signs for school fences and a companion for TAFE, "Our Future -- TAFE" were prepared in the lead-up to the 2003 state election.

Signs reading "Valuing Public Education, students and teachers" for schools and "Valuing TAFE colleges, students and teachers" for TAFE colleges were launched in term 3, 2003 as a reaction to the State Government choosing to devalue teachers in the salaries case before the Industrial Relations Commission.

In preparation for Public Education Day, May 19, 2005 "Public education -- Worth the investment" for schools and "TAFE colleges -- Worth the investment" were distributed.

Ms O'Halloran said the corflute sign program has been a "very important part of the public education campaign".

She said the corflute sign program "signalled a willingness by public education teachers to claim public space and celebrate the value of public education".

"Putting up the signs and keeping them up is a political act by teachers," Ms O'Halloran said.

"The former Premier, Bob Carr, was impressed by the determination of schools in his electorate to keep the signs up. The current Deputy Premier, John Watkins, told us that in the 2003 state election the Liberal Party agitated for teachers to be directed to take down the signs."

"I always look for the signs whenever I pass a public school," Ms O'Halloran said.

"When I see a school without a sign I get very disappointed and suspect that the local School Education Director has been intimidating staff," she added.

"I think it is wonderful when you see that schools have up all the signs because it shows how proud teachers are of our successful campaigns. However, all the signs up also send a confused message to the public. So from an advertising and marketing point of view we need to make sure that our message is not confused," Ms O'Halloran said.

Schools will be asked later this year to take the signs down from the fence, but to display them inside the school.

Do you have any interesting stories about the signs? Email kerri@nswtf.org.au.

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Last Modified: 18 May 2006