All the way to the ballot box
11 November 2022
Section: Columns
Members were out in force on 12 October as part of a Day of Action protesting the Perrottet Government’s imposition…
The collective spirit of our union will see us through the challenges of 2022
31 January 2022
Section: Columns
I would like to start by extending a warm welcome to all teachers who are beginning their careers. Like our…
A day 10 years in the making
14 December 2021
Section: Columns
Tuesday 7 December, 2021 has been etched into the history of the NSW Teachers Federation. For the first time in…
Why we must take industrial action over salaries and workloads
27 November 2021
Section: Columns
Politicians and public servants love to talk about “evidence-based policy making”. They trot out the phrase to accompany all sorts…
It’s up to all of us
29 October 2021
Section: Columns
The road to winning this campaign lies ahead of us.
Government’s great deceit … (and we have the proof)
15 October 2021
Section: Columns
There is often a gap between what governments say and what they know.
COVID recovery: consult us, don’t insult us
9 September 2021
Section: Columns
No one wants kids back in the classroom more than teachers – except for their parents, of course – and such a return must be undertaken when it is safe to do so and in full consultation with the profession.
Crunch Point
15 June 2021
Section: Columns
The Gallop Inquiry flagged it, independent research confirmed it and our members are voting with their feet; NSW public education is in the thick of a staffing crisis.
Teachers vindicated and validated
29 March 2021
Section: Columns
It was a privilege, on behalf of all Federation members, to be presented with the final report of the “Valuing the teaching profession” inquiry by its chair The Hon Dr Geoff Gallop.
Welcome back
27 January 2021
Section: Columns
Welcome back to school year 2021. I hope you’ve had a restful break.
A year to reflect upon
1 December 2020
Section: Columns
At about this time 12 months ago, years of drought and environmental mismanagement were culminating in a perfect storm that would bring loss, damage, fear and pain as large swathes of NSW terrifyingly burned out of control.
It’s time for the Government to make wellbeing in schools a priority
15 October 2020
Section: Columns
A long period of drought, catastrophic fires and a disrupted school year amid the uncertainty, fear and anxiety attached to the COVID-19 pandemic has made for a perfect storm as far as the mental health of young people is concerned.
Why teachers have ordered an independent inquiry into the value of their work
4 September 2020
Section: Columns
If there is a silver lining in the COVID-19 pandemic, it will be the lessons we learn. Many of them will be about ourselves — our ability to adapt, endure and make sacrifices for the common good.
Edtech and COVID-19
28 July 2020
Section: Columns
Almost as insidious as the disease itself, multinational corporations, international coalitions and education technology businesses have seized the opportunity of the COVID-19 disruption to extend their tentacles into public education systems.
Black lives and what really matters
10 June 2020
Section: Columns
“We shouldn’t be importing the things that are happening overseas to Australia.” Such was Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s response to a question about a Black Lives Matter protest march in Sydney on 2 June.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
20 May 2020
Section: Columns
These are indeed unprecedented times. Your days and weeks have blurred into one, as you’ve turned yourselves inside out and delivered over and above the call of duty. Your dedication and commitment to the cause of public education has been truly remarkable.
Our 2020 vision: A spotlight on the profession
9 March 2020
Section: Columns
The start to the school year brought with it tremendous challenges that we would all hope to never be experienced again. For many of our members, their students and families there was no summer vacation.
Public education: the bedrock of a democracy
10 December 2019
Section: Columns
It was Canadian philosopher John Ralston Saul who argued that any society that educates more than 10 per cent of its children in private schools can no longer call itself a democracy. Australia is well above that figure. Saul is right.
Political and natural disasters: both bad for communities
8 November 2019
Section: Columns
There are very few national institutions with the reach of TAFE.
The pathology of NAPLAN
17 September 2019
Section: Columns
Let’s be clear: no child fails NAPLAN, but NAPLAN fails all children.
Facta Non Verba
30 August 2019
Section: Columns
The Latin motto at my school, Punchbowl Boys’ High School, was Facta Non Verba — deeds, not words. As young boys, we were told that people should be judged on their actions, not just their words.