There’s nothing casual about teaching
27 November 2019
Section: Columns
On my visits to schools, and through enquiries fielded by Officers, conversations with members are often the focus on the nature of temporary engagements.
Enabling Equity
13 November 2019
Section: Columns
Inadequate government funding for students with disability continues to put increasing pressure on all public school settings as they work to meet the learning needs of all their students.
Political and natural disasters: both bad for communities
8 November 2019
Section: Columns
There are very few national institutions with the reach of TAFE.
There’s nothing casual about teaching
3 November 2019
Section: Columns
Which temporary teachers are eligible to receive a year of Beginning Teacher Support Funding?
Multicultural Matters
On 22 May, more than 80 teachers from across the 14 Sydney and regional Intensive English Centres (IECs) came together to discuss matters affecting teachers in IECs and the broader multicultural education area.
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.
Multicultural matters
EAL/D provision, Intensive English Centres and Adult Migrant English Program
Election setback strengthens resolve to keep fighting
14 June 2019
Section: Columns
Visitors to the Federation building in Mary Street, Surry Hills, will see black and white historical photographs scrolling on a screen in the front foyer.
A simple moral choice: some children or all children?
11 April 2019
Section: Columns
As a nation, we can decide to give our teachers in public schools the resources they need for the task at hand or we continue to advantage those private schools that are over-funded.
Multicultural matters
EAL/D: What is it and why do we need qualified EAL/D specialist teachers?
Radical push to destroy senior curriculum
1 March 2019
Section: Columns
Over the summer break, The Sydney Morning Herald exposed an attempt by the powerful and well-connected private school lobby to deregulate the HSC as an exit credential, and to allow for a plethora of commercial tests imported from overseas to replace it.
Multicultural matters
The union has continued to pursue enhancements for members in multiple aspects of multicultural education
Federation: a proud history, a confident future
10 December 2018
Section: Columns
As we end our 100th anniversary year, we can look back proud of our union’s achievements over the decades.
Australia: silver medallists when it comes to creating disadvantage
15 November 2018
Section: Columns
The recent media commentary about private schools and discrimination may have opened up an important debate that, as a nation, is long overdue. And it will need to be much broader than the personal rights of LGBTIQ students and teachers, important though they are.
NSW public school system: only the best will do
21 September 2018
Section: Columns
Federation has been at the forefront of demanding that governments at federal and state level ensure that rigorous academics standards are applied at the point of entry into initial teacher education.
Teaching without teachers: A new business plan
15 June 2018
Section: Columns
I am concerned that teachers are in danger of losing control of who teaches, what is taught and how we teach, as “edu-businesses” move to directly influence politicians, advisers and policy makers.
Chaplains in schools: probably illegal, certainly immoral
18 May 2018
Section: Columns
In the recent federal Budget, an additional $247 million has been allocated to the schools chaplaincy program. This brings the total amount of funding for the scheme, since its introduction in 2006 by the Howard Government, to about $1 billion.
Proficient and committed
29 March 2018
Section: Columns
I am writing this in a hotel room in Canberra having spent the day wandering the corridors of Parliament House, accompanied by parents and teachers, dropping in on politicians to argue for a fairer funding model for public schools. It’s a quiet room and as the sun sets, I’m reflecting on the past 40 years.
The Tide is Turning
2 March 2018
Section: Columns
This year is the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the National Assessment Program — Literacy and Numeracy, known simply as NAPLAN. And it’s time to be frank.