Monday 2 February

Tuesday 3 February

Wednesday 4 February

Thursday 5 February

Friday 6 February

Saturday – Sunday, 7 – 8 February

Monday 2 February

• The West Australian
  

  • Editorial
    The new school year is a chance for Constable to stamp authority

    “The new school year starts this week with a healthier prognosis in terms of teacher numbers. The WA Education Department predicts it will be short as few as eight teachers when children return to the classroom, a far better position than last year when there were 134 jobs vacant.

    “The increase in the number of available teachers is a result of the new pay deal and the fact some contemplating retirement have been forced to rethink their plans in the light of falling superannuation funds. It is likely too, that initiatives by the Carpenter government in recruiting teachers have helped.

    “Education Minister Liz Constable has made a low-key start to her tenure. The surprise election result last year meant that she was scarcely prepared to be in Government, let alone in a ministerial role. She has committed the Government to an independent review of WA's contentious outcomes-based education, including abolishing the levels as way of reporting student performance. But four months after the election, the use of levels – a basic element of OBE – has not been banished from schools, except Years 11 and 12.

    “She said immediately after the election that she intended to go systematically through the promises made by former shadow education minister Peter Collier and implement them – though not in the Government's first 100 days in office. It is to be hoped that she used the time since the election well and will hit the ground running in this new academic year.

    “Dr Constable believes that assessments should be fair to students but not a burden for teachers. The use of levels to assess student performance is being regarded increasingly as meaningless for parents. That some teachers choose to use them and others don't increases the confusion.

    “University of WA education professor David Andrich, seen as a world expert on assessment methods, believes that levels are too crude a method of measuring academic achievement.

    “A fierce critic of OBE in Opposition, Dr Constable accused the previous government of dumbing down education with more students turning away from the traditional sciences and humanities.

    “Now it is up to her to find ways of reversing that t rend and introducing greater rigour to an education system which had become rudderless, gripped by abstruse academic and bureaucratic jargon at the expense of the basic skills of literacy and numeracy.

    “Dr Constable also said that she did not intend to “micromanage” her portfolio and would not be telling teachers how to teach. In that case, it is up to Education Department director-general Sharyn O'Neill to make good her promise to refocus teachers' attention on grammar and punctuation in State schools after poor results in national testing last year.

    “The worst results were in the grammar and punctuation tests in Years 7 and 9 where WA was ranked seventh among States and Territories. At the time, she admitted that employers were reporting that some school leavers struggled with simple tasks such as writing a letter, a result, she said, of “overcrowded and diffused” curriculums which left less time for the teaching of fundamentals.

    “A new school year gives Dr Constable the chance to assert her influence. She should start by fulfilling the Government's promise to abandon levels as a method of reporting.”
    
    From The West Australian

     

  • New graduates miss out on jobs
    by Alana Buckley-Carr and Bethany Hiatt

    “About 1100 qualified teachers have been left jobless at the start of the 2009 school year today, including more than 700 with new university degrees.

    “Graduates like Laura Field are disappointed that years of study have not resulted in permanent work.

    “Instead, Ms Field has signed up for relief teaching and will do casual work in the hospitality industry to make ends meet.

    “About two-thirds of the teachers who missed out on a permanent public school posting are newly-qualified graduates.

    “Education and Training Department director-general Sharyn O'Neill assured teachers that future possibilities would open up over the duration of the school year.

    “I fully expect that during 2009 many of these graduates and other teachers will be offered jobs where they match vacancies in public schools at teachers take leave, retire or find other jobs,” Ms O'Neill said.

    “Ms Field, who completed her four-year Bachelor of Education at Notre Dame University, said she had specialised in early childhood education but many teachers had been appointed without the specialty training.

    “Ms Field was annoyed that she and many of her classmates had missed out on permanent work at the expense of overseas and interstate teachers. “I'm disappointed because we were guaranteed jobs,” she said. “People have been given jobs from interstate while wee were going to stay and live in WA. We wanted work in WA schools.”

    “While she was hopeful of getting work later in the year, she would have to resort to casual work in hospitality in case a permanent teaching position became available at short notice.

    “There is nothing for us because others who have been lured here for the money have already been employed,” she said. “(As a graduate) you are prepared and ready to the classroom and then nothing happens.”

    “Ms O'Neill said of the 1100 people who applied for permanent positions, 704 were graduates.

    “Some of these teachers have very specific employment requirements and may only be interested in part-time positions teaching particular subjects and in schools close to their home,” Ms O'Neill said.

    “Past experience shows that as the school year progresses, teachers continue to be appointed. At the start of 2008 for example, 634 teacher graduates were employed in public schools and this had almost doubled by the end of the school year.”
    
    From The West Australian

     

  • Year 11 courses add new cost to school textbooks
    by Bethany Hiatt

    “Parents of Year 11 students taking new courses which start this year are being forced to spend more on booklists than previously because many courses require more texts than the subjects they replace.

    “And families have no option but to buy a complete set of new books, ranging from $25 up to $80, rather than second-hand or passed down from siblings and friends because so many are written specifically for new courses.

    “Thirty-one new courses are starting in schools this year, including maths, physics, chemistry, geography, literature and history.

    “Mathematical Association of WA president Michelle Ostbery said the way the new courses were designed meant students needed more books.

    “Costs are comparable to textbooks under the previous system, but being unit based, there's probably a slight increase in expense in terms of students may need to buy two texts for the year rather than just one,” she said.

    “She said schools could use old textbooks for maths.

    “Science Teachers Association of WA president Julie Weber said second-hand texts were no longer any use for chemistry, physics, biology or human biology.

    “Curriculum Council chief executive David Wood said some publishers had chosen to produce books for each semester unit rather than for the year.

    “Many schools ran book hire schemes, which could reduce parents' costs considerably.

    “Heads of subject associations said they were confident that most teachers were prepared to teach the new courses.”
    
    From The West Australian
    
    
    

  • Year 1 students to face literacy, numeracy tests [late update, online only]
    by Dale Miller
    
    "All children entering Year 1 at WA public schools will be tested for numeracy and literacy skills under an early intervention strategy unveiled today by the State Government.
    
    "Education Minister Liz Constable said $2 million would be spent over the next four years to assess all students at the end of pre-primary, with the test running in all public schools.
    
    "A further $350,000 will be spent by the government over the next three years on practical resources to support teaching numeracy and literacy in the early years of schooling.
    
    "WA’s private schools are not included under the strategy.
    
    "Dr Constable said the early assessments of students would help identify those who could struggle to grasp minimum standards of numeracy and literacy, with the tests to be trialled over this year.
    
    “Clearly with young children these are not pencil and paper tests but they are individualised where teachers work through tests just to see where children are in certain development areas,” Dr Constable said.
    
    "Dr Constable said the tests would be the same for all students and would test vocabulary levels in children along with understanding and comprehension.
    
    "The government will also spend $630,000 over three years to trial and develop new strategies to improve the reading skills of Year 3 students."
    
    From The West Australian at link
    
    
    
  • Educator describes relief as corruption charges dropped [late update, online only: follows an earlier version in the newsprint edition]
    by Philippa Perry
    
    "Former State school principal of the year Merv Hammond has described his relief that his “nightmare” is “finally over” after charges against him were formally dropped in court this morning.
    
    "Mr Hammond was due to face trial in the District Court today on 15 counts of corruption alleging he unlawfully funnelled about $400,000 to private companies associated with the Balga Works program for disadvantaged youth.
    
    "But the court was told today that there was no evidence Mr Hammond was seeking any personal financial benefit.
    
    "Prosecutor Gary Huggins a number of witnesses lived interstate and overseas, which would have increased the cost of trial.
    
    "Mr Huggins also said the outcome of the case was likely to have been non-custodial if Mr Hammond was convicted.
    
    "Outside court, Mr Hammond read from a prepared statement saying he had always maintained his innocence, and that the prosecution had taken its toll on his family, friends, colleagues and associates.
    
    “Whilst with hindsight the Balga Works program at Balga Senior High School could have been run differently, it should not be forgotten that this program was something quite new and innovative and had never been run in WA before,” Mr Hammond said.
    
    “I only hope that these proceedings do not discourage others within the education system from daring to try new things in the future to benefit students and the community.”
    
    “If it does, the WA education system will ultimately be the loser.”
    
    "Balga Works, a $2 million taxpayer funded program, operated at Balga Senior High School between 2005 and 2006 to give education and accommodation support to troubled youth."
    
    From The West Australian at link
    
    
    
  • Mining lure drains pool of WA swimming tutors
    
    Swimming schools are struggling to find instructors to teach children how to swim because there is a shortage of qualified coaches, especially in regional areas.
      
    Full story in The West Australian
    
    
    
    
  • Words from the wise to their Year 1 juniors
    
    Starting formal schooling for the first time can be a daunting prospect, but these Bletchley Park Primary School students have advice to smooth the path for pupils following in their footsteps.
    
    Full story in The West Australian
    
    
    
    
• The Australian
  
  
  • More funds for school projects
    by Patricia Karvelas, Political correspondent
    
    "Julia Gillard wants to expand a groundbreaking Rudd government program under which government and non-government schools will share facilities after she was overwhelmed with submissions for funding.
    
    "Recording studios, arts centres, science and technology hubs, indigenous education and wetlands resource centres are among the 15 projects across every state and territory that will today receive a share of $31.7 million funding.
    
    "The initial plan is to fund 25 projects and evaluate the $62.5 million scheme after three years, but the Government now believes the program should be retained and expanded.
    
    "Ms Gillard said the projects chosen covered every state and territory and would "benefit metropolitan, regional and rural communities".
    
    "Labor seats are the big winners of the program, with 10 of the 15 projects in Government-held electorates, most of them with safe margins, while four of the remaining five are in marginal Coalition seats.
    
    "Ms Gillard said the projects selected would provide innovative education initiatives as part of Labor's promised education revolution.
    
    "The aim of the program is to encourage government, Catholic and independent schools to work together to develop shared educational facilities that will broaden the benefit of government expenditure on capital infrastructure," the Education Minister said.
    
    "This partnership also extends to third parties such as local councils or businesses where projects may feature a broader community benefit."
    
    "She said the program was a commonsense approach to the needs of schools and their local communities..."
    
    [Details of some of the projects funded: WA is not mentioned.]
    
    "Kevin Rudd has pledged to respect the right of parents to choose between public and private schools and pledged that Labor would raise standards across all schools.

    "In line with this thinking, the ALP policy Local Schools Working Together says it is time for the education system to move beyond systemic competition to focus on ensuring the best education for all students."

    Full story in The Australian at link
    
    
    
  • International student demand holds up
    
    The country's biggest private provider of student feeder programs into universities has reported continued strong international student demand and is optimistic on the outlook.
    
    
    
    
• The Age
  
  
  • Victorian schools to face strike teams
    by Farrah Tomazin
    
    "Strike teams" will be sent into Victorian schools to identify weaknesses and demand change, under a State Government bid to boost the performance of the public education system.
    
    "Principals and teachers who fail to lift their game could be removed from their school under Education Minister Bronwyn Pike's push for schools to be more accountable.
    
    "As children return to school today, the Government will embark on a wave of changes designed to create stronger leadership in schools, a greater culture of expectations for students and more transparency for parents.
    
    "Under the changes, the Government has appointed an army of education officers — mostly ex-principals and teachers — whose job will be to enter schools, analyse their student performance data, identify strengths and weaknesses, and develop improvement plans.
    
    "Ms Pike told The Age the 70 "regional network leaders" would oversee about 20 state schools each.
    
    "In some cases, for example, schools with low literacy and numeracy results could be given resources to introduce new support programs for their students.
    
    "In other cases, schools may be asked to enter into shared teaching arrangements with neighbouring schools, or restructure their senior staffing teams.
    
    "But in an approach that is likely to prove contentious, principals and teachers who consistently fail to improve could ultimately be "moved on".
    
    "I believe that every child can learn and make progress, so if schools, for a range of reasons, don't want to embrace the opportunities that we are now providing for them — the enhanced leadership training, the professional development, the extra resources — then they will be accountable," Ms Pike said.
    
    "The regional network leaders are a central plank of the State Government's education blueprint — a five-year plan to raise the bar across Victoria's education system.
    
    "In an interview with The Age to mark the start of the 2009 school year, Ms Pike said the Government would spend the next 12 months initiating some of the key changes contained in the blueprint. Immediate priorities include:
    
    ■ Developing a new performance pay system for Victorian teachers, with possible models to be created over the next few months and trialled in schools from next year. [emphasis added]
    
    ■ Setting up the Victorian version of the "Teach For America" scheme, in which high-flying non-teaching graduates are recruited to work in some of the toughest schools.
    
    ■ Creating a new strategy to help the large number of homeless students attending school.
    
    ■ Bringing in a new maths and science strategy to get more students to study these subjects and improve their skills.
    
    ■ Working on a new partnership with the Federal Government to improve the transition of school students to further education or work.
    
    "Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals president Brian Burgess said the regional network leaders resembled overseas models whereby inspectors scrutinise schools and demand change.
    
    "While he did not oppose the initiative, Mr Burgess described the changes as too much of a "top-down-approach" to school improvement.
    
    "Asked how teachers felt about the new system, Australian Education Union state president Mary Bluett said "the jury is still out".
    
    "There are real concerns out there that their contracts will depend on the degree to which they drive change," Ms Bluett said.
    
    "So there's a sense that the pressure is on them to identify and produce outcomes in what might be an unrealistic period of time for schools, and some fear that the pressure to lift outcomes will result in (regional network leaders) imposing their will on schools, rather than working with them."
    
    From The Age at link
    
    
    
  • Editorial
    Class is in — let's not make it a class system
    
    "The holidays are over, let school begin. It is the old refrain, as new books and stationery are bought, lunches prepared the night before, and clocks set to early. Although the back-to-school routine never changes in Victoria, the schools themselves, not to mention the education system, are supposedly being transformed in the name of revolution — even though it sometimes appears to be revolving at the speed of the wheels on a cancelled Connex train.
    
    "The real revolution continues to be based on divisiveness rather than diversity. As The Age reported last week, Australian Bureau of Statistics preliminary data for Schools Australia shows many parents are abandoning public education, with enrolments in private schools continuing to outstrip those in government schools.
    
    "Although enrolments between August 2007 and August last year grew by 13,569, almost 12,000 students chose private education. Educators warn that if this trend continues — there is little indication otherwise — the gap between public and private schools will increase. [emphasis added]
    
    "More disturbing signs from the ABS survey showed a fall in numbers of teachers in Victorian public secondary schools and an increase in numbers in independent and Catholic schools. Especially worrying about this is that last year's wage deal, in which the State Government awarded some public school teachers significant increases, seems to have made little impact.
    
    "These are developments that should concern the Federal as well as the State Government. The education revolution — a Rudd Government phrase — should work towards a more equitable system that ensures a fairer education for all."
    
    From The Age at link
    
    
    
  • Letter to the Editor
    
    
    • A waste of time
      
      "Victorian government schools now have two mandated days of professional development for teachers before students return. Perhaps it is a good idea. However, in reality there are not enough gurus (many working professionally outside the education system and some of them snake-oil salespersons) to distribute between schools that need an "activity". Many second-rate and often irrelevant activities masquerading as professional development are invented at schools.
      
      "At a time of the year when teachers are desperate to find their feet and liaise with their peers, these two days are a waste of valuable time and department money."
      
      Barry Clarke, Mont Albert
      
      
      
  • Teacher-student ratio in a class of its own
    
    In Victoria there are four one-teacher schools and 28 schools with one teacher and a part-time assistant.
    
    
    
    
• ABC News
  
  
  • Govt gives laptops to aid disadvantaged students
    
    The Victorian Government will provide 10,000 students from low socioeconomic backgrounds with a mini laptop for just $1 a week.
    
    
    
    
• The Guardian
  
  
  • Teachers at worst schools 'put best pupils off university'
    
    Bright children in the lowest performing schools are being failed by teachers who are actively putting them off applying to the top universities for fear they "won't fit", according to the higher education minister, David Lammy.
    
    
    
    
• The Sydney Morning Herald
  
  
  • Letter to the Editor
    
    
    • Teachers can't patrol sites
      
      "As a young(ish) teacher who has a working knowledge of social networking sites, I agreed with a lot of the sentiment expressed in "When MySpace ends in tears" (smh.com.au, February 1). However, let's say a student approaches me and reports that he has had inappropriate messages left on his Facebook wall. The Department of Education and Training portal blocks sites such as Facebook and MySpace, so I cannot ask the student to log on to his profile and show me. If the DET would allow access to these sites, teachers would have the opportunity to explore them and learn a little of how they work.
      
      "That said, teachers are very busy people who often get to the end of the day and realise they forgot to schedule in a toilet break, let alone a tour of websites. Unless the student has figured out how to log on to these at school via a proxy server, cyber bullying is done at home. How many parents know how MSN works? Perhaps parents could log on and join us in educating their sons and daughters."
      
      Belinda Daley, Neutral Bay
      

 

Tuesday 3 February

• Prime Minister's Media Statement
  
  
  • Building the Education Revolution
    New and upgraded buildings in every Australian school
    
    To boost jobs and invest in Australia’s long term future the Rudd Government will build or upgrade buildings in every one of Australia’s 9,540 schools.
    
    Building the Education Revolution is a $14.7 billion long term investment to improve the quality of facilities, like gymnasiums, libraries and science labs in Australian schools.
    
    Building the Education Revolution will commence in 2008-09 and will:
    
    
    • Build or upgrade large scale infrastructure, such as libraries and multipurpose halls in every primary school, special school, and K-12 school in Australia.
    • Build around 500 new science laboratories and language learning centres in high schools with a demonstrated need for upgraded facilities.
    • Provide up to $200,000 to every Australian school for maintenance and renewal of school buildings and minor building work.
      

  This historic nation building investment by the Rudd Government will not only support jobs – it is also a down payment on the long term strength of the Australian economy.
  
  By improving the quality of education received by every Australian child, this program will help deliver the stimulus of today and underwrite higher productivity tomorrow.
  
  Building the Education Revolution is a key element of the Government’s $42 billion Nation Building and Jobs Plan to support up to 90,000 Australian jobs over the next two years.
  
  Building the Education Revolution
  
  Building the Education Revolution will commence in 2008-09 and will be rolled out over the next three years. Building the Education Revolution is divided into three key programs.
  
  Primary Schools for the 21st Century is a $12.4 billion long term investment to build or upgrade large scale infrastructure in all primary schools, special schools, and K-12s. New school buildings funded by this program will include libraries and multipurpose halls.
  
  Science and Language Centres for 21st Century Secondary Schools is a $1 billion long term investment to build around 500 new science laboratories and language learning centres in schools with a demonstrated need, readiness, and capacity to complete construction by 30 June 2010.
  
  Renewing Australia’s Schools is a $1.3 billion investment to refurbish and renew existing infrastructure and undertake minor building works. Under this program, every Australian school will receive up to $200,000, based on the size of the school, for maintenance and minor building works.
  
  Building the Education Revolution will also help to support local communities, as a key requirement of the package is that major facilities in primary schools which are built or upgraded with this funding, such as halls or indoor sporting centres, are made available for community use at no or low cost.
  
  This historic nation building investment builds on the Rudd Government’s commitment to an education revolution in all schools through the National Secondary School Computer Fund and Fibre Connections to Schools elements of the Digital Education Revolution.
  
  Building the Education Revolution also brings forward up to an additional $110 million to fund quality proposals in Round Two of the Trade Training Centres in Schools Program.
  
  Building Trade Training Centres helps to provide high quality, relevant education and training opportunities, which is an important step in increasing the proportion of students achieving Year 12 or an equivalent qualification.
  
  The program will be delivered through cooperation between Commonwealth, state and territory governments and the non-government school sector.

  From Prime Minister's website at link
  
  

• AEU
  
  
  • AEU congratulates the Rudd Government on its investment in school infrastructure
    
    
    
    
• The West Australian
  
  
• Letter to the Editor
  
  
  • In short
    
    “Bethany Hiatt's opinion piece on levels (30/1) should be pinned up in every school staffroom. It accurately describes what can happen when political interference and personal egos are allowed to set the educational agenda. Levels are an abomination. If a similar system had been introduced in medicine or engineering, people would  be dying and buildings falling over. But because it is education, ideological dogma is allowed to take hold and flourish. All empirical evidence shows categorically that levels are an invalid method of assessing students' achievement yet they still form the basis of all feedback to parents"
    
    Marko Vojkovic, President, PLATO
    
    
    
• Language skills to be tested on school entry
  by Bethany Hiatt and Dale Miller
  
  “All WA children are to be tested on their language sk9ills before they start Year One, nearly three years after a crucial report by one of the State's top education experts recommended the tests to identify children with reading problems before they begin formal schooling.
  
  “Education Minister Liz Constable chose the first day of the new school year yesterday to launch a $3 million strategy to develop “on-entry assessment” for Year one students. She said the test would be developed this year and implemented in all State schools in 2010.
  
  “But the State's main parents group, the WA Council of State School Organisations, said the tests should have been in place sooner.
  
  “A Statewide literacy and numeracy review by former University of WA education dean Bill Louden, commissioned by the Carpenter government and released in March 2007, recommended testing pre-schoolers on their vocabulary and awareness of sounds in words.
  
  “A separate study he did for the Education Department in 2008 found pre-school students were missing out on explicit teaching of essential oral language and phonics skills.
  
  “Dr Constable said the former government did not provide the money for the department to implement the tests. The new package would include $2 million over four years to assess all students on entry to school, $350,000 over three years for resources to help teachers develop pre-schoolers' literacy and numeracy and $630,000 over three years to improve Year 3 students' reading skills.
  
  “The assessments would be diagnostic and should not be seen as an achievement test. “I would think every parent would be delighted to know that we're going to be looking at heir child as an individual to see where they are,” Dr Constable said. Education director-general Sharyn O'Neill said  the tests would be appropriate for young children. “They won't be paper and pencil tests that you might see for older students,” she said.
  
  “There were few tears from Year Ones at Ellenbrook Primary School yesterday morning as parents said goodbye to their children on their first day of formal schooling.
  
  “The excitement proved a little overwhelming for six-year old Laura Smethurst, but mother Linda said the tears were fleeting.” [photo of tearful child]
  
  From The West Australian
  
  
  
  
• The Australian
  
  
  • Barnett shelves football stadium
    
    [but] Mr Barnett said the Government would spend $316million building 1000 new government homes this year, targeting low-income families and government workers such as police, teachers and nurses.
    
    
    
    
• The Age
  
  
  • Draft urges school closures, mergers
    by Farrah Tomazin
    
    "Victoria's education department is considering closing schools if they are found to be struggling because of falling enrolments, lack of programs or poor performance.
    
    "Despite the department insisting it does not shut down schools, documents obtained by The Age have flagged the option of closing or merging schools as part of a push to improve public education.
    
    "The documents outline a new system in which public schools will be assessed against a range of measures, such as demographic and enrolment trends, the state of a school's buildings, curriculum standards, and how well the school can survive for at least 12 to 14 years.
    
    "Each school will be ranked against three categories: having "no issues"; in need of "monitoring"; or in "critical" condition.
    
    "But the department's draft network planning provision guidelines also suggest shutting down or restructuring struggling schools as an "alternative provision option" for the education system.
    
    "Removing the principal, upgrading buildings, or sharing resources with other schools are also canvassed.
    
    "The Age believes that Education Minister Bronwyn Pike has not seen the draft guidelines, even though they are being driven by the Office for Government School Education within her department.
    
    "Her spokesman last night said: "This Government will never force our schools to close. Our Government is in the business of helping struggling schools, whereas the Opposition's record is to shut them." ...
    
    Full story in The Age at link
    
    
    
  • Net gains in store as schools start their new year
    
    As about 537,000 students returned to study yesterday, the [Victorian] State Government launched a $5.6 million pilot program under which 10,000 students will pay $1 a week to use a mini laptop computer.
    
    
    
    
• The Sydney Morning Herald
  
  
  • Plan to sell school land 'unsustainable'
    
    A [NSW] State Government decision to use money from the sale of school land and a former TAFE site to help pay salaries of police and nurses was criticised yesterday as economically "unsustainable and irresponsible". The planned sale overturns Department of Education policy to reinvest revenue from the sale of public school land into the school from which it was sold.
    
    Similar story on ABC News
    
    
    
    
• ABC News
  
  
  • Feature
    Parents anxious over school choice
    
    In recent years governments have argued that parents' ability to choose their children's school is a positive response to family aspirations. But research we have recently conducted at the University of Sydney has found that school choice is actually leading to widespread anxiety and frustration amongst many middle class families.
    
    
    
  • Teachers to stop work across NSW
    
    New South Wales teachers will leave classrooms on Friday morning for a stop-work meeting, despite winning a hefty pay rise just days ago.

 

Wednesday 4 February

• The West Australian
  

  • $14.7b up for grabs in PM's bold plan to upgrade all schools
    by Andrew Tillett and Bethany Hiatt
    
    “Every school in the country will get up to $200,000 from the Rudd Government to fix classrooms, libraries, gyms, toilets and tuck shops.
    
    “And all primary schools, special schools and kindergarten to Year 12 schools will be showered with up to $3 million each to build new halls and libraries or upgrade existing facilities, while new science laboratories and language learning centres will be built in 500 high schools.
    
    “Mr Rudd has combined the need to save jobs with his so-called “education revolution”, providing $14.7 billion to be shared by every one of Australia's 9540 public and private schools.
    
    “The Government hopes construction on the first projects will begin by the end of June at the latest, with a deadline of mid-2011 to complete the works.
    
    “Schools will be able to apply for money this month but will be required to report their progress regularly.
    
    “By improving the quality of education received by every Australian child, this program will help deliver the stimulus of today and underwrite higher productivity tomorrow,” Mr Rudd said.
    
    "Schools welcomed the prospect of extra money.
    
    “Churchlands Senior High School principal Neil Hunt said he would apply for funding for more science laboratories because a surge in enrolments meant the school did not have enough science classrooms.
    
    “WA Council of State Schools Organisations president Robert Fry said the package was great news for both builders and schools.”
    
    Education Revolution:
    
    12.4 billion for all primary schools for construction such as assembly halls, libraries, indoor sports centres. From $250,000 for small primary schools to $3 million for large primary schools.
    
    Extra $1 billion for 500 secondary school science/language labs
    
    Primary and secondary schools able to get up to $200,000 for maintenance
    
    Bring forward of $110 million for trade training centres in school program.
    
    From The West Australian
    
    
    

  • Stimulus net casts money far and wide
    by Andrew Tillett and Dawn Gibson
    
    “Millions of families will get thousands of dollars in handouts, with the stimulus package heavily skewed towards low to middle income earners.
    
    “Workers, students and drought-stricken farmers will also share in the $12.7 billion splurge but pensioners, the jobless and high-income earners will miss out on the bonuses.
    
    “About 80 per cent of Australian households will get lump sum payments, with many double dipping from the tax office and Centrelink beginning next month.
    
    “Payments taper off the more money a worker earns, cutting off completely at $100,000 a year. Even if a person has lost their job since July, they will receive a $950 payment.
    
    “The 1.5 million families receiving Family Tax Benefit A will get $950 for every school-aged child. The Back to School Bonus will assist about 2.8 million children, with payments to be made from March 11.
    
    “Another 1.5 million families get ting Family Tax Benefit B for stay-at-home mums – and many of whom also qualify for FTB-A – will receive a single $950 payment irrespective of how many children they have, even if they are not at school.
    
    “A typical family with two children at school and both parents earning $70,000 and $30,000 respectively will be eligible for $3800.
    
    “About 444,000 university and TAFE students and apprentices getting Youth Allowance, Austudy or Abstudy will get a $950 one-off learning and training bonus, while 21,000 farmers receiving hardship payments because of prolonged drought will get the same amount.
    
    “Matthew Goode and his partner Kathi Jackson, of Craigie, estimate they will get a $2850 windfall, which they will put towards bills.
    
    “They believe they will have little left to spend on new clothes for themselves and their daughters Maddison 14, Rachel, 2, and 16 month-old Sarah.
    
    “Ms Jackson said the money was a pleasant surprise at a time when finances were tight.
    
    “She recently returned t work part-time to provide a bit extra on top of Mr Goode's full-time wage as a forklift operator.”
    
    From The West Australian
    
    
    

  • Wheatbelt share of new homes fair: Grylls
    by Amanda Banks
    
    “The State Government pledge to build 400 homes to attract public servants to country areas and stimulate construction was not aimed at areas which faced the biggest challenges to get staff, the Opposition said yesterday.
    
    “The $200 million package under the Royalties for Regions policy will pay for 130 homes in the Pilbara, 80 in the Kimberly, 70 in the Wheatbelt and 30 each in the Midwest-Murchison, Goldfields, South-West and Great Southern regions.
    
    “The aim will be to attract nurses, police, teachers and others. [emphasis added]
    
    “Shadow housing minister Mark McGowan said the package, announced on Monday, was inadequate in the Pilbara, Kimberly and Midwest-Murchison where royalty income was generated.
    
    “He said a huge amount of royalty income was shifted from the Kimberly and Pilbara to the Wheatbelt under the Nationals Policy.
    
    “Labor's experience in office was that it was harder to get people into more desert-type areas were housing demands were higher because of a range of social factors and they should obviously get more money.
    
    “Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said the proposed locations of the homes came from the Department of Housing and Works and were based on need and demand.
    
    “I had no role in defining where the numbers were,” he said.
    
    “There were many more towns in the Wheatbelt than the north, which meant there more schools, hospitals and employees were needed. “I am very comfortable with the way we are breaking up the funding,” he said.
    
    “Mr Grylls said village style accommodation and pre-fabricated homes, which could be built cheaply and quickly, would be investigated.”
    
    From The West Australian
    
    
    

  • Letter to the Editor
    

    • In short
      
      “Your newspaper's liftout (29/1) on rating primary schools is another unfortunate example of league tables. The ratings were based on literacy and numeracy results from one test and do not reflect the success of a school or the ability of teachers. Parents should rate their school on regular assessment and ongoing achievement in all aspects of a student's life – social, emotional, physical as well as academic, not just on one test result.”
      
      Brian Lindberg, chairman of the board, WACOT
      
      
      

• The Age
  
  
  • Splashing the cash
    
    The struggling Australian economy has received a massive double-barrelled boost from a $42 billion Rudd Government mini-budget and a 1 percentage point interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank.
    
    Another "cash splash", involving handouts to 80 per cent of families and singles and billions of dollars for schools and other infrastructure, will help tip the federal budget into a $22.5 billion deficit this financial year — a dramatic reversal from May's projection of a $22 billion budget surplus.
    
    Note: All daily papers have similar stories, plus plenty of Opinion pieces, Editorials and Letters. I've transcribed samples from The Age simply because it was the first of the major three eastern states' papers to update its website.
    
    
    
  • Historic $14.7 billion spend on gyms, libraries and repairs
    by Tom Arup, Canberra
    
    "Australia's 9540 schools are set to receive $14.7 billion over three years for new buildings and maintenance in the single largest measure in the Rudd Government's rescue package.
    
    "In announcing the package yesterday, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the money would boost the construction industry and the education sector.
    
    "First and foremost within this nation-building plan, is the single largest school modernisation program in Australia's history," Mr Rudd said.
    
    "This investment in every one of the nation's seven and a half thousand primary schools is designed to build the primary schools we need for the 21st century."
    
    "Most of the money, $12.4 billion, will be spent on building large-scale facilities, such as libraries and gyms, for all of Australia's primary schools, including private ones.
    
    "The package also contains $1.3 billion over two years for building repairs and maintenance. Schools can claim up to $200,000 each.
    
    "Grants under both the major building and maintenance elements of the package will be linked to the number of students attending each school, with $250,000 building grants available for primary schools with less than 50 students and up to $3 million grants for schools with more than 400 students.
    
    "Also part of the package is $1 billion for upgrading science laboratories and language centres in secondary schools.
    
    "That money will be allocated through a competitive application process, and will be based on a school's need and ability to complete the construction by June 30, 2010.
    
    "There was broad support for the heavy spending yesterday among education groups, who hailed the money as a large investment in Australia's educational future.
    
    "Angelo Gavrielatos, national president of the Australian Education Union, congratulated the Government on the scale of the investment, adding that the money was long overdue.
    
    "It is a lot of money," Mr Gavrielatos said.
    
    "Fifteen billion dollars over three years represents a significant investment in our school infrastructure, and in addition to serving as an important economic stimulus it will allow schools to engage in urgent maintenance, allow schools to upgrade building facilities and in doing so improve educational outcomes.
    
    "This has been a long time coming and, quite frankly, I don't remember an investment of this magnitude."
    
    "Mr Gavrielatos dismissed criticism that money from the package would also go to less needy private schools, and said he expected that up to 70 per cent of the money available would flow into government-run schools.
    
    "Strong support for the project also came from the Catholic Schools Association, the Australian Primary Principals Association and the Independent Schools Council of Australia.
    
    "Also announced yesterday, the Government will bring forward $110 million a year in funding for its trade training program in high schools."
    
    From The Age at link
    
    
    
  • Editorial
    Rudd and the Reserve free up billions to beat recession
    
    Aspects of the plan may be debatable. Its size and urgency are not.
    
    
    
    
• The Sydney Morning Herald
  
  
  • Students told to cut part-time job hours
    
    Some secondary students are too tired to turn up to school after working a late shift the night before. Others are not managing the stress associated with juggling a part-time job with their Higher School Certificate studies. In response to the growing concern, the NSW Minister for Education, Verity Firth, will today encourage students to strike a better work-life balance to avoid unnecessary stress.

 

Thursday 5 February

• The Age
  
  
  • Liberals question $14bn for schools
    AAP
    
    "Public schools will receive 70 per cent of nearly $14 billion in new funding for all schools.
    
    "Labor says boosting school infrastructure is a key element of its broader $42 billion nation-building and jobs plan, while the Coalition questions whether primary school assembly halls and libraries should be a top priority.
    
    "Prime Minister Kevin Rudd immediately attacked the Opposition, which announced its opposition to the package, accusing it of stopping the biggest schools building project in the nation's history. Teachers and parents would be outraged, he said. "What you have embarked upon today is to vote against the biggest building program in every primary school in the nation," Mr Rudd said in Parliament.
    
    "Earlier, Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull questioned whether primary school assembly halls and libraries were the most urgent "infrastructure deficiency requirement" in Australia.
    
    "Education Minister Julia Gillard said that comment proved the Liberal leader was out of touch with Australian families.
    
    "I suggest he walk into any school in this country and talk to the principal, talk to the teachers, talk to the parents and ask them what they think," Ms Gillard told Parliament.
    
    "If the package is passed, public schools will receive 70 per cent, or $9.6 billion, of $13.7 billion in new funding for the country's 7700 primary schools and minor works in secondary schools.
    
    "Catholic schools will receive 20 per cent, or $2.7 billion, while independent schools will be given 10 per cent, or $1.5 billion, the Government says.
    
    "NSW will get $4.4 billion, Victoria $3.3 billion, Queensland $2.6 billion, Western Australia $1.5 billion, South Australia $1.2 billion, Tasmania $370 million, the Northern Territory $196 million and the ACT $229 million."
    
    From The Age at link
    
    Similar story in The Australian
    
    Malcolm Turnbull Op Ed in The Sydney Morning Herald
    
    
    
  • Principals draw up their cash wish-lists
    
    Principals are visualising new libraries, classrooms and freshly painted doors as the Federal Government releases details of its $14.7 billion Building the Education Revolution.
    
    
    
    
• The West Australian
  
  
  • Letter to the Editor
    
    
    • In short
      
      "I must congratulate the editor for the editorial (The new school year is a chance for Constable to stamp authority, 2/2). It was the perfect follow-up to Bethany Hiatt’s opinion piece (Parents need lessons on the grading system, 30/1). As one of the most experienced teachers currently teaching in WA, I am tired of our education system looking like it’s a script from Yes Minister. After three consecutive education ministers who treated teachers as a nuisance, those in the classroom believed things would be different with an experienced academic holding the portfolio. Who would have believed that Dr Constable would also kowtow to the non-teaching, bureaucratic ideologues who control education in this State? How sad!"
      
      Patrick F Whalen, Yokine
      
      
      
      
• ABC News
  
  
  • Education Union urges Opposition to pass stimulus bill
    
    The Australian Education Union (AEU) has condemned a Federal Opposition proposal to slash the funds available for education infrastructure in a second economic stimulus package.
    
    
    
  • Rann calls school spending summit
    
    South Australian Premier Mike Rann says a summit involving every school principal and school council chair will decide which maintenance projects will be funded first as part of the Federal Government's economic stimulus package.
    
    
    
  • Pay deal for Catholic school teachers
    
    New South Wales Catholic school teachers have reached a settlement on wage negotiations but are still stopping work this morning.
    
    
    
  • ACT considers single-sex classrooms
    
    Some Canberra public schools may offer single-sex classes for English, maths and science as soon as next year.
    
    
    
    
• The Washington Post
  
  
  • Pay Freeze, Larger Classes Proposed in Budget
    
    Teachers' salaries would be frozen, many class sizes would rise to the maximum allowed and new fees would be imposed on students under a budget proposal released last night by Prince William County School Superintendent Steven L. Walts. "Cuts must be made, and they will be painful to many," he said.
    
    
    
• The Australian
  
  
  • Battling students welcome payment with open alms
    
    About 440,000 students and people returning to study will be paid the $950 training and learning bonus from March.
    
    
    
    
• The Independent
  
  
  • Apprentice teacher scheme attacked
    
    Teenagers with just a handful of GCSE passes are to be recruited to secondary schools to work as teaching assistants. The Schools Secretary, Ed Balls, wants to recruit more than 4,000 apprentices to work full-time in schools. They would work as teaching assistants with youngsters up to the age of 14. If they liked the job, they would be able to train as teachers. The move will be part of a plan to bolster apprenticeships for 16- to 19-year-olds – details of which will be outlined in major legislation to be published today.
    
    Similar story on BBC News

 

Friday 6 February

• The West Australian
  

  • Barnett wants to use cash for new schools
    by Andrew Probyn and Bethany Hiatt
    
    “Colin Barnett wants to use some of the money earmarked for upgrading WA primary schools under Kevin Rudd's $42 billion stimulus package to build new schools.
    
    “The Premier presented the idea to the Prime Minister yesterday at a Council of Australian Governments meeting in Canberra convened to organise a speedy roll-out of spending, including $14.7 billion of construction in schools.
    
    “Mr Barnett told The West Australian that WA primary schools were in “good shape” because of a strong investment over the past 15 years and that a higher priority was building new primary schools and upgrading secondary schools in growth areas.
    
    “I want this money to be well spent. This should not just be about putting new facilities into schools, it should be about  raising the quality of schools,” the Premier said.
    
    “The greatest need in the State education system is actually secondary schools, so hopefully there can be discussion about that. That might even be the case of combining schools or building new ones.
    
    “Under the agreement signed by Mr Rudd and the premiers, States will start 20 per cent of school projects by June, 40 per cent by July-August and the rest by December, with all to be completed by March 2011.
    
    “State school principals are concerned the funding could be frittered away on maintenance instead of improving infrastructure if States take control of the money.
    
    “The WA Education Department confirmed it would manage all public school submissions. It would use information from the Department of Housing and Works to identify schools most in need of funding.
    
    “Education sources say they are worried the State Government will reduce its maintenance budget to take advantage of federal funds.
    
    “The Opposition voted against the stimulus package in the lower house yesterday and the Greens and Independents sent it to a Senate inquiry.
    
    “Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull said the package would not create jobs and would lumber every Australian with the equivalent of $9500 debt.
    
    “Mr Rudd accused Mr Turnbull of surrendering to  a recession and attempting to save his “political hide” by following former treasurer Peter Costello in opposing the package.
    
    “What (Mr Turnbull) wants is a situation in which he hopes that the global economic recession worsens so that in a year's time he can turn around and say, 'Well you couldn't fix that',” Mr Rudd told Parliament.
    
    “If it were just electoral political tactics that would be one thing, but it is also internal party politics, directed at the impending challenge from the member for Higgins for the leadership of the Liberal Party.”
    
    From The West Australian
    
    
    

• The Age
  
  
  • States quick to endorse stimulus package
    by Katharine Murphy and Paul Austin
    
    "School projects worth between $200 million and $300 million will be introduced in Victoria next week after state and territory leaders signed off on an ambitious timetable to deliver the Federal Government's economic stimulus package.
    
    "Premier John Brumby joined other state and territory leaders at a Council of Australian Governments meeting that endorsed the $42 billion package as the appropriate response to the economic downturn.
    
    "After yesterday's meeting in Canberra, half the funds will be handed to the states to complete an infrastructure roll-out, which Prime Minister Kevin Rudd described as the largest since the postwar reconstruction.
    
    "Mr Brumby said that while we had so far weathered the global economic storm, the parlous state of the global economy meant a "wave" was about to break across Australia.
    
    "The Premier said Victoria would use up to half a billion dollars in new federal funds to deal with a backlog of infrastructure projects in primary and high schools..."
    
    Full story in The Age at link
    
    Similar stories in nearly all daily newspapers
    
    
    
  • Letter to the Editor
    
    
    • Reheating a failed schools policy
      
      "Christopher Bantick's article "A macho-type school policy will not work" (Comment & Debate, 5/2) should be read by Education Minister Bronwyn Pike. School inspectors were thrown out by teachers in the 1970s when they were seen to be demeaning and corrupting of the profession.
      
      "Resurrecting past failures is not genuine policymaking. Ms Pike would do well to begin her schools improvement campaign by funding them at something better than second worst in the OECD.
      
      "School councils are entitled to know the criteria that separate success from failure. There is a library of references on the subject and they vary greatly. Teachers know that most of the problems in schools come from family and community influences, where English is not spoken at home, where no pattern of family employment exists and money and learning ambition is limited. Governments can fix that, not schools."
      
      Graeme Lee (retired principal), Fitzroy
      
      
      
      
• The Sydney Morning Herald
  
  
  • School building projects to lead the way
    
    The first sods will be turned on construction projects at hundreds of schools within months after the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, agreed with premiers yesterday to implement the Federal Government's multibillion-dollar school building plan as rapidly as possible.
    
    
    
  • Private schools feel the squeeze
    
    Public high schools are reporting large increases in enrolments as the financial crisis puts pressure on family budgets and parents seek better opportunities for their children.
    
    
    
  • Op Ed
    The primary flaw in fixing the [school] roof
    
    Scene: A primary school classroom. In one corner, mould covers the wall up to the ceiling, which has a hole in it. The floor is uneven. In places it has fallen away completely and children's desks are being held up only by the threadbare carpet.
    
    
    
  • Universities hunt for funds as sponsors disappear
    
    Long-term corporate sponsors are abandoning university orientation week celebrations across the country because of the economic downturn.
    
    
    
    
• The Guardian
  
  
  • Assaulted teacher awarded £280,000
    
    A teacher is to receive more than a quarter of a million pounds in compensation for an assault by a teenage pupil which has left her with permanent back pain.
    
    
    
  • Teachers 'failing to spot' causes of bad behaviour
    
    Bad behaviour in schools is being fuelled by teachers' failure to properly identify children with special educational needs, according to the government's chief adviser on school discipline.
    
    Similar story on BBC News
    
    
    
    
• The Independent
  
  
  • Schools 'should decide what teachers earn'
    
    All state schools would be freed from teachers' national pay scales in order to award good classroom teachers higher salaries, under a Conservative government.
    
    
    
    
• The Washington Post
  
  
  • Pay Raises Victims Of School Budgets
    
    Many students will join bigger classes next fall. More than 1,000 teaching and support positions will vanish. Teacher pay will stagnate. Some schools will close. These are some of the likely consequences for Washington area school systems squeezed by what promises to be the worst economic recession in a generation.

 

Saturday – Sunday, 7 – 8 February

• The Sunday Times
  
  
  • Op Ed
    Class confusion
    by Phil Haberland
    
    "The first week of school is over and the bedlam has been bedded down.
    
    "Hopefully, every classroom in WA has a fully qualified teacher standing somewhere near the computerised whiteboard. Whatever happened to the trusty blackboard?
    
    "But just what is the status of teacher numbers in this state?
    
    "A few weeks ago we were told the Education Department was scrambling around looking for 169 teachers to fill vacant positions. Then we were tentatively informed we needed only 118 teachers. Last week Education Minister Liz Constable stood before the media and proudly claimed we were only eight teachers short.
    
    "The very next day we hear that more than 700 new teaching graduates still had not been offered positions by the Education Department and were off to Centrelink or the nearest restaurant to wait tables.
    
    "What is going on here? This teacher number-crunching has become an annual farce.
    
    "If these were the mathematical calculations of a Year 7 student I would be giving them a big F for fail. However, under the OBE system I'm not allowed to give that grade as it may affect the self-esteem of the person in the Education Department who obviously cannot add up.
    
    "We all know there are some wonderful, dedicated public servants within the Education Department doing the best they can for our kids.
    
    "Yet teachers refer to Perth's head office as Silver City.
    
    "I'm told this is because the buildings in which the Education Department is housed are literally silver in colour.
    
    "But there are those practitioners of the ancient art of teaching that roll their eyes as they sarcastically mention the term Silver City and imply that perhaps this government department is filled with bureaucrats who are cut off from the realities of grassroots school administration and the challenges that are daily faced at the classroom coalface. [emphasis added]
    
    "As such, this week I will be applying to Education and Training Department director-general Sharyn O'Neill for a job somewhere in the Education Department spin doctors' section.
    
    "If ever a government department needed a massive public relations exercise, it is our very own WA Education Department. And behind the spin we need to see some real changes in teacher employment and placement policy and procedures. [emphasis added]
    
    "Now, I've got a lot of time for Sharyn O'Neill. For one thing, she is the sister of famous WA author Tim Winton.
    
    "Winton is a standout example of what state schools can produce. Just ask any of the thousands of former Scarborough High School students (including my wife) who, whenever they reminisce about their school days, all say they were on a first-name basis with the great author (and Johnny Diesel, who attended the school for about five minutes).
    
    "Unfortunately, Scarborough High went the way of many a school and is now a housing estate.
    
    "To paraphrase a playwright who is no longer studied in our schools at the level he should be, there is something rotten in the state of our Education Department.
    
    "These past few weeks, talkback radio and the letters pages of our newspapers have been inundated with dissatisfied and angry teachers who can get no clear answer from the Education Department as to their job status or the possibility of permanent work.
    
    "What financial institution would loan money to a person who does not have guaranteed employment beyond a school term or year?
    
    "Yes, the teachers have recently won big pay increases. But, as research confirms, in terms of inspiring and motivating your employees to give their very best each day, it's not all about the money. Real concern, support, recognition and adequate resourcing of your staff is paramount.
    
    "The WA Department of Education may have a serious "disengagement" problem with its 38,000 teachers.
    
    "Ms O'Neill and Dr Constable must make humanising the department a priority this year.
    
    "Their motto should be "A happy, secure teacher makes a happy, secure student". [emphasis added]
    
    From The Sunday Times at link
    
    
    
  • Home-schooling rise, as parents become teachers
    by Paul Lampathakis, education reporter
    
    "Parents are increasingly resorting to teaching their children at home - particularly in Perth.
    
    "Latest figures show an 11 per cent rise in the number of children who are home-schooled in the metropolitan area compared with last year.
    
    "This year, 1068 children are registered as home-schooled in the city and 606 in regional and remote areas.
    
    "This compares with 962 metropolitan children and 605 country children last year, and 916 and 548 in those categories in 2007.
    
    "Kay Maccione, a Homebased Learning Network committee member, said she taught her nine-year-old intellectually gifted daughter Jessica at home because her school class "wasn't accommodating her needs''.
    
    "She recalled being in Jessica's classroom as a helper and saw her daughter trying to write a story, but having her hand up for most of the lesson.
    
    "She wanted the spelling of interesting and complicated words,'' Mrs Maccione said. "But she was criticised for not having completed a significant amount of work.
    
    "In a home-schooling environment that situation probably wouldn't have occurred.''
    
    "Most home-schoolers thought teachers did a good job, but it was difficult to address individual needs in classes of 30 or more. Types of home-schooling ranged from structured lessons and classes to a "natural schooling system'', where students learnt from parents and experiences, with little or no textbook work.
    
    "Home-schooled children socialise with others through networks for group language, sport and performing-arts classes.
    
    "Mrs Maccione said studies showed the best students usually came from homes where parents were involved in their education.
    
    "Education Department principal policy officer Siobhain Milbourne said it was a national and global phenomenon that parents wanted to explore different kinds of education. But many eventually returned to traditional schooling.
    
    "Education Minister Liz Constable was not worried that more parents were choosing non-school-based education, saying that was a "parental choice''.
    
    "Home-schooling is a legally established form of education in WA that is closely monitored by the Department of Education,'' Dr Constable said."
    
    From The Sunday Times at link
    
    
    
    
• The Sunday Age
  
  
  • Op Ed
    Non-government schools punch well above their weight
    by Kevin Donnelly
    
    Misconceptions abound when it comes to school funding and performance.
    
    "The public could be forgiven for thinking that non-government schools only serve the wealthy; that they are awash with funds; and that the impending review of Commonwealth funding to non-government schools should conclude that less is best.
    
    "Not so. In 2008 the Productivity Commission reported that state and federal governments provide only 57.1 per cent of the money needed to run Catholic and independent schools. The 2005-06 figures show that, while governments outlay $11,243 to educate a state school student, on average, non-government school students receive $6268.
    
    "With about 33 per cent of Australian students in non-government schools, this saves taxpayers the cost of providing places in state schools — at least $5 billion a year, according to the Association of Independent Schools of Victoria.
    
    "Commonwealth funding to non-government schools is also means tested according to the socio-economic profile of the community from which each school enrols its students.
    
    "Privileged" schools, such as Scotch College, receive no more than 13.7 per cent of the average cost of educating a student in a government school. Schools that serve disadvantaged communities can receive up to 70 per cent.
    
    "Funding isn't the only area where misconceptions abound. While critics are keen to portray non-government schools as serving the top end of town and failing disadvantaged students, reality suggests otherwise.
    
    "If disadvantage includes students with an indigenous or non-English speaking background, or a disability, then there are more such students in Victorian Catholic and independent schools than in state schools.
    
    "While more poorer families have children in government schools, many wealthy parents chose the state school alternative. Witness the number buying expensive real estate to get into the right enrolment zone.
    
    "Research by the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria found that, compared to government schools, the socio-economic profile of Catholic schools more closely mirrors the community.
    
    "OECD-funded research by Ludger Woessmann reinforces that non-government schools, measured by results in international maths and science tests, are best at raising academic standards.
    
    "After analysing stronger performing education systems, Woessmann concludes that a key indicator is a well-resourced and autonomous non-government sector. He states: "Students perform substantially better where private school operation creates choice and competition. At the same time, student achievement increases along with government funding of schools. A level playing field in terms of access to government funding for public and private schools proves particularly performance enhancing."
    
    "As noted in one of last year's Australian Budget papers, the autonomy, diversity and competition represented by non-government schools are worthy of support and emulation.
    
    "US research, cited in Mark Harrison's book Education Matters, also concludes that non-government schools promote social stability and social capital. Australian education commentator Andrew Norton's analysis of the 2005 Australian Survey of Social Attitudes (which measures indicators like accepting diversity, tolerance and community involvement) found those who had attended non-government schools rated higher than those from government schools.
    
    "From 1997 to 2007, while government school enrolments rose by 1.7 per cent, the figure for non-government schools was 21.9 per cent. Parents (as Kevin Rudd said they had the right to do) are voting with their feet.
    
    "Instead of being financially penalised (parents pay taxes for a system they do not use, plus school fees) or vilified, school choice should be properly resourced and supported. Every Australian student, regardless of where he or she goes to school, has the right to be educated.
    
    "The debate, instead of a return to sectarian, divisive arguments over state aid to non-government schools, should focus on strengthening Australia's education system and raising standards by supporting the autonomy and diversity of the non-government sector."
    
    Dr Kevin Donnelly is director of Melbourne-based Education Strategies.
    
    From The Sunday Age at link
    
    
    
  • Is technology eating our brains?
    
    There was a time when technology sought to save us from daily drudgery. Labour-saving devices such as automatic washing machines, dishwashers, the drive-through carwash and electric drill made lives easier by saving us from sweating out mundane tasks. Machines made us free to waste as much time as we pleased, and we did... Modern marvels are less labour-savers than brain-savers.
    
    
    
    
• The Weekend Australian
  
  
  • Editorial
    Facing a crisis we did not create
    
    Nothing Australia can do will end the global financial disaster. The challenge is to reduce the damage it does.
    
    
    
    
• The Sydney Morning Herald
  
  
  • Schools seize homes over fees
    
    Every week parents of private school students are losing their homes to bankruptcy actions taken by cash-strapped schools that can no longer wait for overdue fees. There had been a 25 per cent increase in schools pursuing debtors to bankruptcy in the past year, said Roger Mendelson, the chief executive of Prushka, a debt collection agency that represents more than 400 private schools.
    
    
    
  • Public students miss out [Sunday update: online only]
    
    The state's multibillion-dollar education budget is in disarray because funding is based on enrolment figures that are up to six months out of date.
    
    
    
  • Op Ed
    Bipartisan approach is necessary to maintain our academic edge
    by Dr Michael Spence, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney
    
    The higher education sector, representing 1 million students and staff, has a crucial role to play in Australia's recovery.
    
    
    
    
• The Age [Saturday]
  
  
  • Bust spurs a boom in university seekers
    
    Australian universities have had their highest growth in applications since 2003, with more students seeking to increase skills as the economic downturn worsens. As the Federal Government prepares for a shake-up of higher education, the number of applications to universities has risen by 3.5 per cent compared with last year, the strongest growth in six years.
    
    
    
    
• The Sunday Independent
  
  
  • UK schools have 20,000 unqualified teachers
    
    Numbers have risen seven-fold since Labour came to power
    
    Thousands of schoolteachers across England have no teaching qualifications, it emerged yesterday. The number of unqualified staff, who include those currently in training on a "fast track" into the profession, and foreign teachers whose qualifications are not recognised in the UK, has mushroomed from just 3,000 when Labour came to power in 1997 to more than 20,000 last year, government figures have revealed.
    
    The revelation comes after the Children's Secretary Ed Balls last week claimed that 16-year-old trainee teaching assistants could be put in charge of fellow teenagers.
    
    
    
• The Miami Herald
  
  
  • Students' FCAT essay imitations worry Florida education officials
    
    Last year's fourth-grade FCAT writing tests showed that some students were taught to memorize fancy phrases -- a problem the state hopes doesn't repeat.
    
    
    
    
• The Washington Post
  
  
  • Pay Raises Victims Of School Budgets
    
    Many students will join bigger classes next fall. More than 1,000 teaching and support positions will vanish. Teacher pay will stagnate. Some schools will close. These are some of the likely consequences for Washington area school systems squeezed by what promises to be the worst economic recession in a generation.
    
    
    
    
• The New York Times
  
  
  • Management for Harvard Endowment to Cut 25% of Staff
    
    The company that manages the endowment for Harvard will cut about 25 percent of its staff, or 50 positions, over the next several months, the school said on Friday... Harvard’s endowment has also shrunk substantially in recent months.

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