FOUR-TERM YEAR
Decision soon
on four-term year
Tas Govt media release, 31 May
2011
The Minister for Education and Skills, Nick
McKim, expects to make a decision soon on the Report on the Merits of
Introducing a Four Term School Year in Tasmania...
- Download the
Four Term School Year Report [pdf, 2.5MB]
FOUR-TERM YEAR
Four-term year recommended to Minister
ABC Online, 31 May
2011
A report recommending a four-term school
year be introduced in 2013 was handed to Tasmania's education minister
this afternoon....
STUDENT BEHAVIOUR
Boys punished for playing army games: gun gestures made with fingers
SMH, 31 May
2011
A British primary school has disciplined two
seven-year-old boys for playing army games, ruling that such play was
"threatening behaviour"...
STUDENT HEALTH
Sports drinks can be harmful
Bloomberg, 30 May
2011
Energy drinks are not meant for children,
sports drinks should be used in moderation only, but water is best,
according to US researchers....
SCHOOL SUPPORT
Missing school psychologists
Michael Ferguson website, 30
May
2011
New Education Minister Nick McKim must state
whether – and when – the Green-Labor government intends to deliver on
its promise to employ a further 12 school psychologists, opposition
education spokesman Michael Ferguson says....
STUDENT SAFETY DURING GUNFIGHTS
Kindie teacher's shootout singing
LA Times, 30 May
2011
A Mexican kindergarten teacher maintained
calm by singing during a drug-related shootout outside the classroom.
Includes video...
LEARNING, LITERACY, ICT
Ugly font may improve learning
ABC Online, 30 May
2011
Research suggests the Comic Sans font may
help people remember what they read, possibly because its 'ugly'
appearance makes it more difficult to read...
CYBER-BULLYING, SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook gossip pages villify students
The Age, 30 May
2011
MELBOURNE schools and police are battling to
remove a Facebook page that allows teenagers to post vile gossip about
their peers....
CYBER-BULLYING
Teachers learn about cyber-bullying
SMH, 30 May
2011
Cyber.ed, a new ACMA simulation program for
educators, provides teachers with an insight into the online torment
many of their students face each day...
LOTE
Vics try to reverse decline in language education
The Age, 30 May
2011
The Victorian government is moving to extend
bilingual programs in an attempt to reverse the fragile state of
language education...
EARLY CHILDHOOD
Terror toddlers in kindy 'gangs'
stuff.co.nz, 29 May
2011
Younger children are becoming more
physically aggressive and less compliant, as parenting takes place in an
increasingly fast-paced life...
POST YEAR 10
Polytechnic and Academy costs criticised
The Mercury, 28 May
2011
THE state Liberals have slammed the
performance of the Tasmanian Polytechnic and the Tasmanian Academy,
which lost nearly $18 million between them in just six months last year...
STUDENT BEHAVIOUR
School bans hugging
The Sun (UK), 27 May
2011
A London school has banned its pupils from
giving each other hugs, high-fives and handshakes...
STUDENT SUPPORT
Program to
support students affected by trauma
Tas Govt media release, 27 May
2011
The Transforming Trauma program aims to
better support secondary school students affected by trauma and
disadvantage so that they remain engaged in education...
EARLY RETIREMENT
Up to 150 more teachers to go, but will they be replaced?
Michael Ferguson website, 26 May
2011
Education Minister Nick McKim has today left
no doubt that the jobs of Tasmanian teachers are firmly in his sights,
Opposition education spokesman Michael Ferguson says...
EARLY RETIREMENT
Formal offers
to Education staff under workforce renewal program
Tas Govt media release, 26 May
2011
The Department of Education has made formal
offers to 150 employees under its workforce renewal incentive program,
the Minister for Education and Skills, Nick McKim, said today.
“The employees involved come from most employee groups including
teaching, administration and support staff, and most areas of the
department, including the Polytechnic, Academy, schools, LINC Tasmania
and central office,” Mr McKim said...
POST YEAR 10
Polytechnic
and Academy final reports tabled
Tas Govt media release, 26 May
2011
The Minister for Education and Skills, Nick
McKim, today tabled the final independent Annual Reports for the
Tasmanian Polytechnic and the Tasmanian Academy...
STUDENT SUPPORT, GAMBLING
New youth
anti-gambling program launched
Tas Govt media release, 26 May
2011
The Minister for Human Services, Cassy
O’Connor, today launched an innovative new program called Against the
Odds designed to help young Tasmanians beat problem gambling...
PUBLIC EDUCATION
Schools
celebrate public education
Tas Govt media release, 26 May
2011
Government schools across the State are
today celebrating their outstanding achievements as part of Public
Education Day 2011...
EDUCATION FUNDING
AEU hits out at cuts to school programs
The Australian, 25 May
2011
THE AEU claims the federal government will
cut $300 million from public schools within three years, including a
raft of literacy and numeracy programs...
PORTABLE EQUIPMENT
School laptops, cameras, phones loss danger
The Mercury, 25 May
2011
GOVERNMENT laptop computers, mobile phones
and cameras used by teachers and school principals are in danger of
being lost and stolen because there is no registry to track their use...
STUDENT SAFETY, SOCIAL MEDIA
Uproar at Facebook plan for children under 13
news.com.au, 24 May
2011
FACEBOOK has sparked a storm over plans to
open its social network to children under 13...
-
Facebook warning for Tasmanian teachers (re DoE instruction)
-
Every Teacher's Must-Have Guide to Facebook
-
The Why and How of Using Facebook for Educators
- Facebook's
Family Safety Center
TEACHING PROFESSION
Teacher admits to affair with student
ABC Online, 23 May
2011
A teacher has pleaded guilty to having a
sexual relationship with a student while he was teaching at an elite
private school in Hobart...
TEACHER SALARIES
Parity push questioned
The Mercury, 23 May
2011
Tasmanian teachers don't need pay parity
with the Mainland when the Tasmanian cost of living is lower, writes
TCCI chief economist Mark Bowles...
RETENTION TO YEARS 11 AND 12
Tassie needs retention rethink
The Mercury, 23 May
2011
Tasmania's secondary education system needs
to be reformed to remove the impediment that discourages many
students from continuing beyond year 10, writes columnist Greg Barns...
SCHOOL LIBRARIES
Libraries shelved
The Star (Canada), 21 May
2011
Read the range of comments from contributors
supporting the need for school libraries in the Internet age - in
response to an Ontario district school board's
decision to dismantle all of its school libraries. ...
TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Risdon Vale
Primary reaches 50
Tas Govt media release, 21 May
2011
Member for Franklin David O’Byrne launched
Risdon Vale Primary School’s 50th anniversary celebrations today...
VET, TRAINING
Training
conference looms
Tas Govt media release, 21 May
2011
About 200 delegates have already signed up
for this year’s State Training Conference, the Minister for Education
and Skills, Nick McKim, said today...
EDUCATION MINISTER'S ROLE
McKim tells principals they are the education experts
The Examiner, 21 May
2011
EDUCATION minister Nick McKim promised to
work collaboratively with teachers and principals in his first official
speaking engagement since taking on the portfolio last week...
EDUCATION PERFORMANCE
Students with poor literacy a 'hurdle'
The Examiner, 21 May
2011
SCHOOLING for low socio-economic students
and low literacy and numeracy remain the biggest hurdles for Tasmanian
public schools, a government report shows...
- Download the
report (DoE website)
EDUCATION PERFORMANCE
Schools
performance report released
Tas Govt media release, 20 May
2011
The latest snapshot of government schools in
Tasmania shows a steady improvement in performance, the Minister for
Education, Nick McKim, said today...
- Download the
report (DoE website)
TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Invermay
Primary wins heritage award
Tas Govt media release, 20 May
2011
Invermay Primary School has won the $4000
Launceston City Council’s Heritage Award (non residential category)
...
TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Port Sorell
Primary plans lodged
Tas Govt media release, 20 May
2011
A development
application for construction of the new Port Sorell Primary School has
been lodged with the Latrobe Council...
STUDENT SAFETY, SOCIAL MEDIA
Lack of anti-planking policy makes suspension unfair, claims student
Courier, 20 May
2011
A Queensland student says that because his
school had no anti-planking policy it was unfair for him to be suspended
and lose his vice-captaincy...
STUDENT SAFETY, SOCIAL MEDIA
Students suspended for planking in Qld
Courier-Mail, 19 May
2011
STUDENTS across southeast Queensland are
being suspended for planking as concern grows over the craze which has
claimed the life of one man...
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Shop
security vision to combat truancy
ABC Online, 19 May
2011
Shopping centre security vision is being
used to identify truants in Hobart's northern suburbs...
SCHOOLS AND POLITICS
Minister
backs school decision-making on guests
Tas Govt media release, 19 May
2011
The Minister for Education, Nick McKim,
today slammed the Liberals for suggesting he intervene to dictate to
schools whom they allow to visit and speak to students...
SCHOOLS AND POLITICS
School event sparks Greens propaganda claim
ABC Online, 19 May
2011
Tasmania's new Education Minister has been
accused of using his position to push Greens propaganda in state schools...
STUDENT HEALTH AND SAFETY
Nano-sunscreen alert for schools
The Age, 18 May
2011
VICTORIAN schools will be urged to avoid
sunscreens that contain nanoparticles amid fears they could pose a
health risk...
STUDENT HEALTH AND SAFETY
Walk Safely
to School on Friday
Tas Govt media release, 18 May
2011
Primary school students and their parents
are being urged to leave the car at home and walk to school on Friday
this week, May 20...
- Walk Safely to
School Day website
TEACHER SALARIES
Teachers warn of parity fight
The Mercury, 18 May
2011
TEACHERS say they will fight to keep the
salary nexus with interstate colleagues after new Education Minister
Nick McKim yesterday appeared to back away...
TEACHER SALARIES
Don't count on promised parity
ABC Online, 18 May
2011
New education minister Nick McKim has
admitted he may not be able to follow through on a promise to give
teachers interstate pay parity....
STUDENT SUPPORT
Teachers
using physical force to manage autistic children
ABC 7.30 report, 17 May
2011
Psychologists and disability sector experts
are worried about what they say is a hidden problem across the country -
the physical abuse of autistic children...
SCHOOL CHAPLAINS
Schools deserve their say on chaplains
SMH (Blogs), 17 May
2011
In light of revelations that the
Victoria-based Access Ministries is reportedly using the chaplaincy program to
''make disciples'' of students, the Australian Greens question whether
that’s money well-spent...
- Includes over 100 comments
- DEEWR's
School Chaplaincy program website
STUDENT HEALTH, TECHNOLOGY
Phones, wireless school ban call
The Telegraph (UK), 16 May
2011
Mobile phones and computers with wireless
internet connections pose a risk to human health and should be banned
from schools, a powerful European body has ruled....
STUDENT WELFARE
Ages of responsibility for young people
SMH, 17 May
2011
The average age at which teenagers are
allowed to make their own decisions is tabled in a survey released by
the
Raising Children website...
SCHOOL TERMS
Colleges back three terms
The Mercury, 16 May
2011
A MOVE to change Tasmania's school year to
being in line with the rest of the country has come under fire from
college teachers...
STUDENT HEALTH, CANTEENS
Balance not bans in school canteens
Michael Ferguson website, 16 May
2011
Instead of being subjected to blanket bans,
school canteens should be providing a balanced diet...
SCHOOL TERMS
Four term
year report soon
Tas Govt media release, 15 May
2011
The report into whether Tasmania should
change to a four term school year is on track to be handed to the
Minister for Education by the end of May..
TasLearn's view:
They should trial a change to a four-term year for a period of
five years.
During the third year, aim to decide whether to continue after that
period, on the basis of consultation with stakeholders and assessment of
the impact on student learning and welfare.
- This is a rare educational issue in which a change is REVERSIBLE, so
let's try it yet ensure term dates are always known a couple of years in
advance, monitor its effects and settle the issue once and for all.
TEACHER BONUSES
Will bonus payments for teachers improve children's education?
SMH, 14 May
2011
Views on the Australian government's teacher
bonus payments system from an advocate, an activist, a parent and a
researcher...
STUDENT SUPPORT
Are service dogs too disruptive for schools?
npr.org, 14 May
2011
Some public schools claim they cannot handle
the use of dogs for supporting students with conditions like autism...
TEACHING METHODS, INTERACTIVE LEARNING
It's the method that matters, not the teacher
Boston Globe, 12 May
2011
A study by a Nobel Prize-winning physicist
suggests that how you teach is more important than who does the
teaching.
He found that students learned a lot more from teaching assistants using
interactive tools than they did from a veteran professor giving a
traditional lecture...
SCHOOL CHAPLAINCY PROGRAM
We are not trying to convert kids: Bishop
The Age, 13 May
2011
Access Ministries, the Christian group
responsible for religious education in Victorian government schools, has
denied it is trying to convert children to its faith....
SCHOOL CHAPLAINCY PROGRAM
Disciple claim sparks call for chaplain funding freeze
ABC Online, 13 May
2011
A prominent author and ethicist has called
for an immediate freeze to school chaplain funding amid allegations a
religious organisation is trying to make disciples of Victorian students...
STATE EDUCATION PROMISES
Call for Minister to 'come clean' on promises
Miichael Ferguson website, 12 May
2011
Yesterday in an email sent only to his
supporters, new Education Minister Mr McKim promised to act on and
deliver Greens’ education policies, Shadow Minister Michael Ferguson
says...
ASTRONOMICAL WONDERS
Four planets align tomorrow
Canberra Times, 12 May
2011
The lining up of Jupiter with Venus, Mercury
and Mars in the pre-dawn sky will be visible in eastern Australia
tomorrow...
STATE CABINET CHANGES
Nick McKim to
be Education minister
Tas Govt media release, 11 May
2011
The Premier, Lara Giddings, today released
details of her new Cabinet.
Nick McKim becomes Minister for Education and Skills.
Paul O’Halloran assists him as Parliamentary Secretary for Education and
Skills...
HEALTH, PRIMARY STUDENTS
Hawks
promoting health and fitness
Tas Govt media release, 11 May
2011
Tasmanian primary schools will receive a
free sports pack under a Tasmanian Government, Hawthorn Football Club
and Bupa initiative to encourage Tasmanian school children to have fun
being active...
NAPLAN TESTING
Push to take national tests online
SMH, 9 May
2011
Documents obtained under
freedom-of-information laws show that ACARA last November ordered a
study of options for delivering the NAPLAN tests online...
EXCLUSIONS
Problem pupils costly to remove
stuff.co.uk, 5 May
2011
It costs more to kick troublesome pupils out
of school each year than it would to keep them in class, a New Zealand
report into the long-term effects of exclusion says...
TEACHER QUALITY
Top teachers, not money, 'the key to good schools'
SMH, 9 May
2011
AUSTRALIA'S top public servant says the key
to improving education standards is a targeted investment in teacher
quality and innovative school leadership, not spreading more money on
schools ''like Vegemite''....
MY SCHOOL WEBSITE
My School data 'unreliable' for bonus use
SMH, 7 May
2011
ACARA has cautioned against using national
literacy and numeracy test results to award financial bonuses to schools...
INDUSTRIAL ACTION
Teachers' strike ultimatum
The Mercury, 7 May
2011
TASMANIAN teachers will strike unless the
State Government moves quickly to honour its commitment to grant them a
pay rise...
NAPLAN TESTING
US education expert blasts 'narrow' national testing
The Age, 2 May
2011
The Queensland education minister has
defended NAPLAN tests in the face of a US education expert saying the US
was moving away from that kind of testing ...
NAPLAN TESTING
NAPLAN
testing defended
ABC 7.30 Report Qld, 6 May
2011
NAPLAN-style testing and reporting have
failed in the United States by narrowing the curriculum and corrupting
education standards, according to a chief education adviser to US
President Barrack Obama...
TASMANIAN STUDENTS
Formula One
schools program reps congratulated
Tas Govt media release, 6 May
2011
Four northern Tasmanian students who will
represent Australia in the Formula One in Schools Technology Challenge
in Malaysia later this year have been congratulated by the Minister for
Innovation, Science and Technology, David O’Byrne...
TEACHER SALARIES
Call for teacher nexus agreement confirmation
Michael Ferguson website, 5 May
2011
Opposition Education and Skills Shadow
Minister Michael Ferguson has called on Minister Lin Thorp to
confirm if the government will support a nexus agreement with teachers
and reduce teacher aide stand downs...
ABORIGINAL EDUCATION
Rokeby
Primary wins national Aboriginal education award
Tas Govt media release, 5 May
2011
Rokeby Primary School has won a national
award in recognition of its strong commitment to improving the
educational outcomes of its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
students...
STUDENT HEALTH
Hands being
washed for World Hand Hygiene Day
Tas Govt media release, 5 May
2011
Marking World Hand Hygiene Day, Director of
Public Health Dr Roscoe Taylor said hand-washing was the easiest way to
prevent the spread of illness and disease...
-
World Hand Hygiene Day website
INDUSTRIAL ACTION
Teachers back industrial action
ABC Online, 5 May
2011
State school teachers across Tasmania are
stepping up an industrial campaign over pay and have not ruled out
industrial action...
FINANCIAL LITERACY
Making sense of dollars
ABC - The World Today, 4 May
2011
A university study has found that teaching
young people how to manage money can help them avoid money management
problems...
EDUCATION REFORM
Is Australia on the right path to education reform?
The Age, 2 May
2011
The big question is why Australia would want
to emulate a country like the US where academic performance standards
are, on average, much lower ...
- See also the comments at the end of the report.
TAXATION, SCHOOL RETENTION
Tax changes to keep teenagers at school
SMH, 4 May
2011
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has made her
third family-friendly budget promise this week, announcing changes to
the family tax benefit (FTB) that encourage older teenagers to stay in
school...
TEACHER BONUSES
Reward teachers, by all means, but not in this ham-fisted way
SMH (Comment by Brian
Caldwell), 4 May
2011
Julia Gillard has announced a cash bonus
scheme for teachers that is poorly designed, has no successful
counterpart in comparable countries and is almost certain to be
abandoned or postponed...
VET, TAFE, UNIVERSITY
Mass uni sector unsustainable
The Australian, 4 May
2011
University of Tasmania's new vice-chancellor
Peter Rathjen has challenged the university sector to question its
reliance on the traditional bachelor degree...
TEACHER BONUSES
But
who says who is the best?
ABC Online, 3 May
2011
Setting up teacher against teacher is a
destructive process...
DISABLED STUDENTS, INCLUSION
$200m boost for disabled students
ABC Online, 3 May
2011
A funding boost will give disabled students
in primary and secondary schools better access to specialist speech
therapy and occupational therapy, and more specialised equipment.
....
TEACHER BONUSES
Teacher bonus pay won't help students, educators warn
SMH, 3 May
2011
EDUCATION leaders fear federal government
plans to deliver high-performing teachers a one-off bonus of up to $8100
after the next election will divide the profession and do nothing to
raise student performance....
TEACHING PROFESSION
NZ teacher deregistered after magazine poses
SMH, 3 May
2011
A New Zealand teacher has been deregistered
after she appeared in Australian Penthouse magazine draped naked over a
school desk....
TEACHER BONUSES
Teacher bonus plan slammed
The Mercury, 2 May
2011
TASMANIAN educators fear the Federal
Government's new policy to offer the nation's best teachers bonuses will
divide schools and pit staff against each other...
TAS EDUCATION SYSTEM
Editorial: These years of change
The Mercury, 2 May
2011
University head Dr Peter Rathjen sees our
school-to-college system as "internationally unique". And he does not
mean that as a compliment...
TEACHER BONUSES
Top
teachers to get financial rewards
ABC Online, 2 May
2011
Australia's best teachers will be rewarded
with bonuses of up to $8,100 from 2014 in next week's Federal government
budget...
EDUCATION SYSTEMS
Is Australia on the right path to education reform?
SMH, 2 May
2011
The big question is why Australia would want
to emulate a country like the US where academic performance standards
are, on average, much lower...
NATIONAL ASSESSMENT
Tassie lags in NAPLAN tests
The Mercury, 2 May
2011
ONE in 10 Tasmanian students overall cannot
achieve the minimum standard in NAPLAN tests, although primary school
students are performing in the middle of the pack...
TAS EDUCATION SYSTEM
Anger at uni boss's criticism
The Mercury, 2 May
2011
CRITICISM of Tasmania's secondary school
system by one of the state's top educators has been labelled unfounded
and simplistic...
TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Pupil pulled on school concern
The Mercury, 2 May
2011
An angry father of a Windermere Primary
School student says he will keep his son home from the school, which is
due to open today, believing it to be "dangerous" and "unfinished"...
NATIONAL ASSESSMENT
Govt criticised over Tas NAPLAN results
Michael Ferguson website, 1
May
2011
Comprehensive NAPLAN data released this week
shows that Tasmania’s students are performing significantly lower than
the national average in 15 out of 20 measures...
TAS EDUCATION SYSTEM
School system failure slammed
Sunday Tasmanian, 1 May
2011
The University of Tasmania's new
vice-chancellor has criticised the state's low retention of students
between years 10 and 12...
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