News for Tasmanian Teachers

Archive for May 2013

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SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Embedding food in the curriculum
ABC Rural, 31 May 2013
The federal government's 'Food in the Australian Curriculum' initiative will provide $1.5 million for curriculum resources, teacher activities, student awareness and relevant employment opportunities...

TEACHING PROFESSION
Teacher among the best
The Mercury, 31 May 2013
Dominic College teacher Jeff Thomas is one of the best 12 teachers in Australia ...

STUDENT HEALTH
Alarm over rise in overweight children
Tas Govt media release, 31 May 2013
Director of Public Health Dr Roscoe Taylor is concerned about a sharp increase in the proportion of Tasmanian children who are overweight or obese - from 19 per cent in 2007-08 to 29 per cent in 2011-12...
Call for sugar tax, The Mercury, 31 May 2013
Tas teen pregnancy rates fall, The Mercury, 31 May 2013
School soft drink ban call responded to, ABC News, 31 May 2013

BEE EDUCATION
Beehives in fashion
Tas Govt media release, 30 May 2013
Like buildings in many other cities around the world, the Hobart Polytechnic has a beehive on its roof...

RISK IN EDUCATION
Kids need scratches and gashes
The Telegraph, 28 May 2013
Young kids need to play actively and have minor accidents to learn how to assess risk, otherwise they will find out the hard way when they buy their first car, argue the opponents of mollycoddling...

SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Racial sledge prompts call for equality education
Herald Sun, 25 May 2013
The shouting of a racial term at a Sydney Swans footballer by a 13-year-old girl has led to a call for schools to undertake an in-depth program to ensure such incidents do not happen again...

BUDGET REPLY
Liberals release education policy
Will Hodgman website, 28 May 2013
Opposition leader Will Hodgman said today that a majority Liberal government would:
target those students who might otherwise drop out, in extending high schools to Years 11 and 12
extend 21 schools to Years 11 and 12 by 2018
retain existing colleges to ensure student choice
aim to have Tasmanian students to be at or above all NAPLAN measures within six years
support Gonski reforms with $83 million
 ...
See also:
Change for a Brighter Future
Vision for Agriculture: $450,000 for Agriculture Skills Development Plan
More teacher aide hours
Investing in education and high schools to year 12
Extending High Schools to Year 12 - Implementation Plan
100 more teachers, The Mercury, 27 May 2013
The Examiner, 28 May 2013
Policy in tatters, Tas Govt media release, 30 May 2013
Only the Liberals have a Year 12 plan, Michael Ferguson website, 30 May 0213

TEACHER SALARIES
Teacher pay cut fear
The Mercury, 28 May 2013
The budgeted wages bill for Tasmanian public sector employees including teachers appears to assume they will have a reduction in wages after inflation is taken into account...

SCHOOL ZONES
School zoning consultation underway
Tas Govt media release, 27 May 2013
Consultation with school principals on enrolment procedures and school zones, now called "home areas", has begun, education minister Nick McKim said today...
The Examiner, 28 May 2013
No forced local enrolment but bus funding cuts possible, The Mercury, 29 May 2013
What if a family is temporarily renting?, The Examiner, 29 May 2013

BUDGET REPLY
More teacher aide hours
Michael Ferguson website, 27 May 2013
The Opposition says a Liberal government would provide $4.4 million to fund extra Teacher Assistant and support staff hours in schools...
Teacher aide policy backed by AEU, The Examiner, 27 May 2013

BUDGET REPLY
100 more teachers
The Mercury, 27 May 2013
A Liberal government would support its plan to extend high school to Years 11 and 12 in country areas by hiring 100 more teachers, Opposition leader Will Hodgman says...

STATE BUDGET
Education funding without Gonski
The Mercury, 23 May 2013
State government budgeted funds for Gonski reforms in Tasmania will be spent even if the federal government's Gonski plans do not go ahead...
Peter Garrett: What the full Gonski would give Tasmania, 24 May 2013
Rally calls for Tasmanian Gonski support, The Mercury, 26 May 2013

TAFE
TAFE review ignored, says Ferguson
The Examiner, 23 May 2013
The TasTAFE management structure recommended by an independent review is not being followed, Opposition education spokesman Michael Ferguson says..

Tasmanian State Budget 2013-14
The Future for Education in Tasmania (DoE Budget 2013-14 summary)
Creating Opportunities for the Next Generation (Premier's statement)
Includes:
- Gonski reforms in Tasmania
- List of schools being upgraded
- NBN
Upgrading schools and learning facilities
Upgrading schools in the North-West
Delivering equitable and high quality education
Giving young people the best start in life

GONSKI REFORMS
Private school teachers confused over Gonski
The Examiner, 23 May 2013
Private school teachers are confused about how the federal government's Gonski plans will affect their schools...
Tas Govt's Gonski plans must be made clear, Michael Ferguson website, 23 May 2013

SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Gambling education needed, says academic
The Age, 22 May 2013
Students need to be taught about the dangers of gambling, a Canadian academic in Australia for Responsible Gambling Awareness Week says...
Impact of betting ads on kids being watched in Tasmania, The Examiner, 25 May 2013

CYBER-SAFETY
Net use alarm
The Australian, 22 May 2013
Six per cent of children aged 8-12 years have met up with a stranger they met online, a survey on children's Internet use by McAfee shows...
Aust Govt media release, National Cyber-security Awareness Week, 20 May 2013

STATE BUDGET
School capital works boost in Budget
Tas Govt media release, 21 May 2013
This Thursday's state Budget will include infrastructure projects for a number of Tasmanian schools...
The Examiner, 21 May 2013
The Mercury, 22 May 2013

CHILD PROTECTION
Review of children's laws
Tas Govt media release, 21 May 2013
Tasmanian laws relating to the care and protection of children, including the powers of the Children's Commissioner, are to be reviewed...
ABC News, 21 May 2013

SCHOOL CLOSURES
New uniform for merged school
The Advocate, 21 May 2013
Students are wearing a new uniform at Andrews Creek Primary School which was formed from the merger of Wesley Vale Primary and Moriarty Primary...

SCHOOL FINANCES
School theft leads to jail
The Advocate, 21 May 2013
The theft of more than $50,000 from Strahan Primary has resulted in a jail term for an employee..

TAFE
Skills conference opened
Tas Govt media release, 20 May 2013
Education minister Nick McKim, today opened the 2013 Skills Tasmania Conference and commented that the formation of TasTAFE is subject to legislation being passed by the Legislative Council by July 1...
The legislation (Training and Workforce Development Bill 2013) was passed on 23 May 2013.

REGIONAL YEARS 11 AND 12
Tas regional education report released
Tas Govt media release, 20 May 2013
The Minister for Education and Skills, Nick McKim, today released a six-point plan to encourage students to participate in Years 11 and 12...
Download Future provision of Years 11 and 12 education in regional Tasmania: Minister's Action Plan [pdf]

STATE BUDGET
Leaving age stays at 17, schools not forced to close
ABC News, 20 May 2013
Education minister Nick McKim says the school leaving age will not be extended to 18 years.
Instead, retention rates will be boosted in other ways.
Mr McKim also announced that Thursday's Budget would not include forced closure of schools...

STATE BUDGET
Keeping students in Years 11 and 12
The Mercury, 20 May 2013
The Tasmanian Budget will provide $900,000 in funds to allow regional and district high schools to provide more options for Year 11 and 12 students, education minister Nick McKim says...
The Examiner, 20 May 2013
Michael Ferguson website, 'Drop in the ocean' measure,19 May 2013
Michael Ferguson website, Q & A on extending high schools to Year 12,20 May 2013

FEDERAL BUDGET
Tas loses $660m with Abbott, says PM
The Mercury, 20 May 2013
If Opposition leader Tony Abbott refuses to go ahead with the Gonski reforms Tasmania will receive $660 million less in school funding, prime minister Julia Gillard says...

GONSKI FUNDING
Tas premier must explain, says Ferguson
Michael Ferguson website, 19 May 2013
Tasmanian premier Lara Giddings must "come clean" over whether she is attempting to deny Gonski funding to non-government schools, Opposition education spokesperson Michael Ferguson says...

TEACHING PROFESSION
Facebook page targets teachers
ABC News, 19 May 2013
A Facebook hate-page is vilifying Tasmanian teachers...

SCHOOL COMPUTERS
Schools training own student IT techies
news.com.au, 18 May 2013
Some Mainland schools are training their own students as computer troubleshooters in order to avoid the cost of hiring computer specialists...

FEDERAL BUDGET
School funds take a hit
Canberra Times, 18 May 2013
Julia Gillard's Gonski reforms would reduce previously budgeted funding,
Tony Abbott says. And he would drop the Gonski reforms if they were not supported by every state...

SCHOOL CLOSURES
Geilston Bay faces future
The Mercury, 16 May 2013
Parents of Geilston Bay High School's 130 students are about to examine options for the school's survival...

FEDERAL BUDGET
No cuts to school funding, says Garrett
Aust Govt media release, 16 May 2013
The federal budget does not cut school spending, Schools Minister Peter Garrett said in response to claims by Opposition education spokesman Christopher Pyne...

FEDERAL BUDGET
School spending slashed, says Pyne
Daily Telegraph, 16 May 2013
The federal budget reduces school spending by $325 million, Opposition education spokesman Christopher Pyne says...

NAPLAN
Concerns prompt NAPLAN inquiry
news.com.au, 15 May 2013
A Senate inquiry will look into the impact of NAPLAN testing. Reported issues include:
a booming industry in NAPLAN support products such as workbooks and stress-relieving teddy bears
a vitamin company's advertisement being withdrawn following complaints about its final line "NAPLAN testing starts May 14" [performance-enhancing fish oil?]
children reacting to pressure from schools and parents
misuse of the test results
distraction from the rest of the curriculum
...
Teachers urged to participate, SMH, 17 May 2013
Righting some wrong thinking, The Age, 16 May 2013

NAPLAN
Top NAPLAN students recognised
Tas Govt media release, 15 May 2013
The southern Tasmanian students who were best at doing the 2012 NAPLAN tests were presented with certificates today by education minister Nick McKim...

Alanvale re-opens tomorrow
DoE website, 15 May 2013
The Alanvale campus of the Polytechnic and Skills Institute will re-open tomorrow, Thursday, 16 May (following today's power outage).

TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Emergency at Exeter High School
ABC News, 15 May 2013
Emergency services were called to Exeter High School this morning when a science experiment went wrong.
However, there are no reports of injuries...
The Mercury, 15 May 2013

FEDERAL BUDGET
Computer focus dies
The Australian, 15 May 2013
The federal Budget kills off spending on computers and chaplains but provides funding for financial literacy and solar power in schools...

TASMANIAN PRINCIPALS
Principal exodus looms
ABC News, 15 May 2013
With most of Tasmania's principals now eligible for retirement, ways need to be found to support the younger people who replace them, the Principals Association's David  Raw says...

FEDERAL BUDGET
Gonski reforms a trickle for now
Adelaide Now, 14 May 2013
Just $353 million more will be spent on education next year, with the full amount of Gonski funding not being received until 2019 ....
Federal Budget 2013-14

STUDENT HEALTH AND SAFETY
Prompt procedure follows needle use
ABC News, 14 May 2013
The use of a diabetic needle by four East Derwent Primary students has led to blood testing, a meeting with parents, a newsletter message and advice to the Health Department ....
The Mercury, 14 May 2013
Tas Govt media release, 14 May 2013

NAPLAN
NAPLAN results as entry criteria
SMH, 12 May 2013
Some private schools are asking for the NAPLAN results of students applying for enrolment ....

NAPLAN
NAPLAN industry booming
SMH, 11 May 2013
Stuffed toys are being promoted to help children deal with NAPLAN stress, and more than 180,000 NAPLAN-related books have been sold so far this year ....
 
NAPLAN-style books selling, SMH, 9 May 2013

STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Aussie kids in top 5 most sleep-deprived
SMH, 10 May 2013
Australian children are the fifth most sleep-deprived in the world, a survey of Year 4 students shows....

TASTAFE
TasTAFE's step back is a step forward
The Mercury, 11 May 2013
Students will benefit when the Polytechnic and the Skills Institute become a single TAFE unit on 1 July, new chief executive Stephen Conway says....

STUDENT HEALTH
Vaccination booster
news.com.au, 11 May 2013
The federal government's push to have a child's vaccinations up to date on enrolment in a school is expected to raise vaccination levels in Australia....

NAPLAN
NAPLAN stress
The Examiner, 9 May 2013
Tasmanian teachers are under stress from the amount of time devoted to and diverted to NAPLAN test preparation....

STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Leaders swoop on Huonville Primary
Tas Govt media release, 8 May 2013
More than one hundred student leaders met at Huonville Primary School today....

STUDENT SAFETY
Friday eclipse
Herald Sun, 8 May 2013
A ring-of-fire solar eclipse will occur over Australia this Friday when the Moon moves in front of the sun....
In Tasmania, the eclipse will commence around 8.15am (The Mercury, 8 May 2013)

STUDENT HEALTH
Whooping cough vaccine less effective
The Mercury, 8 May 2013
The current whooping cough vaccine does not provide a long enough protection....

FINANCIAL LITERACY
Better mobile phone consumers
ASIC website, 7 May 2013
ASIC has launched several multimedia activities to help students in Years 5-8 choose mobile phone plans carefully...

NAPLAN
NAPLAN boycott
SMH, 7 May 2013
A small group of Victorian teachers is urging parents to boycott next week's NAPLAN tests...

PONTVILLE DETENTION CENTRE
Detention students to go to Cosgrove High
Tas Govt media release, 6 May 2013
The high school aged Pontville detainees are to attend classes at Cosgrove High School from this week, education minister Nick McKim said today...
The Mercury, 7 May 2013

HEALTH AND FITNESS
Get fitter around Hobart
The Mercury, 6 May 2013
A new website providing details of 77 walking and riding trails around Hobart was launched today...

HANDWRITING SKILLS
Children losing the strength to write
The Mercury, 4 May 2013
With the world changing to touch-screens and keyboards, physio and occupational therapists are being brought in to help children find the strength needed for handwriting...

NUMERACY
Vulnerable young kids need numeracy help
news.com.au, 2 May2013
One-third of Australian four- and five-year-olds are unable to count from 1 to 20, researchers say...

LINCS
New Scottsdale LINC
Tas Govt media release, 1 May 2013
A new LINC will provide information, education and training facilities in Scottsdale.
[Bet you don't know what LINC stands for. It's an abbreviation of Learning and Information Network Centre.]...