SCHOOL FACILITIES
Union fears over school asbestos
ABC Online, 31 March
2011
Why are teachers in the U.S.
treated with less respect? What is the effect of this on educational
standards? Comments have been posted by readers...
FORESTRY EDUCATION
Schools begin forest studies
The Mercury, 28 March
2011
A new education resource from the Mercury,
in partnership with the Forest Education Foundation, will feature a
different aspect of Tasmania's forests each day for the next two school
weeks...
NSW ED ADMINISTRATION
NSW education chief to go
The Australian, 28 March
2011
NSW's education chief, who has no background
in education, and has a past conviction for heroin trafficking with time
in jail, will not be kept on by the new state government ...
BULLYING IN SCHOOL
Bullying video school cleared
news.com.au, 27 March
2011
The NSW Education Department has cleared the
school where a bullying victim who fought back was videoed, despite the
boy having lodged more than 60 complaints...
MY SCHOOL WEBSITE
NAPLAN's skew
from special needs to be recognised
The Age, 27 March
2011
MAINSTREAM schools with large numbers of
special needs students currently are unfairly treated by the My School
reporting system...
TEACHING PROFESSION
Why isn't the U.S. proud of its teachers?
Education Week, 25 March
2011
Why are teachers in the U.S.
treated with less respect? What is the effect of this on educational
standards? Comments have been posted by readers...
TEACHER SALARIES
Teacher pay row fires up
The Mercury, 25 March
2011
TASMANIA'S education union is preparing to
train an "army" of workers to rally the state's 4500 teachers for an
industrial campaign ahead of threatened strike action over stalled pay
negotiations...
NAPLAN TESTING
Schools guilty of cheating on national tests
Canberra Times, 24 March
2011
Five schools across Australia
have been found guilty of cheating on the national numeracy and literacy
tests and another 10 are under investigation...
TEACHER ACCOMMODATION
NW teacher accommodation recommendations
made
Tas Govt media release, 24 March
2011
An independent report has recommended ways
to improve the management and quality of teacher accommodation in remote
areas of Tasmania, Minister for Education and Skills, Lin Thorp, said
today...
CYBER-SAFETY, BULLYING
Schools to
get Tas. online resource to tackle bullying
Tas Govt media release, 23 March
2011
An internet-based cyber safety
and anti-bullying program created by local company Roar Films will be
made available to all Tasmanian Government schools for the next 12
months, Minister for Education and Skills Lin Thorp said today...
TEACHER SALARIES
Teachers threaten pay action
The Mercury, 23 March
2011
THE union representing Tasmanian teachers
has threatened industrial action unless the State Government comes back
to the table to discuss key concerns...
STUDENT SUPPORT, BULLYING
No victors in bullying saga
Herald Sun, 23 March
2011
THE footage of the Sydney schoolyard fight
was an internet sensation. But the parents of the two boys should never
have let them face the TV cameras...
TRAINING AND SKILLS
Skills
Institute graduates congratulated
Tas Govt media release, 22 March
2011
Minister for Education and Skills
Lin Thorp praised the achievements of this year’s round of southern
Tasmanian Skills Institute graduates this evening...
TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Minister
raves over Ravenswood child and family centre
Tas Govt media release, 22 March
2011
Minister for Education and Skills
Lin Thorp today extolled the benefits of the future Ravenswood Child and
Family Centre and of six more such centres expected to be opened later
this year...
STUDENT HEALTH
Sit
less to lower heart disease risk
ABC News, 21 March
2011
Studies show sitting for long
periods can be dangerous to health, even when people exercise regularly,
increasing the risk of heart disease and other conditions by 80 per
cent.
"In the classroom, it's about getting teachers encouraging children to
move around the classroom, to designing classrooms where children don't
just sit to do their lessons," US medical researcher Professor Marc
Hamilton said ...
- COMMENT: So does research show that students who
can't sit still are relatively less likely to eventually die of heart
disease?
TEACHER SALARIES
Teachers consider action over pay
ABC News, 21 March
2011
The Tasmanian Education Union will consider
industrial action over wages and conditions ...
TASMANIAN SCHOOLS,
STUDENT HEALTH
Premier lauds
Lauderdale Primary over healthy eating
Tas Govt media
release, 20 March 2011
Lauderdale
Primary School has been congratulated for winning an award for its range
of healthy eating initiatives for students...
JAPAN EARTHQUAKE
Children in classroom still waiting for parents to collect them
Mail Online, 18 March
2011
Even amid the carnage and despair of Japan's tsunami victims, the plight
of the 30 children at Kama Elementary School is heartbreaking.
They sit quietly in the corner of a third-floor classroom where they
have waited each day since the tsunami swept into the town of Ishinomaki
for their parents to collect them...
THE MOON
Supermoon looms
SMH, 19 March
2011
Tonight (Saturday) the moon will be the
closest to Earth it has been since 1992...
NATIONAL CURRICULUM
Hard lessons on the path to reform
The Age, 18 March
2011
BARRY McGaw, the man in charge of the
National Curriculum and My School reforms, is reflecting on mistakes
made and lessons learnt...
STUDENT SUPPORT, BULLYING
National framework to combat bullying released today
Herals Sun, 18 March
2011
EVERY school in Australia will be able to
audit how safe they are under the National Safe Schools Framework...
TEACHER SALARIES, POLYTECHNIC JOBS
Less pay for teachers and 70 Polytechnic jobs on the chopping block
Michael Ferguson website, 17 March
2011
Labor continued its record-breaking streak
of broken promises today, denying in Parliament that they promised wage
relativity to Tasmanian teachers before the last election, Liberal
education spokesman Michael Ferguson said...
TEACHER QUALITY
Mediocre teachers can't expect top-class salaries
SMH, 17 March
2011
Good teachers increase students' future
earnings. To attract more good teachers, higher pay is unavoidable. The
productivity trade-off is to increase class sizes and stop carrying
ineffective teachers...
ONLINE LEARNING
Tasmanian
eSchool launched
The Mercury, 15 March
2011
The new Tasmanian eSchool will provide more
flexible learning opportunities to all students, the Premier, Lara
Giddings, said today...
STUDENT SUPPORT, BULLYING
Victim turns tables on bully
The Mercury, 15 March
2011
A Sydney schoolboy has become an internet
sensation after video emerged of him body-slamming another student
during a verbal and physical attack...
(Includes video of fight.)
Does YOUR SCHOOL have someone already signed up with
YouTube to get inappropriate
YouTube videos removed quickly? SEE THE FOLLOWING SITE:
TEACHER RETIREMENT PAYOUTS
Teacher payout 'perk'
The Mercury, 15 March
2011
TASMANIAN teachers who took a special
early-retirement package worth up to $20,000 can return to work as
relief teachers...
TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Class apparently safe after blood prick incident
The Mercury, 15 March
2011
STUDENTS tested after they shared a lancet
in a science experiment at a Tasmanian high school have been cleared of
potentially deadly blood-borne diseases, the Health Department says...
NAPLAN TESTS
NAPLAN testing code issued
Adelaide Now, 15 March
2011
PRINCIPALS and teachers have been issued
with a strict code of conduct to follow when administering this year's
national literacy and numeracy tests in May...
TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Latrobe
Primary tenders called
Tas Govt media release, 12 March
2011
Tenders have been called for the
redevelopment of Latrobe Primary School...
MY SCHOOL WEBSITE
My School a pyrrhic victory
SMH, 12 March
2011
Critics say the high profile of a school's
published NAPLAN results has led to the manipulation of data and an
epidemic of ''teaching to the test''...
APPRENTICES AND TRAINEES
Outstanding
apprentices and trainees recognised
Tas Govt media release, 11 March
2011
Talented Tasmanian apprentices and trainees
were recognised for their outstanding efforts at a special awards
ceremony in Hobart today...
STUDENT SUPPORT,
NATIONAL CURRICULUM
Calls for schools to address suicide prevention
ABC News, 10 March
2011
There are fresh calls for a suicide
prevention program to be included as part of the new national curriculum
in schools...
People concerned about suicide issues can get help
from:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14, or
- Kids Helpline (under 25 yrs) on 1800 55 1800
SKILLS AND TRAINING
Skills needs
progress seen
Tas Govt media release, 10 March
2011
The latest Tasmanian Skills Strategy Report
Card has shown considerable progress in meeting the state’s targets for
education and training, the Minister for Education and Skills, Lin
Thorp, said today...
TEACHER SALARIES
Broken teacher salary promise will harm
Victoria
SMH, 10 March
2011
Victoria will ultimately pay a high price
for failing to improve the pay and status of teachers...
MY SCHOOL WEBSITE
My School website 'may harm society'
The West Australian, 9 March
2011
Education consultant Brian Caldwell says
reporting schools' performance based only on students' achievements in
literacy and numeracy will do long-term damage to society...
TASMANIAN SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION
Spelling out the challenges
The Mercury: Editorial, 9 March
2011
HOW refreshing that Tasmania's new Education
Department secretary is not pushing a new round of radical reforms...
TEACHER SALARIES
Victoria breaks promise on teacher salaries
The Age, 9 March
2011
THE Victorian government is set to break a
key election promise to make Victoria's government school teachers the
best paid in the nation...
TASMANIAN SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION
Tas. schools chief looks to results
The Mercury, 8 March
2011
TASMANIA'S new Education Department
secretary, Colin Pettit, has pledged to "declutter" school
administration and get teachers back in front of classes within 12
months...
MY SCHOOL WEBSITE
Anger over league tables
The Age, 8 March
2011
Newspapers have begun publishing league
tables using data from the controversial My School website...
PRIMARY-HIGH TRANSITION
Confusion over year 7 at high school
SMH, 7 March
2011
While Tasmania frets over three or four term
years, Queensland is facing the costly issue of shifting year 7 out of
primary school and into high school...
- COMMENT: Next, how about all states plan for common
starting ages for kinder/pre-school - if they want the National
Curriculum to work across the country in future years. See
starting ages.
ASSESSMENT OF TEACHERS
Software pinpoints the best teachers
NZ Herald, 6 March
2011
A New Zealand school is installing EdReflect,
software that will pinpoint its best-performing teachers - and show up
those responsible for poorly performing students...
- COMMENT from TasLearn.com: Strangely, there
currently appears to be no information about "EdReflect" on the
Internet.
MY SCHOOL WEBSITE
Advantage index changes rankings
SMH, 6 March
2011
ONE of the most controversial features of My
School 2.0 is a new methodology for calculating the levels of
educational advantage in a school...
MY SCHOOL WEBSITE
Non-computer
path to success
SMH, 6 March
2011
TWO primary schools that have shunned the
digital age and embraced unorthodox teaching methods are among the top
achievers in national literacy tests...
EDUCATION FUNDING
Why Bill Gates is wrong on class size
Washington Post: blog post, 5 March
2011
An open letter to Bill Gates by a
Californian science teacher...
TEACHERS REGISTRATION BOARD
Board loses
head
Tas Govt media release, 5 March
2011
The Minister for Education and Skills, Lin
Thorp, today paid tribute to departing Teachers Registration Board head
Greg Suitor...
MY SCHOOL WEBSITE
My School mute on bad teachers
The Australian, 5 March
2011
Data on teacher performance is a glaring
omission from the My School website...
MY SCHOOL WEBSITE
My School reveals fairness and good value in funding
The Australian: Editorial, 5 March
2011
PARENTS are better informed than ever about
education...
MY SCHOOL WEBSITE
Private schools cash grab
ABC Online, 5 March
2011
THE updated My School website shows some of
Tasmania's wealthiest and most prestigious schools are receiving up to
$6.8 million a year in Government funding...
MY SCHOOL WEBSITE
My
School 2.0 sparks fight for funds
ABC Online, 5 March
2011
Government, independent and Catholic school
groups are using figures from the Government's updated My School website
to stake a claim for more money...
EDUCATION FUNDING
Why Ben Bernanke and Bill Gates are worried about education
NPR, 5 March
2011
US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates have both criticised the idea of reducing
education funding during a time of budget cuts...
MY SCHOOL WEBSITE
My
School 'misleading': unions
ABC Online, 4 March
2011
Tasmania's Education Union says the My
School website is misleading...
MY SCHOOL WEBSITE
My School 2.0 to hurt independent schools: Opposition
The Australian, 4 March
2011
THE Coalition has warned the updated My
School website will undermine government funding to independent schools
while failing to help parents make better educational choices for their
children...
- For more stories to 4 Mar 2011, see
Curriculum Leadership What's New.
MY SCHOOL WEBSITE
School finances exposed
ABC Online, 4 March
2011
The financial position of Tasmanian schools
is about to be publicly revealed for the first time, with the relaunch
of the Federal Government's My School website...
MY SCHOOL WEBSITE
My School website exposes student spending inequalities
Herald Sun, 4 March
2011
MASSIVE inequalities in spending on students
have been exposed on the new My School website...
- See ACARA's My School website:
relaunching at 10am today
EXCURSIONS
Teacher dies rescuing students in surf
Herald Sun, 4 March
2011
A HEROIC teacher has died in wild surf near
Victoria's Bell's Beach as he desperately tried to rescue students
caught in a ferocious rip...
TASMANIAN STUDENTS
Northern
Tasmania’s top students honoured
Tas Govt media release, 3 March
2011
About 80 outstanding students were
recognised in a special presentation ceremony in Launceston today...
POLYTECHNIC TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS
Qualification
to recognise skilled Polytechnic teachers
Tas Govt media release, 3 March
2011
A new teaching qualification for Polytechnic
teachers was launched today under a joint partnership between the
Tasmanian Polytechnic and the University of Tasmania...
SCHOOL TERMS
Editorial: Dates with destiny
The Mercury, 3 March
2011
TASMANIA'S school calendar has
been a topic of endless debate over many years...
SCHOOL TERMS
School term quandary
The Mercury, 3 March
2011
THE issue of whether Tasmania
should break the school year into four terms has become the talk of the
town but officially remains deadlocked...
ALCOHOL IN SCHOOLS
Warning on alcohol in school fundraising
SMH, 2 March
2011
Parents and principals are being
warned that using alcohol for school fundraisings may be sending mixed
messages to children...
SCHOOL TERMS
School year slice-up
The Mercury, 2 March
2011
TASMANIANS have been given one month to make
their views known on a contentious proposal to break the school year
into four terms an issue that is splitting parents, teachers and even
the Education Department's advisory panel...
SCHOOL TERMS
Four-term year plan revealed
The Mercury, 1 March
2011
THE State Government has released a proposal
to split the Tasmanian school year into four terms...
SCHOOL TERMS
Divisions over four term years
ABC Online, 1 March
2011
A stakeholder advisory group
remains divided on whether to introduce a four-term school year to
Tasmania...
SCHOOL TERMS
Four term
school year model released
Tas Govt media release, 1
March
2011
A four-term school model for
Tasmanian students has been released for consultation...
- See special DoE
four terms
web page
STUDENT SUPPORT, COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
iPads become learning tools for students with disabilities
Education Week, 1 March
2011
Using an application on the iPad called
Proloquo2Go,
11-year-old Sloan can scroll through pictures or choose from phrases and
sentences she uses often, and the computer speaks for her...
STUDENT HEALTH
Girls ignoring cervical cancer vaccine
HeraldSun, 1 March
2011
A QUARTER of young girls are
forsaking a life-saving cervical cancer vaccine because of ignorance...
- Special website:
www.cervicalcancervaccine.org.au
ADHD, TEACHING PROFESSION
Sack over anti-ADHD bumper sticker
Daily Mail Online, 1 Mar
2011
A US teacher has been sacked over her bumper
sticker protest at the overmedication of children... |
See the