News for Tasmanian Teachers

Archive for October 2011

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POST YEAR 10
TCE exams loom
The Mercury, 3 Nov 2011
Thousands of Tasmanian Certificate of Education students are preparing for exams...
- The TCE (TQA website)

TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Moonah Primary reaches 100 years
Tas Govt media release, 2 Nov 2011
Moonah Primary School today celebrated 100 years of education...

TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Mayfield Primary tops nation in integral calculus
Tas Govt media release, 2 Nov 2011
Mayfield Primary students have come out on top in a special Australia-wide mathematics project...

TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Redeveloped school an improvement
The Advocate, 2 Nov 2011
Going to school was now more enjoyable, students said at yesterday's opening of the redeveloped Burnie High School...

TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Burnie High redevelopment opened
Tas Govt media release, 1 Nov 2011
Burnie High's $8.1 million redelopments following the 2009 fire were opened today by the Premier and the Minister for Education and Skills...

SPORT, STUDENT SUPPORT
Special Olympics event for school students held
Tas Govt media release, 1 Nov 2011
The first end of year Ribbon Day for Special Olympics was opened by Minister for Community Development Cassy O'Connor today...

STUDENT SUPPORT
Sheds make a successful learning environment
SMH, 31 Oct 2011
Gruff old men have the infinite tolerance and sense of humour to successfully teach practical skills to reluctant boys...

NATIONAL TESTING
NAPLAN testing should be widened
SMH, 31 Oct 2011
A US expert on educational measurement says Australia should extend NAPLAN testing beyond literacy and numeracy to give a more balanced picture...

EDUCATION SYSTEMS
Too close to America
SMH, 31 Oct 2011
Australians are too ready to follow failing US education reforms, when Finland is the country setting a fine example...

EDUCATION BUDGET
Cuts to have impact on schools
The Mercury, 30 Oct 2011
An AEU survey of Tasmanian principals shows that the expected impact of reductions in school budgets will include increased class sizes and reduced special and high needs assistance...

STUDENT SAFETY
Outdoor education guidelines reviewed before drowning [link no longer active]
The Examiner, 30 Oct 2011
The inquest into the death of Latrobe High School student Rene Levi was told that the Education Department had conducted a major review of outdoor education guidelines but the senior physical education teacher was never given anything in writing about them...
- Current DoE Handbook for Off Campus Activities
- Current DoE swimming  advice

STUDENT SAFETY
Principal apologises over boy's death
The Advocate, 29 Oct 2011
The principal of Latrobe High School apologised to the family of Rene Levi in yesterday's coronial inquest.
A physical education teacher involved in the excursion to the Mersey River said he had seen Rene approach the river bank after the instruction to get out had been given, and that two students had told him Rene had returned to school...

STUDENT SAFETY
School now has specific aquatics permission form
The Examiner, 29 Oct 2011
The body of Rene Levi was found by a physical education teacher who had specially kayaked down the river a second time in the afternoon following comments from students that Rene had been pretending to drown and was swimming underwater and surprising other students.
The school now asks parents to sign a special aquatics permission form instead of relying on only a box ticked for excursions ...

STUDENT SAFETY
Principal apologises to family of boy who drowned
The Advocate, 29 Oct 2011
Latrobe High School's principal apologised to the family of Rene Levi, the 15-year-old boy who drowned on a school excursion...

TASMANIAN TEACHERS
Tas teachers to be judged
The Mercury, 29 Oct 2011
Four Tasmanian teachers are among those receiving National Excellence in Teaching Awards who are now eligible for the judging of Australia's top ten teachers ...

TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Bus gives freedom
The Mercury, 29 Oct 2011
A new bus from a $400,000 partnership with BHP will give Port Dalrymple School the freedom to roam beyond George Town...

TASMANIAN TEACHERS
Minister recognises outstanding Tasmanian teachers
Tas Govt media release, 28 Oct 2011
Education Minister Nick McKim has congratulated a number of outstanding Tasmanian teachers...

TASMANIAN TEACHERS
Contribution of teachers acknowledged
Tas Govt media release, 28 Oct 2011
Education Minister Nick McKim has recognised World Teachers' Day by acknowledging the positive contribution teachers make...

TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Port Dalrymple benefits from BHP partnership
Tas Govt media release, 28 Oct 2011
Sponsorship from BHP Billiton TEMCO will provide students at Port Dalrymple School, George Town, with a bus, six interactive whiteboards, 20 computers, kayaks and sports uniforms, worth a total of $400,000...

STUDENT SAFETY
Students told where to swim
ABC News, 28 Oct 2011
The teacher in charge of an excursion told a drowning inquest that he had checked the river for any danger before the students could go swimming and gave directions about where they could swim, but said the swimmers were going in and out of his vision as they went further downstream...

STUDENT SAFETY
There should have been a roll call
The Examiner, 28 Oct 2011
Latrobe High's vice principal told a drowning inquest that there should have been a roll call, a head count of swimmers and a clear delegation of who would supervise the water area ...

STUDENT SAFETY
Teacher distracted
The Advocate, 28 Oct 2011
The teacher supervising swimming activities at the Latrobe High School excursion had been distracted by students snapping branches on the bank, the school's vice principal told an inquest yesterday...

STUDENT SAFETY
Teacher distracted
The Advocate, 28 Oct 2011
The teacher supervising swimming activities at the Latrobe High School excursion had been distracted by students snapping branches on the bank, the school's vice principal told an inquest yesterday...

SCHOOL CLOSURES
Libs commence retention Bill debate
Michael Ferguson website, 27 Oct 2011
The Liberal opposition has brought on debate on their Retention of Schools Bill ...

EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION
DoE Annual Report tabled
Tas Govt media release, 27 Oct 2011
The Tasmanian Department of Education's Annual Report for 2010-11 was tabled in Parliament today ...
- See DoE Annual Report 2010-11 page

STUDENT SAFETY
Rain caused chaos at river
The Mercury, 27 Oct 2011
Rain marred the Latrobe High excursion, an inquest was told by a student teacher who headed back to school with a group of students after some started to return on their own ...

STUDENT SAFETY
Teachers were supervising from river bank
ABC Online, 27 Oct 2011
A trainee teacher told an inquest that he saw teachers supervising swimming students from the river bank, but also that they would not have been able to see the students once the students went further down the river ...

SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Home Ec call
The Mercury, 27 Oct 2011
Young people need to be taught basic household management skills, Tasmania's Social Inclusion Commissioner David Adams says ...

STUDENT SAFETY
Students thought drowning boy was joking
The Advocate, 26 Oct 2011
Students who saw a grade 9 Latrobe High School student splashing about in the water and calling for help said they thought he was joking and pretending to drown ...

SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Better financial literacy needed
Cost of Living Strategy report, 25 Oct 2011
The report 'A Cost of Living Strategy for Tasmania' by Social Inclusion Commissioner Professor David Adams names financial literacy and life skills in schools among the areas for strategic intervention.
They are listed in a sub-category called 'Areas for capacity building': Reintroducing home economics, including financial literacy and life skills in schools, adult
education and community settings.
- Download the report [pdf 6MB]. See pages 6, 57, 59.
- Download summary of the report [pdf 0.5MB]. See p. 5.
- Download Companion Report 2 [pdf 2MB]. See pages 37-43.
 ...

STUDENT SUPPORT
Autism - answers for Sunday Tasmanian (The mercury, 23 Oct 2011)
Dept of Education media release, 25 Oct 2011
A list of answers to questions on autism support in Tasmania, from Liz Banks, Deputy Secretary early Years and Schools ...

STUDENT SAFETY
No teachers on river bank
The Mercury, 25 Oct 2011
A student swimming with the Latrobe High School boy who drowned told the coronial inquest that there were no teachers on the river bank ...

STUDENT BEHAVIOUR
Do fizzy drinks cause aggression?
SMH, 25 Oct 2011
Teenagers drinking fizzy drinks are more likely to be aggressive and violent, a study claims.
However, there may be other factors that are the cause of both the drinking and the aggression ...

POST YEAR 10
Vocational training dropout rates high
SMH, 25 Oct 2011
Less than a third of vocational training students finish their courses, a report by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research says. One solution might be to shift the funding from enrolment numbers to course completion rates ...

SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Call to improve home ec and financial literacy
ABC News, 25 Oct 2011
The yet-to-be-released Social Inclusion Commissioner's report on a State government cost of living strategy appears to recommend improvements in home economics and financial literacy training in schools...

SCHOOL CLOSURES
Closures group progress report today
The Mercury, 25 Oct 2011
The School Viability Reference Group expects to provide a progress report on its meetings with local communities today...

STUDENT SAFETY
Delay in mother finding boy had drowned
The Advocate, 25 Oct 2011
A coronial inquest into the drowning death of a Latrobe High School boy was told a roll call had been taken before the first class left the school for an excursion and that about 60 students were on the roll but the number was not clear ...

STUDENT SAFETY
Mother wants questions anwered
The Mercury, 25 Oct 2011
The mother of the Latrobe High School boy who drowned wants a number of questions answered such as where the teachers were when her son drowned, who was swimming with him, why no roll was called before the return to school and why no-one investigated when her son's shoes were found on the river bank before the return...

STUDENT SAFETY
Teachers unaware student was missing
ABC News, 24 Oct 2011
An inquest into the drowning of a student on a school trip was told that no roll call was taken afterwards ...

STUDENT SAFETY
Drowning inquest begins
The Advocate, 24 Oct 2011
The inquest into the death of a Latrobe High School student who drowned in 2009 has begun...

SCHOOL CLOSURES
Libs plan Bill to protect schools
The Mercury, 24 Oct 2011
The Liberal opposition plans to introduce a Retention of Schools Bill, claiming that community concerns over school closures are not being listened to...

SCHOOL CLOSURES
Bill from Libs as Facebook closures comments grow
Michael Ferguson website 23 Oct 2011
Opposition education spokesman Michael Ferguson says Facebook posts by people who have attended the School Viability Reference Group meetings show that the consultation process is a sham...
- Save Our Schools Tasmania Facebook page
- Tasmanian Rural Schools Network Facebook page

SCHOOL CLOSURES
Minister reiterates school viability group's role
Tas Govt media release, 23 Oct 2011
Education Minister Nick McKim has stressed that the School Viability Reference Group is only advising the government on ways to assess school viability, not recommending schools for closure...

STUDENT SUPPORT
Success means loss of autism support
The Mercury, 23 Oct 2011
A seven-year-old boy with autism has lost his place on the Serious Disabilities Register following successful support from a dedicated teacher's aide over two years...

STUDENT SUPPORT
Autism support being lost
The Mercury, 23 Oct 2011
Autism Tasmania and Action for Tasmanian Autistic Children say children with autism are being denied special assistance ...

NATIONAL CURRICULUM
BC and AD safe after all
The Age, 21 Oct 2011
Political correctness will not cause history courses to replace BC and AD with BCE and CE as reported last month...

SCHOOL CLOSURES
Minister comments on Meander Valley Council's report
Tas Govt media release, 21 Oct 2011
Though he has not yet seen the report, Minister for Education and Skills Nick McKim welcomed the contribution to the public debate on school closures of a report prepared for the Meander Valley Council...

SCHOOL CLOSURES
Report shows almost a third would move on school closure
ABC News, 21 Oct 2011
A report prepared for the Meander Valley Council by consultants says a community survey found almost 30 per cent of families would move if the local school closed...

TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
King Is District High redevelopment opened
Tas Govt media release, 21 Oct 2011
An $800,000 redevelopment at King Island District High School was opened today by Paul O'Halloran, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education and Skills...

TASMANIAN STUDENTS
Racing car technology put to the test
Tas Govt media release, 21 Oct 2011
Students from northern Tasmania are putting their science, engineering and design skills to work in F1 model racing car State finals ...

SCHOOL CLOSURES
School project conflict claim
The Mercury, 20 Oct 2011
Questions have been raised over the School Viability Reference Group chairman's building firm being a tenderer for new school buildings, but Education Minister Nick McKim says there is no conflict of interest as the viability group will be recommending procedures, not individual schools for closure ...

STUDENT SUPPORT
Is there a bamboo ceiling?
SMH, 18 Oct 2011
Many brilliant Asian students focus only on academic excellence and fail to reach top leadership positions...

POST YEAR 10
Simplify VET to save $30m
Michael Ferguson website, 18 Oct 2011
Opposition education spokesman Michael Ferguson says reversing the duplication caused by splitting TAFE into the Polytechnic and the Skills Institute would save $30 million...

STUDENT SUPPORT
Disabilities funding increased
Tas Govt media release, 18 Oct 2011
Funding for students with high and additional needs will increase in 2012, Minister for Education and Skills Nick McKim said today...

NON-GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS FUNDING
Funding of non-government schools cut
Tas Govt media release, 18 Oct 2011
No dramatic rise in fees by non-government schools is justified as a result of the government's minimised reduction in funding, Minister for Education and Skills Nick McKim said...

NAPLAN RESULTS
Rich and poor gap shown up by NAPLAN results
SMH, 17 Oct 2011
Government school students in poor areas are three to five years behind students in wealthy areas, an analysis of NAPLAN results shows...

GAME-BASED LEARNING
Gamification of learning set to grow
SMH, 17 Oct 2011
The principles behind computer games are likely to to be applied more and more in lesson planning ...

TEACHER SALARIES
How do you measure terrific teachers?
SMH, 17 Oct 2011
If teachers are to be given incentives such as performance pay, how do you measure teacher effectiveness, asks Jarvis Ryan...

TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Centenary for Flinders Is school
The Examiner, 17 Oct 2011
The Flinders Island school has turned 100...

TEACHING PROFESSION
Teachers with convictions to be named online
stuff.co.nz, 16 Oct 2011
New Zealand teachers convicted of a variety of offences are to be named online by a voluntary organisation...

COMPUTER EQUIPMENT
Vic schools forced to buy obsolete computers
The Age, 14 Oct 2011
Red tape is requiring Victorian schools to buy outdated computer equipment...

POST YEAR 10
VET changes must wait for review, reiterates Minister
Tas Govt media release, 14 Oct 2011
Reforms sought by the Opposition would take the Vocational Education and Training (VET) system back to 2008, Minister for Education and Skills Nick McKim says...

TASMANIAN PRINCIPALS
Tasmanian named Australian Principal of the Year
Tas Govt media release, 14 Oct 2011
Taroona High principal David Hamlett is Australian Secondary Principal of the Year ...

WATER SAFETY
Migrant students taught water safety
Tas Govt media release, 14 Oct 2011
Most young migrant students participating in a special Royal Life Saving Tasmania program had spent years in refugee camps where there were no opportunities to learn to swim ...

TEACHER UNIONS
Two principals to stand for AEU president's position
The Mercury, 14 Oct 2011
Bowen Road Primary's Terry Polglase and New Norfolk High's Malcolm Elliott are seeking to succeed current AEU president Leanne Wright ...

SCHOOL CLOSURES
Call for parents to rally at closure talks
The Mercury, 14 Oct 2011
A Franklin Primary School parent has said parents are not being given proper access to the School Viability Reference Group meeting to be held at the Huon Valley Council chambers on Monday...

POST YEAR 10
Polytechnic and Skills Institute merger sought
The Mercury, 14 Oct 2011
The Tasmanian Education Association is urging for TAFE to be brought back...

POST YEAR 10
Details of VET review coming
Tas Govt media release, 12 Oct 2011
A review of the structure of post year 10 education is on the way, Minister for Education and Skills Nick McKim reminded people today...

TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Mowbray Heights Primary fights poverty in Asia
Tas Govt media release, 12 Oct 2011
Students from Mowbray Heights Primary School are helping poverty stricken families in South Asia buy animals...

HOSPITALITY
Devonport High's acclaimed Whirlpool Challenge on again
Tas Govt media release, 11 Oct 2011
Young Tasmanian master chefs have had the opportunity to compete in a statewide cooking competition at Devonport High...

CYBER-SAFETY, BULLYING
Ulverstone parents act on cyber-safety
The Examiner, 11 Oct 2011
Cyber Sense Ulverstone is a local campaign by parents for parents, Greens MP Paul O'Halloran says  ...

TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Cuts spell farm and sport losses for Brooks High
The Examiner, 11 Oct 2011
Brooks High School will drop animal handling and sport in order to meet budget cuts  ...

STUDENT SUPPORT
Repeating a year is of no benefit for some students
SMH, 11 Oct 2011
A study has found that low-achieving students do not benefit from repeating a grade when either academic or social outcomes are considered ...

STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLBEING
More physical exercise means better academic test scores
SMH, 10 Oct 2011
Higher numeracy and writing NAPLAN test scores are achieved by primary students who exercise regularly ...

CHILDREN
Children's Week soon
Tas Govt media release, 9 Oct 2011
The needs and importance of children will be celebrated during Children's Week, 22-30 October, Minister for Children Michelle O'Byrne said today  ...

FOUR-TERM YEAR
Tourism industry concerned over term changeover
The Mercury, 9 Oct 2011
Tasmanian tourism operators say the changed school holiday periods resulting from the introduction of a four-term year in 2013 will cause problems  ...

EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION
Spending on 11 Tas bureaucrats criticised
The Mercury, 8 Oct 2011
Opposition education spokesman Michael Ferguson has slammed the State Government for spending $4.2m on new bureaucrat positions, but Education Department secretary Colin Pettit says the positions are fully funded by the Federal Government  ...

TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Burnie's new Romaine Park Primary building details announced
Tas Govt media release, 7 Oct 2011
The $15.2m Romaine Park Primary School will replace the amalgamated Acton, Upper Burnie and Brooklyn primaries ...

TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Rose Bay High building boost
Tas Govt media release, 6 Oct 2011
A $3.5m redevelopment at Rose Bay High School features a performing arts centre...

TEACHER-STUDENT RELATIONSHIP
Compulsory warning could precede counselling
The Telegraph, 6 Oct 2011
Teachers might have to warn students of their rights before counselling them...

EDUCATION FUNDING
Private schools say Gonski report prejudiced
SMH, 5 Oct 2011
Private schools have criticised the research and findings of the Gonski review of education ...

TEACHER UNIONS
Education union split attempt
ABC News, 5 Oct 2011
The Australian Education Union says the new Tasmanian Education Association can not carry out industrial work...
Australian Education Union (Tas.)
Tasmanian Education Association

TASMANIAN STUDENTS
Students win battlefield trip
Tas Govt media release, 4 Oct 2011
Keeping the Anzac spirit alive - six Tasmanian student winners of the Frank MacDonald memorial Prize have been announced...

EDUCATION FUNDING
Reform education funding like health, report says
The Age, 4 Oct 2011
A national teachers' union report says federal and state school funding should be pooled, now that relatively more of stronger federal funding benefits private schools while government schools are more reliant on weakening state funds ...

STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Breakfasts boost
Tas Govt media release, 3 Oct 2011
The State Government has announced funding for its breakfasts in schools program for 2012...

EXTENSION TO YEAR 12
Year 12 extension talks by Libs begin
The Examiner, 3 Oct 2011
The Opposition commenced discussions on a policy of extending district high schools to year 12 at Triabunna yesterday...

EXTENSION TO YEAR 12
Years 11 and 12 would benefit Triabunna
The Mercury, 2 Oct 2011
Locals say that adding years 11 and 12 at Triabunna would transform the town and the Opposition says it would improve retention..

ONLINE SECURITY
Students' identity theft prevention call
Courier Mail, 2 Oct 2011
Internet security should be taught in schools to prevent students giving out personal details that can later be used by organised crime gangs to open credit cards or take out loans in their names...

EDUCATION FUNDING
Australia an underachiever
SMH, 1 Oct 2011
Australia needs to focus educational efforts on particular areas, such as early childhood, aboriginal, rural, students with disabilities, writes Andrew Stevenson...