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Welcome back after a month’s break. Sadly, the October newsletter was lost somewhere in Norway, whilst I was visiting my daughter (currently studying in Sweden), when my computer hard drive corrupted and was not able to be resurrected. Those tears are now freezing over in the Scandinavian wasteland. My apologies for missing the October eNews issue.
Whilst in Sweden though, I did have the opportunity of visiting other Christian educ ation leaders in northern Europe and it is interesting to see their work within liberal secular states. More on that down the track.
What a full-on two months of political intrigue and educ ational battles. The US election, 18C, attempts to change Equal Opportunity laws, school funding, the 2016 Cardus educ ation report and more. I can commend to you the two ‘balanced’ Christian responses to the Trump outcome.
Shalom, Martin
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Many of you will know the Executive Officer of the Queensland based Associated Christian Schools and member of the AACS Council… Read more |
There have been two Bills that have been before the Victorian Parliament that have been of concern to us as Christian schools. These Bills will have national implications as other… Read more |
In this brilliant article, Michael Bird argues that the Andrews’ government move to press ahead with legislation that will directly interfere in the practice of… Read more |
Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act is well and truly back on the agenda after a judge threw out the case against a number of Queensland University of Technology (QUT) students and because of the controversy over the… Read more |
With the ALP deciding against the SSM plebiscite on Monday Nov 7, the Senate rejected the plebiscite Bill. Michelle Grattan gave a helpful summary of affairs… Read more |
It would appear that the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) is now starting to feel more secure. Up to now they have been using a ‘light touch’ in their approach, but evidence is emerging that… Read more |
There has been considerable discussion around the use of online for the NAPLAN Year 3 writing task. Some research will be undertaken this year comparing online writing with pen and paper writing at Year 3… Read more |
There are four funding options that have been discussed over the past year and are summarised here… Read more |
Students with Disabilities (SWD) loadings are still in a state of flux. Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC) is doing an audit of the 2015 data to determine how useful it is… Read more |
In response to this funding debate AACS, along with other Christian schools organisations are about to send a short update submission to the Minister… Read more |
Schools wondering about budgeting issues – for the moment go with a continuance of the status quo into 2018 (The current AEA legislation – 4.7/3.6/3.0 % pa increases for under/on/over the SRS schools respectively. However, if you can wait until after the Dec 2nd Ministerial Council meeting, further news might emerge.
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In late September, Minister Birmingham triggered a renewed debate over school funding by agreeing on the ABC’s Q&A program that some non-government schools are ‘notionally overfunded’. One could only speculate… Read more |
The last few months has seen a number of reports about unfair funding of independent schools. Here’s an example of a paper that was sent to all Victoria school principals recently. Sent to all Vic State School Principals… Read more |
It’s been very interesting to note the strong and consistent voice coming from NSW with regards the Gonski funding model. The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) reports that… Read more |
Cardus survey titled ‘Educ ating to love your neighbour: The full picture of Canadian Graduates’, is out. There are many parallels with the Australian context… Read more |
In launching the latest research from Cardus, Dr Beth Green (Cardus Comment, Oct 31), confirms that independent schools play an important role in… Read more |
In much of the present debate about how far freedom of religion should extend we have quoted frequently from Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which refers to… Read more |
A new Victoria University report recommends that children start preschool at three. The current agreements between governments have seen preschool offered to four-year-olds. Dr Stacey Fox from Victoria University has said… Read more |
Priv acy is a difficult policy area for schools to manage and more changes and requirements are about to come into play. Under new legislation – Amendment Bill 2016 (Cth) non-government schools (NGS) will… Read more |
he Australian Government is proud to release a new Student Wellbeing Hub website. It aims to provide current best-practice, curriculum-aligned resources for… Read more |
School Governance (Nov 10) has started a three part series on the relationships between principals, Business Managers and Board Chairs.
Click here for Part One.
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As one journalist from the Washington Post reflected, “Trump’s victory is the single most stunning political development I have ever witnessed.” Akos Balogh offers some helpful… Read more |
‘Down under’ many of us have looked on the US primaries and election with perplexing bewilderment. Now it is all over the analysis and recriminations will begin. Into this context it was great to… Read more |
Chapter 7 of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) Annual Statistical Report published by The Australian Institute of Family Studies, examines the factors… Read more |
Rebecca Urban writing in The Australian reports on Professor Patrick Parkinson’s (University of Sydney Law Faculty) critique of the Safe Schools Coalition program. Here are some… Read more |
Akos Balogh writes a pretty good blog. His October 10 post provides a summary of Professor Patrick Parkinson substantial SSC program critique. It begins… Read more |
School Governance (Oct 6) provides us with a reminder of the duty of care responsibilities schools have towards students before and after hours. The infamous St Mark’s case reminds us that, “schools must realise that they have a duty of care for any student who is on the premises before or after school, if there is a knowledge of the student’s presence.”
Click here for full article.
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An ACER survey of AEU members shows that full-time teachers in Victorian government schools work more than 52 hours a week, and that principals are working 60-hour weeks… Read more |
Fairfax is making an offer to schools of $500 (per annum) for one of the dig ital replicas of either: The Age, Sydney Morning Herald or Australian Financial Review. If you are interested, contact Fairfax media.
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According to The Australian, the number of male teachers across Australia has been dwindling – figures from the Queensland College of Teachers show a drop from 20.6 to 17.9 per cent in 2005 in Queensland. There are similar… Read more |
How does your school do this day? Geelong Christian College made the news again this year after bringing in changes after a spectacular stunt last year. In part of a story in the… Read more |
The following blog on annoying jargon phrases, in ‘Our Community Matters’ (Oct 5), caught my eye. On a recent overseas trip I realised anew how frequently I insert colloquial phrases into… Read more |
The Guardian reports that parents in Spain are being encouraged to put their children on a homework strike in order to send a message to schools for the alarming amount of after-school work students are… Read more |
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