PROMOTING Public Education
Public education is fundamental to a democratic society. Teachers, students and parents in public education make a significant contribution to our community. The values of Public Education are worth celebrating, promoting and defending.
Federal AEU League Tables Campaign
Posted 8/12/2009
League tables which rank schools based on raw test scores are bad for students, schools and education. Naming and shaming schools that don't get high marks in the tests is devastating for those school communities and makes it much harder for students and teachers. That is why teachers, parents and principals are calling for urgent action to stop the creation of league tables in Australia.
League Tables and the Federal Government's "Transparency Agenda"
Posted 18/11/2009
On 17 November 2009 the AEU and a range of other stakeholders wrote to DPM Gillard about the Government's "transparency agenda". The letter generated significant media interest.
Read what the education community said to the DPM here.
The AEU Federal Office issued a media release on this issue. Read it here.
Australian Teacher Warns About New York
Posted 10/12/2009
An Australian teacher who worked in New York has warned about the dangers of following their system of high stakes testing and school rankings. Education Minister Julia Gillard has repeatedly expressed her admiration of New York's chancellor of school education Joel Klein and his testing regime which gives schools a single number score, grades them between A and F and allows them to be ranked on their scores in league tables. But in a new video union member and teacher Mary Ellen-Betts said her time working in schools in the Bronx convinced her that Australia had nothing to learn from the approach taken in the city. She said the whole focus in schools in disadvantaged areas was trying to improve test scores - an approach that narrowed the curriculum and undermined teacher collegiality. "It wasn't about teaching kids to be more literate, more numerate, it was about improving the number", she says.
You can watch the video here: http://www.aeufederal.org.au/LT/index2.html#LT2
Ms Gillard claims the approach in New York is working, evidenced by improved test scores. But it was recently revealed that passing grades had been dropped substantially to make it easier for students. The New York Times reported the threshold for passing the 7th grade maths test decreased so uch students who guessed the answers stood a god chance of moving to the next grade. In addition, recent national exams showed New York students had made no notable progress. In state exams 80% of eighth graders had met learning standards in maths, a jump from 59% in two years. However, national tests showed only 34% were proficient, up from 30% in 2007. Fourth grade students actually performed worse than in 2007. A parent in new York, Martha Foote who is a member of the group Time Out from Testing said there was widespread opposition to Mr Klein's approach. She said the granting of a single letter grade for schools was "demeaning", and the fact that 97% of elementary and middle schools received an A or a B in 2009 was "further proof of how invalid and useless these grades are".
"Federal AEU 'For Our Future' Campaign - fairer funding for Public Schools"
Posted 11/6/2009
Now more than ever, with a global financial crisis and an economic downturn, it's vital for our future that we invest more in public education. It's the key to a strong economy, a skilled workfoce and a socially cohesive society. Join teachers and parents today in our campaign for stronger public schools. Sign up NOW! Tell your friends!
http://www.forourfuture.org.au
Speak up about the importance of high quality Public Education:
Email your Federal Member of Parliament:
Annette.Ellis.MP@aph.gov.au [ALP] Division of Canberra
Bob.McMullan.MP@aph.gov.au [ALP] Division of Fraser
Email copies to:
The Honourable Julia Gillard, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Education and Social Inclusion
The Honourable Christopher Pyne, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training
Email ACT Senators:
Senator Gary Humphries [Liberal] senator.humphries@aph.gov.au
Senator Kate Lundy [ALP] senator.lundy@aph.gov.au
Write to the Editor:
The Canberra Times - letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au
The Chronicle - leanne.abernethy@chronicle.com.au
City News - ed@citynews.com.au
ACT Public Education - excellent people, excellent programs
Public Education Week 2010
National Public Education Week takes place every year in the third week of May. Public Education Day is celebrated on the Thursday of that week. This is a celebration of the excellent work of teachers, students, parents, departmental staff and the wider community in public schools. For information on how to participate in Public Education Week in 2010 contact Schools Organisers on 6272-7900 or email priority1@aeuact.asn.au
Public Education Week celebrations take place within local schools across the ACT as well as public events such as art exhibitions and concerts.
Art Exhibitions
Public displays of artwork by students from preschool to college.
Public Education Day Concert
The best bands and choirs from ACT public schools entertained the public on Public Education Day in Civic.
Public Education Works merchandise:
T-shirts and mugs are a great way to show your pride in public education.
Public Education Works logos
You can download these logos for use in promoting public education within your school communities. Use the logos in newsletters, permission notes and in school documentation.
