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For Classes, Size Matters

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For Classes, Size Matters Issue 6 Centenary Special Edition FOR CLASSES, SIZE MATTERS By the time the Carr Labor government was sizes to a maximum of 20 students from elected in March 1995, NSW public school Kindergarten to Year 3.” students endured the worst class sizes in On 3 November 2002, state Opposition Australia. Despite releasing a 60-page educa- Leader John Brogden assured NSW voters tion manifesto in 1995 and styling himself in and Federation that should he win the election, opposition as the “education premier”, Bob he was prepared to lower class sizes for early Carr failed to implement years of schooling and promised any meaningful reforms in K-2 classes would be lowered to relation to class sizes. 21 by employing an additional Federation’s 2001 2000 teachers. Labor indicated it Annual Conference would continue with its $5 resolved to seek commit- million pilot program of class- ment from all parties to size reduction but only in Teachers make their feelings known about the Department’s salaries offer at a NSW Parliament rally. Photo by Brendan reduce class sizes to a 60 schools. maximum of 20 for K-2 On 22 November 2002, The classes, initially in econom- Sydney Morning Herald ically disadvantaged areas reported 1300 K-6 classes were Militancy delivers salary and then across all of NSW. currently larger than 31 students, The months leading into with 15 classes larger than 35 growth the state election in 2003 students. were dominated by recommendations from Documents explaining the case for reduc- Copies of the Department’s salaries offer three reports from the Vinson Inquiry into ing K-3 class sizes were issued to members, were thrown over the fence of Parliament Public Education 2001-2002, which had been along with a 17-minute video for all schools. House during a rally in Macquarie Street commissioned by the Federation of Parents “Twenty is Plenty” leaflets and postcards were on 18 November, 1999. and Citizens Associations (P&C). distributed to parents. The salaries round was a particularly Professor Tony Vinson addressed a Public Professor Vinson’s media interviews exerted turbulent one. Education Minister John Education Forum at Sydney Town Hall on the more pressure on the Labor government. He Aquilina had refused to meet with eve of the election, in February 2003. His explained that reliance on average class sizes Federation’s senior officers for more than six priority recommendation that class sizes for constituted flawed policy because averages were months, then on the first four years of school be reduced to 20 deceptive, especially when some classes in 1 November 1999, in a calculated attempt to as a matter of urgency resonated with teach- remote rural regions were smaller. bypass union negotiations, Director-General ers, parents and the Public Education Alliance A media release from Premier Carr on 9 Dr Ken Boston directly issued the (Federation, the P&C, the NSW Secondary March 2003 considerably shifted Labor’s Department’s salary offer to teachers online, Principals Council, the NSW Primary position: dubbed the “website offer”. Principals Association, the NSW Federation • 1400 new teachers for K-2 classes The offer of 9.6 per cent over four years teachers would be required to teach an Members engaged in significant indus- of School Community Organisations, and the • $329 million to reduce class sizes in NSW for a significantly increased workload additional three hours per week. trial action during salaries rounds from Public Schools Principals Forum). public schools (including $107 million to inflamed the passions of members. It was not until June 2000 that 1990 to restore salaries relativity lost The organisations had been emboldened build new classrooms and modify existing Schools were to be open from 7.30am to Federation members endorsed a signifi- during a period of federal wage fixation. by the Vinson Inquiry recommendations and spaces) 10pm and secondary teaching loads were cantly revised salary offer, which secured a This included strike action associated with demanded a commitment from all political • reductions to be rolled out from 2004 after to become open-ended (without a historic recognition of equal pay for equal the 2003/04 salaries campaign, as an parties to six major educational reforms, the the pilot was completed maximum number of lessons or hours work for casual teachers. From 1 January, extensive work value case was argued in first which stated, “reduce class sizes in the • all Kindergarten classes reduced to 20 by defined). PP5s and PP6s were to receive 2001 to 31 December, 2003, salaries were the Industrial Relations Commission. It early years of education by lowering class 2005 only 3–4 per cent over four years. TAFE to increase 12 per cent. took until 2006 for the real purchasing Schools Enterprise Agreement with the The National Strategy for the Education Fahey Coalition government delivers an of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Temporary additional 3163 Advanced Skills teachers Peoples 1996-2002 is adopted by the Teacher to NSW schools Family and Community Services leave NSW Department of Education classification is Federation establishes the Oral History Following years of campaigning, Conservative commentators heavily improvements granted to teachers confirmed Project retention of transfer rights for teachers is criticise the new 1992 History syllabus giving 1991 1992 1993 1994 1996 1997 2000 2001 2003 2005 2006 The Greiner government releases the confirmed by the Coalition government years 7-10, which mandates questions The Deferred Salary Scheme — often Federation establishes the New Activist controversial Your School’s Right to about Aboriginal history and women’s referred to as the “4 for 5” scheme — is Project, focusing on recruitment of Choose document history introduced for all teachers activists and future union leaders Successful OH&S cases bring welcome change Federation successfully prosecuted the disclosure of the previous history of could be heard in the courts. Department of Education in the Industrial violent students Unions, including Federation, strongly Relations Commission (IRC) under the • circulation of Legal Issues Bulletins opposed the amendments which would have Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Act addressing various aspects of OH&S and compromised the rights of workers and 2000 for failing to provide a safe working related matters including the enrolment reduced the opportunities for workers to sue environment for teachers at Dover Heights and suspension of violent students employers. High School over two days in December • the formation of an OH&S Committee in Labor’s Industrial Relations Minister 2001. each school assisted with clear guidelines John Della Bosca announced a review in In March 2006, the IRC fined the concerning site inspections, the identifica- June 2005 but the objections largely Department $220,000 — the largest fine ever tion and reporting of hazards and the prevailed despite ongoing attempts by the imposed for school-based OH&S breaches. assessment of risks successive Iemma, Rees and Keneally Labor Federation applied for 50 per cent of the • clarification of the roles and responsibili- governments to compromise the rights of fine, which was awarded by Justice ties of principals in relation to the workers until the Work Health Safety Act The Public Education Bus visits Bathurst Goal during the campaign Kavanagh. The $110,000 was used to fund legislation. of 2011 was introduced by the O’Farrell professional learning materials and training Federation continued to issue guidelines to Liberal government. Union stands guard over for teachers around OH&S. schools regarding the management of risks In 2008, the Department was again fined associated with violent behaviour and relent- prison education a total of $105,000 for two beaches of the lessly pursued any issues relating to unsafe or The Public Education Bus was the focus of on a permanent or temporary status. New OH&S Act for failing to ensure the health, unhealthy work environments in which the 1999 campaign, Public Education in courses from 2003 were accredited safety and welfare of teachers at Rowland students were learning and teachers were Corrective Services — Quality Worth according to United Nations international Hassall School at Parramatta in 2003. teaching. Fighting For. The bus visited Lithgow, guidelines for the education of prisoners. The two successful prosecutions by The Carr and Iemma Labor governments Bathurst, Kirkconnell and Long Bay gaols. In the early years of the 21st century the Federation eventually resulted in several attempted to water down the OH&S provi- Hundreds of visitors to the gaols signed federal sphere was hostile, as the Howard welcome developments, including: sions of the 2000 legislation from 2005 after petitions to retain public education services government pursued a privatisation agenda • an overhaul of enrolment procedures by a series of violent incidents in schools in 2001 in NSW prisons. Community and family for both compulsory and post-compulsory the employer, especially regarding the and 2003 before Federation’s prosecutions members supported the union campaign to education. ensure 75,000 inmates in 26 correctional Despite ongoing attacks on public centres across the state could continue to education provision in Corrective Services, access courses that would secure a more Federation membership of Corrective Teachers in time: positive future after serving their Services teachers increased from 128 in sentences. Inmates’ literacy and numeracy
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