TTHE PROFESSIONALea JOURNAL OFc THE AUSTRALASIANh TEACHERi REGULATORYn AUTHORITIESg

VOLUME 2 | NUMBER 1 | APRIL 2011

WIN BOOKS First year out VALUED AT $1,400 Five top tips from See page 5 Phil Beadle Teacher preparation Balancing the academic and school-based experience Eat your vegetables How to get your students to love learning

my best 10 things 20 questions teacher i’ve learned WITH pauline nguyen deb smith jane caro

PAGE 22 PAGE 26 PAGE 32 CONTENTS Vol 2, Number 1 April 2011

FEATURE TTHE PROFESSIONALea JOURNAL OFc THE AUSTRALASIANh TEACHERi REGULATORYn AUTHORITIESg Youth, technology and Oprah 06

SHARING INSIGHTS ISSN 1838-8868 Multiculturalism, racism and religion 10

PUBLISHER THE PROFESSION Australian Council for Educational Research – ACER Press The practicum balancing act 14

MY BEST TEACHER For Pauline Nguyen 22

10 THINGS I’VE LEARNED ABOUT TEACHING

Australasian Teacher Regulatory Authorities – ATRA Debra Smith 26

EDITOR TEACHING TIPS Dr Steve Holden 03 9277 5466 [email protected] Five top tips for beginning teachers 28 features EDITOR Rebecca Leech 03 9277 5458 [email protected] 20 QUESTIONS NATIONAL ADVERTISING MANAGER David Rish interviews Jane Caro 32 Carolynn Brown 03 9277 5468 [email protected] PRODUCTION CURRICULUM & ASSESSMENT Craig Grose [email protected] Quite a feat: Action learning and literacy 36 REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS Wendy Harmer Like broccoli: How to turn your students David Rish on to accounting – or any subject 40 Inside Teaching is the professional journal of the Australasian Teacher Regulatory Authorities (ATRA). ATRA facilitates the RESEARCH cooperative and collaborative work of Australian and New Zealand teacher registration and accreditation authorities Industry-school partnerships 44 in meeting the needs of a highly-qualified, proficient and reputable teaching profession. REGULARS Inside Teaching, published online by the Australian Council State of the nation 04 for Educational Research – ACER Press – for ATRA, is funded, News 48 through ATRA, by: The New South Wales Institute of Teachers Reviews 50 The Queensland College of Teachers Diary 54 The Teacher Registration Board of the Northern Territory See me afterwards 56 The Teachers Registration Board of South Australia Behind the lines 58 The Teachers Registration Board of Tasmania The quiz 59 The Victorian Institute of Teaching The Western Australian College of Teaching All reasonable attempts have been made to trace copyright holders of material published. Material contained in Inside Teaching is protected under the Commonwealth LINKS: Copyright Act 1968. No material may be reproduced wholly or in part without written www.atra.edu.au consent from the copyright holders. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Publisher or Editor, nor do they represent the views or policies of ATRA or the teacher registration and accreditation authorities that are party to it. ACER is a member of the Publishers Australia association The Editor reserves the right to edit, abridge or otherwise alter articles for publication. All photographs have been published on the understanding that appropriate compliance with privacy legislation has been obtained. The attention of advertisers is drawn to the Trade Practices Act 1974 and the provisions of the Act that apply to advertising. It is not possible for Inside Teaching to ensure that advertisements published herein comply in all respects with the Act and the responsibility must therefore lie with the person, company or advertising agency submitting the advertisement for publication. April Inside Teaching is shining the spotlight on your school! Simply answer the question below for your chance to win one of eight ACER vouchers each valued at $200. There is one winner in every state and the NT! Editorial State of the nation

The Commonwealth Many students across Australia resources and further support for government’s Review of were affected by natural schools and students. disasters in recent months, Funding for Schooling chaired Some 7,500 students have moved while others have experienced by David Gonski released with their families and have vicarious trauma as a result enrolled in schools outside the its Review of Funding for of saturation media coverage, Christchurch region. NZ Education Schooling: Emerging issues particularly following the Minister Anne Tolley said she paper in December last year. massive 8.9 magnitude Tōhoku expected many families to return. That was followed by the earthquake and tsunami off ‘Once the schools are open and... the north-east of Japan on the city starts getting itself back panel’s third communiqué in Friday 11 March. An estimated on its feet, I’m sure some families March, which indicated that 550,000 people have been will come back,’ she said. the panel had commissioned displaced, possibly 100,000 In Queensland, northern New of them children, according to a comprehensive program South Wales and Victoria, Save the Children. SchoolAid is of research to inform its teachers and students are also working with Save the Children deliberations. Members of the recovering from a summer to support Japanese children panel have also been busy of disasters following flood directly affected by the disaster. inundation and, in Queensland, since February, undertaking Head of KidsHelpLine Wendy damage caused by Cyclone Yasi. a series of school visits to Protheroe said such support The Queensland Department hear more about the issues also helps children in Australia of Education and Training and to cope with disaster-related raised by key education school staff readied 89 of 92 trauma. Students and teachers flood-affected schools for the new Special prize: One lucky winner will have a photographer visit their school to have their photo groups during the initial taken with students, with the story published in the June edition. An ACER representative will at the Sydney Japanese School school year. Northern NSW was be in touch to discuss details. consultations last year. The observed a minute’s silence on also flooded although schools panel will complete those the Monday after the disaster. were generally unaffected. Nine Question: There’s a link between Inside Teaching’s feature on Canterbury Boys High schools in Victoria’s north-east School (clue: answer on page 6) and our 20 questions interview with Jane Caro (clue: school visits by May, no doubt The earthquake and tsunami were closed at the beginning of answer on page 32). What is it? taking copies of submissions occurred as schools in New the school year after floods there To enter, simply click here to answer the question. in response to the Emerging Zealand were reopening after in February. issues paper with them. a 6.3-magnitude earthquake We thank you for making Inside Teaching your professional journal, and remember, if you aren’t a winner devastated the Christchurch In Western Australia, three this time, try your luck again in the next edition of Inside Teaching. There’s every sign of diligence region on 22 February. Ninety schools south-east of Perth were Terms and conditions: in the panel’s activities, but closed under threat of bushfire 1. The entrant must answer a question on page 5 of Inside Teaching (electronic product. ACER will contact the winner and organise the prize choosing and dispatch. schools reopened in February, publication). The answer is found within the body of the article featured on page 6; 9. Each winner will receive his or her voucher within one month after the draw. one needs only to look at the and two schools in the state’s The competition is open to Australian citizens only. 10. Postage: $200 worth of product redeemed by voucher will be sent to the school (or while 24 remained closed, 2. The competition opens on 11 April 2011, 9am EST. nominated address) free of charge. Should the school choose to purchase additional north-west were closed due 3. The competition closes on 13 May 2011, 5pm EST and the draw will occur on 18 May products, normal postage fees will apply. media frenzy over funding pending further assessment 2011 at approximately 5pm EST. 11. The winners will be drawn at 19 Prospect Hill Road, Camberwell Victoria 3124. to extreme weather, while 74 4. The entrant fills in a form (click through to the entry – hyperlinked to the electronic 12. The winners will be notified via email. unleashed when the revamped for structural damage. Eleven entry form). 13. The winners will be published at http://www.acer.edu.au/forms/inside-teaching- schools in the Northern Territory 5. One entry per person and only correct answers to the competition question will be competition on 19 May 2011. seriously damaged schools were considered. 14. If required, a redraw will take place on the 18 August 2011 at 19 Prospect Hill Road, My School website was were closed due to a cyclone 6. 1 (one) winner for each of the 8 x $200 vouchers will be drawn from each state and Camberwell Victoria 3124. relocated on sites shared with Territory (Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, 15. Entrants’ personal information may be used for future communications activities launched to see that funding warning. ACT, Northern Territory), and from those winners a further winner for the special including the compilation of a mailing list by ACER only. Entrants’ details will not be undamaged schools. The NZ prize will be drawn. passed on or sold to a third party. 7. Each winner will be notified by email and the winners’ names will be published in the 16. ACER is the promoter of Inside Teaching competition (Australian Council for is likely to be an ideological Ministry of Education established LINKS next edition of Inside Teaching (June edition 2011). Educational Research) ABN 190043981555. 8. A voucher entitles each winner to choose $200 worth of ACER books and resources ACT Permit TP 11/01426.1 touchpaper. nine ‘learning hubs’ to provide www.schoolaid.org.au from ACER bookshops or may be used towards the purchase price of a more expensive NSW Licence Number:LTPM-11-00296 6 FEATURE FEATURE 7

funding can be a barrier for some 25th Prime Minister, John Howard information technology and schools. and Senior Trade Commissioner music departments. Canterbury Boys High School Allan Morrell; and the arts – such Canterbury Boys High School, a Dunning heard the news that as film critic ‘Mr Movies’ Bill government school in western The Oprah Winfrey Show was Collins and actor Grahame Bond, Sydney, found an innovative way coming to Australia and, knowing perhaps best known for his role to break this barrier: it grabbed that the show often responds to as Aunty Jack. the attention of United States requests for help, she took the billionaire businesswoman, The school endeavours to plunge and made contact. television host and philanthropist provide students with the skills, Dunning wrote a letter to Oprah Winfrey. knowledge and confidence Winfrey outlining the story about required to meet the challenges In September last year, Winfrey her students. She explained of a rapidly changing world. announced to a 300-person the impact that the cultural Students are encouraged to seek studio audience in Chicago that differences of her students can learning opportunities beyond they would have the opportunity have on their education, but the classroom by taking up to join her on an all-expenses- also how her students share TAFE ‘tasters,’ undertaking work paid trip of a lifetime to Australia. a common passion: hip-hop. experience or work placement, Beyond touching the lives of Specifically, she explained, they experiencing real-life learning as those audience members lucky were interested in the rapper coffee baristas and construction enough to travel across the Jay-Z: the students related to workers, and participating in country, Winfrey’s trip ‘down his music but also to him as a excursions to sites of historical, Youth, technology and Oprah under’ benefited hundreds of person, because they understood geographical, scientific and Australian school students at how he was able to overcome cultural significance around Canterbury Boys High School, disadvantage as a child to become Sydney. Darren Needham-Walker explains what happened when Oprah Winfrey arranged thanks to one dedicated and one of the most well-known for American rapper Jay-Z, and a whole lot of hardware and software to come to passionate teacher. These successes are achieved performers and businessmen in despite Canterbury Boys High the music industry today. Canterbury Boys High School. A little background School having fewer benefits The response Much of the success of than some nearby schools in Touched by Dunning’s description Young people today are social interaction and cognitive technology capabilities to help Canterbury Boys High School can Sydney. The school caters to a diverse base of students from a of her students’ desire to immersed in technologies that development that a range of assist with children’s learning be attributed to the dedication variety of family backgrounds. overcome adversity, Winfrey give them opportunities that no face-to-face and traditional across the board. Increasingly, and passion of its teachers and school leaders. The school Located in Sydney’s inner- decided to help. The show previous generation has enjoyed. schooling methods can provide, schools are moving technology promotes high expectations in western suburbs, 90 per cent of orchestrated a visit from Jay-Z At home, typical teens and but at the same time, technology away from dedicated computer all aspects of school life. Past its enrolled students come from himself to the school while he children are constantly switching is a useful way to convey content labs, instead integrating students include many high non-English speaking families. was on tour with U2 in Sydney. between their notebook, mobile more powerfully and efficiently information and communication achievers in various fields, Stunned staff and students phone, television, MP3 player and to young people who are used technology (ICT) into the Making music including the academic – such as were captured by Winfrey’s to working with it, and who will classroom to allow students video game console – yet in our Professor Gerald Wilkes, ex Dean Observing these students last camera crew while Jay-Z spent continue to use it throughout and regular access. schools, they’re often required to of English at the University of year, newly-appointed teacher some time at the school with beyond their academic career. learn by listening to the teacher, Integrating ICT successfully into Sydney; the sporting – such as Polly Dunning saw the potential the students. The rapper took completing worksheets, and Many schools across Australia classrooms often requires schools cricketer Arthur Morris and rugby to improve the boys’ learning a look at the students’ learning writing with pen and paper. It’s are at the stage where they to invest in new technology and league player George Peponis; further if they had more up- environment and listened to important that students get the are looking to update their infrastructure: and a lack of the political – such as Australia’s to-date technology in the some of the students’ music.

Inside Teaching | April 2011 www.atra.edu.au | [email protected] 8 FEATURE FEATURE 9

Jay-Z also donated his book that allows for fingertip swiping, ‘We also expect that it will Decoded to every student in tapping or dragging. transform learning for families the school, including the 2010 as they can all access the The school music room will graduating Year 12 class, and technology and harness it to their receive an HP Envy 14 Beats provided copies for the library. needs from the kitchen table at Edition Notebook PC, the first home,’ she says. Winfrey then invited Canterbury by HP built specifically with Boys High School staff and music in mind and engineered to The computers will be rolled out students to join the audience maximise the audio experience. at the school after the Easter for her live show at the Sydney The music room computer will term break. Opera House. Footage from run Beats Audio. ‘Once students have become au Jay‑Z’s visit to the school was fait with their new notebooks – shown on big screens. The impact possibly after 30 seconds! – we With one computer each, the ‘It was great,’ Jay-Z told Winfrey. plan to pose a few challenges for students will benefit from ‘I see myself in their eyes, people individual students and classes so having more interaction than from difficult circumstances. I that they can showcase their new was previously possible in a believe in opportunities.’ learning. Students will possibly shared computer lab. The Beats Winfrey continued to thrill the be given a term to research and Audio technology will help them students and staff at Canterbury create their project to present integrate their study with activities Boys High School by announcing at a technology showcase in the that they are passionate about, that in addition to the special following term,’ Mitton explains. such as music. And because the visit from Jay-Z, Hewlett-Packard teachers also receive notebooks, She says the school will invite (HP) and Microsoft would provide the school can now update the representatives from HP and the school with computers and way that teaching, homework and Microsoft back to see this software valued at $1 million. day-to-day lessons are run. showcase and to decide which group or individual best meets the The technology Research indicates that ICT is criteria set for each challenge. The companies will provide each a beneficial teaching tool, with student with an HP Notebook some studies suggesting that ‘Naturally, we are thrilled to bits personal computer (PC) with integrated technology in the at the generosity of all those Microsoft Windows technology, classroom increases students’ involved in making this happen,’ plus HP Beats Audio software concentration, reinforces Mitton says. ‘We have to move created by HP in partnership motivation and facilitates away from a pen-and-paper with Dr Dre and music producer both the development and the world into an online world and Jimmy Iovine. autonomy of students. these gifts make that possible.’ Each teacher will also receive The new technology will benefit Darren Needham-Walker is the Chief a Notebook PC, to help them the entire school community, Marketing Officer for Hewlett- manage and develop lesson plans according to principal Leslee Packard Personal Systems Group, and effectively monitor student Mitton. South Pacific (Australia and New progress. Zealand). ‘It is exciting for both teachers The school’s library will receive and students to have 21st- Pictured, Polly Dunning and students 15 HP Touchsmart Desktop PCs, century technology at their at Canterbury Boys High School. each with a large touchscreen fingertips,’ says Mitton. Photo © Newspix/Tracee Lea.

Inside Teaching | April 2011 www.atra.edu.au | [email protected] 10 INDIGENOUS INSIGHT INDIGENOUS INSIGHT 11

Multiculturalism, racism and religion Multiculturalism is back, but, asks Jeannie Herbert, does it merely seeks to calm the waters in terms of fears about asylum seekers, and how prepared are we in our schools to deliver education programs that address the different learning needs of our Calming the First Australians and our most recent Australians? waters? Not long ago the media was upon expanding their personal was of little moment to Aboriginal abuzz with the latest spin: influence, in terms of what should and Torres Strait Islander people, Commonwealth Minister for be happening in schools via the but the history is not as simple Immigration and Citizenship implementation of trendy ‘isms.’ as that because Aboriginal and Chris Bowen, surrounded by Now that multiculturalism Torres Strait Islander students microphones and cameras, is apparently back on the were in schools that were was the centre of attention government’s social policy expected to take the lead role in as he delivered his tribute to agenda, it’s worth reflecting implementing the Commonwealth multiculturalism. on the implications of government’s multicultural policy. As I listened to the flow of multiculturalism in the context Consider some of the words extolling the virtues of of Indigenous education, then complexities that surround such multiculturalism as a critical and now. For those of you who a situation. Back in the ’60s, component in nation-building, may not have been around the focus on multiculturalism I allowed myself a moment to during the previous life cycle of was driven by migrant groups step back in time and recall the multiculturalism, let me assure who were constantly being 1970s, when our schools were you that there were definitely pressured to conform to what attempts to sell multiculturalism first primed as critical drivers of we now term the ‘mainstream.’ as an inclusive policy that was the government’s multicultural Mainstream is, generally, aligned applicable to all groups within policy. Invoking those half- to the notion of the ‘majority’ our society. So before we head forgotten memories from the ’70s – the behaviours or desires off down that road once again, it up to the ’90s of what at the time of the group or groups that might be useful to raise teachers’ seemed to be an eternal round constitute the largest numbers awareness of some of the issues. of school-based multicultural in terms of the total population celebrations focusing on the most It’s critical that we acknowledge and includes all popular culture obvious manifestations of cultural that the focus of multicultural usually disseminated through difference – food, clothing, policies is migrants: people the mass media. Those migrant cultural activities – I asked myself from other countries who have groups in the ’60s were seeking what was the point, then or now? made the decision to migrate to to highlight their situation, to Although we appreciated the Australia. With scientific evidence raise awareness within what was political agenda behind such suggesting that Aboriginal essentially a very monocultural policies, we also realised that peoples have inhabited this society, as to the differences using highly visible activities country for anything from 40,000 that did exist between people, in to 120,000 years, it’s fair to say designed to ‘celebrate difference’ order to increase understanding that Aboriginal and Torres Strait was possibly the simplest way to and engender some tolerance Islander people are not migrants. respond to the ever-changing, for the diversity of languages increasingly continuous demands From such a stance it might be and cultures they, as migrants, of government ministers intent assumed that multiculturalism brought with them to this

Inside Teaching | October 2010 www.atra.edu.au | [email protected] 12 INDIGENOUS INSIGHT

country. Such an approach was not a matter of parity, nor of such change has tended to was intended to encourage was simply being Indigenous directly reflect the demographics the development of support a disadvantage in itself. They of the school community. Hence, structures that would enable proposed a model of equity where there’s no significant newcomers to fit into Australian based upon an equality of regard immigrant presence there’s society while still retaining the that recognised the specific little evidence of multicultural languages and cultures that they or different learning needs of education, despite the fact that brought with them and which Indigenous and non-Indigenous schools are supposed to prepare they valued as central to their peoples who valued diversity. students for life in contemporary identity as people. Considering this model within Australia, a country that annually the contemporary context of welcomes thousands of migrants From an Indigenous Australian Indigenous Australians across the from a diversity of cultural perspective, such diversity of nation, I’d argue that we have backgrounds. language and culture had never yet to achieve such a desired been valued by mainstream So what is driving the current outcome. Australian society as evidenced push for multiculturalism? The by the implementation of Interestingly, Indigenous sudden attention being given to government policies such as policy, like multicultural policy, the issue by the Commonwealth the removal of children from addresses issues associated with government looks like an their families. There were no languages, cultures, and values attempt to address contemporary structures in place to support and beliefs that give individual perceptions about the increasing the maintenance of Indigenous people their sense of personal numbers of asylum seekers identity. Having been relegated identity. But there the similarity arriving by boat, coupled with the to the lowest socioeconomic ends. While the one must increasing number of non-white status in the country, scorned address issues associated with people and particularly Muslim and neglected, our First the devastation caused by the people gaining entry as asylum Australians managed to survive destruction of cultures as part seekers. only as a result of their own of the process of colonisation, Obviously, to use the concept of resistance and persistence. the other must address issues multiculturalism to allay quite associated with people voluntarily Many people argued the different sets of communal choosing to relocate to a new importance of multicultural concerns about racism and society and a different culture. policy as a way to enable those religion would be to put quite a from different cultural groups The implementation of Australia’s different spin on the policy. That to achieve equity. Following multicultural policy in schools may be about calming the waters, the implementation of the has reflected an evolution so to speak, but it begs the National Aboriginal and Torres through various stages, from question, how prepared are our Strait Islander Education Policy the expectation that migrants schools to deliver empowering (NATSIEP) in 1990, there was will simply assimilate into the education programs that address the very different learning needs considerable discussion about mainstream, through to the of our First Australians and our the implementation of equity current claims concerning how most recent Australians? and social justice policies. By the much students from different time the NATSIEP was reviewed ethnic backgrounds are valued Professor Jeannie Herbert holds in 2004, Indigenous Australians in our schools, but it’s generally the Chair of Indigenous Studies were strongly arguing that equity acknowledged that the level at Charles Sturt University.

Inside Teaching | April 2011 14 PROFESSION PROFESSION 15

Balancingact

Theory and practice – and partnerships

A key challenge in the education of pre-service teachers is getting the balance right between the academic course and school-based experience. Ruth Radford explains how a Tasmanian partnerships approach is doing just that.

School-based practicum the Class, the 2007 report by In Tasmania, we’re building just experience is highly valued by the House of Representatives such an active and systemic pre-service teachers, but in Standing Committee on partnership between the preparing quality teachers for this Education and Vocational University of Tasmania and new century we need to ensure Training on its inquiry into the Tasmanian Department that the school-based or ‘clinical’ teacher education, recommended of Education (DoE): the experience is purposefully partnerships where stakeholders Partnerships in Teaching interwoven with academic worked together and shared Excellence (PiTE) program. This content and professional courses. decisions and responsibility. In initiative builds on the strengths As America’s National Council 2009, Tony Kruger, Anne Davies, of both University of Tasmania for Accreditation of Teacher Bill Eckersley, Frances Newell staff and staff from the DoE in Education (NCATE) Blue Ribbon and Brenda Cherednichenko preparing teachers to work in Panel puts it in Transforming examined the development of low-socioeconomic status (SES) Teacher Education Through such partnerships and noted schools. Clinical Practice, ‘It is time that while some exciting Twenty PiTE scholarships were to fundamentally redesign university-school partnerships awarded in 2009, the program’s preparation programs to support exist, systematic approaches inaugural year; 25 in 2010; and close coupling of practice, are absent or at best passive. 23 in 2011. content, theory, and pedagogy.’ As Kruger and co. conclude, Kruger and co. identify three school systems and governments Partnership benefits of an effective and need to contribute actively to sustainable partnership: Partnership is a key to achieving partnerships if they want them such close coupling. Top of to succeed. • a focus on learning

Inside Teaching | April 2011 www.atra.edu.au | [email protected] 16 PROFESSION PROFESSION 17

We wanted our • altered relationship practices, Incentives • the first week of school, • two days a week in their year they’re on the front foot and including the day before school for second semester, and classroom-ready for their PiTE pre-service There are various incentives for students commence so that in addition to their final • new enabling structures. pre-service teachers to gain PiTE appointment as a teacher in a PiTE pre-service teachers can practicum of five weeks, teachers and scholarships, including: DoE school. The PiTE program is aiming to see how classes begin for the usually in the same school. mentor teachers to Consultation with principals at deliver all three benefits but from • permanency – pre-service year, and how expectations This additional time in schools focus their shared the beginning has privileged the teachers who complete the and routines are established the start of the 2010 school year allows PiTE pre-service teachers first, on the premise that we’re scholarship program and the indicates that we achieved this • one day a week in their to see how a whole year learning on how all learning how to enhance Master of Teaching are offered goal with the 2009 cohort. school, negotiated around unfolds, to build relationships to make the work teacher education and teach a permanent position with the their university timetable, for with students and staff, and Before the school year about teaching. The interweaving DoE, subject to scholarship of teaching visible first semester in addition to to work in targeted ways with commences and during the year layers of learning include the terms and conditions pre-service teachers, their their third practicum block of individuals and small groups, there are scheduled meetings and uncover the • a $6,000 scholarship allowance mentors and colleague teachers, four weeks, and so that by the end of the school for learning conversations factors underlying university mentors and DoE staff • opportunities provided by the classroom practices. where all are encouraged to learn Teachers Registration Board of from and with each other. Tasmania for limited-authority- to-teach registration at the Selecting pre-service end of their scholarship year students • a fully maintained laptop Pre-service teachers are and full access to the DoE selected for PiTE towards the network, and end of the first year of their two-year Master of Teaching • an $8,000 contribution course. As James Cooper and to Higher Education Loan Amy Alvarado make clear in Program (HELP) costs, being their 2006 article, ‘Preparation, a contribution towards the recruitment, and retention of Master of Teaching component teachers,’ research shows that a of scholarship holders’ HELP high standard of entry is critical debt paid in three instalments to effective teacher preparation while they remain as a teacher programs. The PiTE selection within the DoE. process involves a written Benefits application, referee reports on applicants’ aptitude for teaching, PiTE pre-service teachers are academic records and an placed in low-SES schools in interview, with further reference teams of three to five designed to DoE recruitment priorities. to encourage a learning team The interview is particularly structure. They have more time concerned to establish that in schools than their Master of applicants are well placed to Teaching peers, with mentoring grow as resilient teachers in from experienced mentor low-SES and hard-to-staff school teachers. That additional time environments. includes:

Inside Teaching | April 2011 www.atra.edu.au | [email protected] 18 PROFESSION PROFESSION 19

Principals have a and professional learning being assigned to teachers opportunities provided working in isolation, which significant role in by outstanding DoE staff. has led to assumptions about moving pre-service Specialist training is provided what the practicum consists on developing safe and caring of. Such assumptions are teachers from learning environments, literacy, being challenged by the year- a ‘student’ to a numeracy, e-learning, and other long, partnership and school- curriculum areas, teaching embedded approach. ‘teacher’ orientation, approaches and positive The University of Tasmania and in influencing behaviour support. accredits PiTE students’ their values and The professional learning increased practical placement component of the program time in schools through a school- beliefs. has been very highly valued based reflective practice unit by PiTE pre-service teachers. supported by mentor teachers The emphasis on relationship in collaboration with university building and mutual learning also staff. In addition to taking helps them establish a trusted substantial responsibility for network that, as Rosie Le Cornu the practicum component of explains in ‘Building resilience in the second year of the Master pre-service teachers,’ can help of Teaching course, mentor sustain early career teachers teachers also substantially through the beginning years. contribute to the professional studies component of the From the outset, PiTE pre- Master of Teaching course service teachers are encouraged through school-based learning to actively investigate student opportunities. In recognition of learning in their teaching that significant contribution, the practice, developing skills of university provides them, as inquiry and reflection with a associate staff members, with team of colleagues. The aim, in privileges such as staff access to the words of Anita Verrati, Mary the university library. Levine and Steven Turner, is to move them from their ‘initial Mentor teachers provide PiTE concerns about self and basic pre-service teachers with specific teaching competencies to more guidance and feedback, and sophisticated concerns about help them develop in specialist their students’ learning.’ teaching areas. Mentor teachers, who have responsibility for four University accreditation and to five pre-service teachers each, recognition, and mentor have the equivalent of one day teachers a week in time release to assist The practicum, historically them in their role. That time speaking, has involved release also enables them to individual pre-service teachers undertake professional learning

Inside Teaching | April 2011 www.atra.edu.au | [email protected] 20 PROFESSION PROFESSION 21

the whole staff in providing feedback and the importance of the whole mentors and colleague teachers San Francisco: John Wiley & coaching. The main responsibility school to the program. PiTE from a distance and generally Sons. supports pre-service of mentor teachers is to help pre-service teachers are based see this as sufficient. Principals House of Representatives teachers and takes PiTE students integrate their in specifically limited teaching have a significant role, however, Standing Committee on theoretical studies with the world schools identified as centres for in moving pre-service teachers Education and Vocational an open-door, team- of the classroom. excellence. These, located in from a ‘student’ to a ‘teacher’ Training. (2007). Top of the low-SES, harder-to-staff areas, Class: Report on the inquiry into inquiry approach to Mentor teachers meet regularly orientation, and in influencing are schools where the whole staff teacher education. Available improving teaching. throughout the year to build their values and beliefs. supports pre-service teachers at www.aph.gov.au/house/ shared expectations, a collective Research cited by Verrati and and takes an open-door, team- committee/evt/teachereduc/ capacity to teach about teaching co. indicates that most pre- inquiry approach to improving report/front.pdf and a framework for quality service education confirms rather teaching. This model, as Rosie Le Kruger, T., Davies, A., Eckersley, assurance. They’ve used the than challenges the beliefs held Cornu notes in ‘Changing roles, B., Newell, F. & Cherednichenko, meetings to plan teaching about by pre-service teachers. The relationships and responsibilities B. (2009). Effective and teaching with responsibility in changing times,’ has the ‘time has come,’ they say, ‘for Sustainable University-School gradually shifting to the PiTE advantage of locating a core socialisation into the profession Partnerships: Beyond determined students. of teaching staff and pre- to be more carefully planned efforts by inspired individuals. As America’s NCATE Blue Ribbon service teachers together in a and orchestrated by the school Canberra: Victoria University and Panel observed, ‘Currently there professional learning community. principals.’ The role of principals Teaching Australia. is not a large research base on It’s an approach that enables in that careful planning and Le Cornu, R. (2009). Building what makes clinical preparation closer supervision and support orchestration will be one area, resilience in pre-service teachers. effective’; nor, as Linda Darling- for pre-service teachers, a among others, for refinement in Teaching and Teacher Education. Hammond and John Bransford stronger support structure for the PiTE program this year. 25: 717-723 note in Preparing Teachers the DoE teaching staff and a Ruth Radford is Principal Project Le Cornu, R. (2010). Changing for a Changing World, is there more reliable approach to quality Leader of the Partnerships in roles, relationships and ‘widespread agreement on the assurance. Teaching Excellence program in responsibilities in changing expected design, duration, or the Teacher Learning Centre of times. Asia-Pacific Journal of intensity of...field experiences.’ Principals the Tasmanian Department of Teacher Education. 38(3): 195- Given the relative dearth of According to Tony Kruger and Education. 206. research on or agreement about co., the school principal is NCATE Blue Ribbon Panel. the practicum, we wanted our the partnership linchpin. With REFERENCES (2010). Transforming Teacher PiTE pre-service teachers and that in mind, Verrati, Levine Cooper, J.M. & Alvarado, A. Education Through Clinical mentor teachers to focus their and Turner argue for more (2006). Preparation, recruitment, Practice: A national strategy shared learning on how to make deliberate principal involvement and retention of teachers. to prepare effective teachers. the work of teaching visible and in pre-service education. Their International Academy of Washington DC: National Council uncover the factors underlying research indicates that, typically, Education and the International for Accreditation of Teacher classroom practices. principals don’t work directly with Institute for Educational Planning Education. pre-service teachers, despite Education Policy Series. Paris: Verrati, A.M., Levine, M.E. & Schools as centres for their best intentions, citing lack UNESCO. Turner, S.L. (2009). A new excellence of time as the main reason. Darling-Hammond, L. & conceptual model for principal While experienced and skilled The research by Verrati and co. Bransford, J. (Eds) (2005). involvement and professional mentors are critical to the also reveals that principals lack Preparing Teachers for a collaboration in teacher success of the partnership, we’ve clarity about what they might Changing World: What teachers education. Teachers College also seen in the past two years contribute. They tend to support should learn and be able to do. Record. 111(2): 480-510.

Inside Teaching | April 2011 www.atra.edu.au | [email protected] 22 MY BEST TEACHER MY BEST TEACHER 23

Pauline Nguyen is, by her own and brother Luke Nguyen – to All Saints Catholic Senior admission, a high-achiever. life at home involved frequent College in Casula, where she What drives her? The Sydney child abuse. Her father and met another English teacher, restaurateur, writer, mentor mother, Nguyen explains, were Narelle Archer. ‘She was really and parent, who’s also one of workaholics, and her father was passionate, and her passion was Australia’s first Vietnamese boat an angry man and a violent contagious, but she was also people who made the perilous disciplinarian who dominated his compassionate. I went through journey with her family from wife and children. When school a lot of crap when I was growing Vietnam in 1977 as a four-year reports came home, he’d use a up and she helped me so much. old is, she says, addicted to billiard cue to give each of his I cried a lot on her shoulder. She learning. ‘I get really excited children a beating, two for a C showed me how to be hopeful.’ when I think about what I can and one for a B, then he’d throw It’s no surprise that Nguyen accomplish. I love to pass on each a dollar for every A. Nguyen enrolled in Communications at what I’ve learned, and get became a straight A student. the University of Technology, really excited when I see how ‘All our teachers knew about it,’ Sydney – she worked in film and techniques or knowledge that I’ve she says. ‘It’s really hard to be television in Paris and London been able to hand on have helped happy when your life is like that, before returning to Sydney in someone. I’m always asking, but I think I and my brothers 1999 where she met her future “What else can I learn?” There’s Lewis and Luke did a great job. husband Mark, eventually opening always something new to perfect.’ We weren’t troubled kids at Red Lantern with him and her Nguyen’s path of lifelong learning school. brother Luke – but she admits she began at preschool in Chester had no memorable teachers at ‘The desire to learn wasn’t beaten Hill, Sydney, where Laurie Henley university. out of me, and the taste of took the young refugee under accomplishment is something I’m ‘I was unable to connect with any her wing. ‘It was an unusual addicted to.’ teachers at university,’ she says. situation,’ says Nguyen. ‘She ‘The view in my Communications asked my parents if she could Nguyen moved from Regents Park course at the time was that you take me home to stay with her to St John’s Park Public School. couldn’t put a grade on creativity, during the holidays. She lived ‘My father felt I needed some so there were no exams, no with her mum and dad and I religion and some discipline. It grades beyond a pass or fail. stayed for the holidays for three was the best decision he made. I It might’ve been a good thing years, even after I’d begun at appreciated the faith, I came first at that time to have had more Regents Park Public School. in religion, but most importantly discipline. I regret not being She’d take me to lots of places I had teachers who were just pushed harder.’ – the African Lion Safari near so passionate. Tim Fitzpatrick In Secrets of the Red Lantern and Warragamba, places like that. was my English teacher. He gave in the Griffith Review and Best It was a release from living at me the passion for words, for Australian Essays 2010, Nguyen home.’ literature. He taught me about writes movingly about her father. the meaning behind things. He And release was sorely needed. He’d insisted on reading the really switched me on.’ Addicted to learning As Nguyen recounts in her award- unfinished manuscript ofSecrets winning book, Secrets of the In the senior secondary years of the Red Lantern and, not Steve Holden talks with Pauline Nguyen about her best teachers and what she learned Red Lantern – her memoir with Nguyen moved from St Mary’s surprisingly, she’d been anxious from them, about the academic passion for a discipline but also about compassion. recipes by husband Mark Jensen Catholic Girls School in Liverpool about the way he would respond

Inside Teaching | April 2011 www.atra.edu.au | [email protected] 24 MY BEST TEACHER MY BEST TEACHER 25

to her brutally honest account of asked why we did something in Learning isn’t a straight path, her childhood. Pressed several a particular way she’d always though, as Nguyen explains, times, he replied only that, explain it was the Vietnamese illustrating with a story from when ‘The fish sauce recipe is wrong.’ way and the Buddhist way.’ Mia, her eldest daughter, was in Eventually, though, he gives her Then there’s her brother Luke. ‘He daycare. ‘I was this high-achieving his honest response. ‘Do you didn’t need a university degree parent, you know, wanting her to know why Buddha sits on a lotus to make a reality of his dreams,’ thrive academically, in daycare. flower?’ he asks. ‘There is nothing Nguyen writes in Secrets of the The director took me aside and more beautiful than a lotus flower. Red Lantern. ‘His success just explained what Mia needed was Out of watery chaos it grows yet goes to show that a little street the foundation – self-respect, remains so pure and unpolluted by wisdom and a whole lot of clout self-esteem, the ability to express it.... My children are lotus flowers; can also take you a long way in herself socially and emotionally. you grew out of the aftermath of this world.’ “The academic stuff will come,” war, you grew out of Cabramatta she explained. during its murkiest time and most What does she mean by street ‘I grew up with this focus on importantly you grew out of me. I wisdom? ‘He’s perfected the the academic, but the teachers am mud, I am dirt. I am shit.’ ability to get along with people, understand people and get the I value the most were the ones Would she agree that her most out of people. Luke is so who focused on self-awareness, father has been one of her best resourceful. The fact that he care, compassion, who had teachers? Given their history, didn’t go to university affected passion, all those things you she says, it’s a loaded question, him, because my parents gave need to be a successful human but her careful answer is that he him a hard time, but in the end being. I don’t mean successful has. ‘Everyone who knows me it wasn’t important because he in your career, but successful as thinks I’m a freak in my desire learned anyway, and I’ve learned a person. That’s what should lie to achieve, to learn new skills a lot from that.’ at the heart of a school’s and a and techniques, business skills, teacher’s philosophy, and what my desire for self-development, And then there’s her family. ‘My should be enacted in the things whatever,’ she explains. ‘I kids have taught me so much they do. Education is what you wouldn’t have that hunger, that more than I teach them. Having grow with, what your teachers, desire not to give up, if it wasn’t kids has been a massive wakeup family and friends teach you, and for Dad. I’m quite ferocious in call for Mark and me. We realised that all comes back to the ability that sense. He taught me to be a we had to change the way we to relate, don’t you think?’ high achiever, and not to take any ran our business and the way we crap from anyone.’ run our lives to make a better Secrets of the Red Lantern by future. That’s the responsibility Pauline Nguyen with recipes by While Nguyen’s father has been of parents, but it’s also the Luke Nguyen and Mark Jensen is one of her best teachers, outside responsibility of teachers and published by Murdoch Books. of school, he’s by no means school leaders. Mark has distilled alone. I ask about her mother. The Urban Cook: Cooking and this in The Urban Cook: Cooking Has she been one of Pauline’s eating for a sustainable future and eating for a sustainable best teachers? by Mark Jensen, available this future. It’s really a teaching book. month, is also published by ‘One of the most precious things I think what Mark explains in it is Murdoch Books. Mum has taught me is respect that the more we give back, the for tradition and culture. If I ever better it is for everyone.’ Photo by Grant Macintyre.

Inside Teaching | April 2011 www.atra.edu.au | [email protected] 26 10 THINGS I’VE LEARNED ABOUT TEACHING 10 THINGS I’VE LEARNED ABOUT TEACHING 27

system priorities change or the Become Value and support Always keep on the technology changes, and always 4 professionally 6 your colleagues. 9 good side of the the students change. involved. One of the strengths in teaching support staff at school. If you really want to know what’s is its collegiality and the support The janitor, groundsman, office Be prepared for going on become professionally your colleagues can give you. staff and other support staff are 2 change. involved. This can be done by, They understand when you the ones that keep the school The only unchanging aspect of say, joining and taking a role in have difficult students and are humming along. It’s wonderful teaching is change. I know many your professional association, prepared to help you with advice how things happen more easily of you will agree that in the past or joining a union committee, and a shoulder to lean on. They when you get along well. some of the changes haven’t attending conferences, share resources and will give you been what you would consider participating in school committees worksheets, exams and so on. Be firm but to be the best, for students or or becoming a member of an They look after your class if you 10 fair with your teachers, but still teachers have authority panel. Over the past need to dash to the loo because students. been compelled to implement 25 years I’ve been on state and you didn’t get time in the Students appreciate it when them. Move with the times, national professional association break. They help you finish your everyone is treated by the same we’re told. There are the fads set of rules. They may not like executives, studies authority marking and reporting because things I’ve learned that come and go, and I have consequences which are applied panels, union committees to name you had to deal with an illness to admit that sometimes I’ve if they’re doing the wrong thing a few. I’ve found my involvement or family emergency. Remember tried to skip a change or two. but they do appreciate that the about teaching in all these to be very rewarding. this is a two-way street. You know, if you leave it long 10 Involvement in these professional same consequences are applied Debra Smith enough something else will need offers advice on persistence, adaptability, activities has also led to fantastic Take care of yourself to everyone. Students may not to be implemented before the professional involvement and much more – but what she professional opportunities and I’ve and take a break when like you but they will respect other idea is even completed, 7 met some of my closest friends you need it. you if you’re consistent in your really wants to know is, if you were asked to list 10 things or you’ll have this sense of déjà through such involvement. Don’t be a martyr. Stay home dealing with them. you’ve learnt about teaching, what would you write? vu, like, didn’t we do something when you are sick because you’ll These are the observations that like that 10 years ago? Still on Remain positive. only get worse if you don’t. came to mind when I was invited change, though, I believe that Remain positive and try Take some of that long service to write this article. What do you When I was invited to write this Persist. teaching today is generally 5 to enjoy your teaching. I know leave. Try a change – apply for think? If you were asked to list article I began to reflect on all 1 Teaching always has been producing better informed, more sometimes this is difficult when that secondment to revitalise 10 things you’ve learnt about the things I’ve learnt since I and continues to be hard, technologically capable and more you have to deal with badly yourself. I have dipped in and teaching what would you write? began teaching 33 years ago. challenging work. To those aware students. behaved students, unreasonable out of the classroom through a I thought about how teaching members of our community Debra Smith is the head of parents or unrealistic timelines. number of opportunities to work had changed, how students had who think teachers only work Stay up to date. science at Centenary State High Remember, though, that these in curriculum development and changed, how I had changed, from 9:00am to 3:00pm and 3 This isn’t as hard as it School in western Brisbane are the infrequent pebbles in I’ve always come back full of how my teaching had changed have 10 weeks holiday, I say, sounds because teaching keeps and winner of the 2010 Prime your shoe. The majority of enthusiasm and new ideas. in that time and how community Minister’s Prize for Excellence in ‘Walk a mile (or should it be you up to date with today’s students are pleasant, or at attitudes had changed towards Science Teaching in Secondary 1.609 kilometres?) in my shoes.’ youth. I doubt if I would know least not unpleasant, and most Be flexible. teachers and schools. Schools for inspiring thousands of Just when you have been at a the slang of texting or wikis parents are supportive once Keep up with what is going 8 students and helping to redefine Few of the things I’m going to school for a couple of years, or blogs or all the other new they appreciate you are trying on and be prepared to adapt. the senior science curriculum in mention will be new to those of teach the same year level and to do the best for their children. Remember what I said earlier technologies if I wasn’t a teacher Queensland and across Australia. you who have been teaching as subject – and start to think you When my students realise I really – the one constant in teaching being dragged into the 21st Email [email protected] long as I have. Keep in mind, have a handle on the students enjoy my subject they become is change – and Charles Darwin century by the challenge of too, that they’re not in any order and curriculum – things change. enthusiastic too – even if they do showed those that couldn’t adapt Photo by Bearcage Productions of priority. The curriculum changes or the keeping up with today’s students. think I’m a science nerd. didn’t survive. courtesy Science in Public.

Inside Teaching | April 2011 www.atra.edu.au | [email protected] 28 TEACHING TIPS TEACHING TIPS 29

Phil Beadle has some advice for teachers in the early stages of their career: always smile before Easter.

I don’t much like Hollywood dealt the kind of cards that passions and sensibilities of I see you blockbusters, but there’s a anyone might want. The chief young people is this: the ability concept in the filmAvatar that expression of the tribe is to gaze to really see their students, greatly appeals to me, and has deep, deep into the eyes of the their potential for brilliance, the Five top tips for beginning teachers greatly affected my practice. beloved, and to intone gravely essence of their humanness In it, the indigenous people, the solemn but loving phrase, ‘I through the somewhat obscuring the Na’vi, of the film’s fictional see you.’ clouds of sometimes distracting planet, Pandora, have a linguistic behaviour. A practised ability custom that, to me, neatly sums Really see to see the good that may be up the key to teaching any Tip 1 your students dormant in a student, waiting for young person, but particularly someone to give permission for For me, what sums up the addresses what you need if that goodness to explode into chief ability of any teacher who you’re to succeed in your work existence, is the essence of a wishes to be of sufficient worth among students who haven’t great teacher. been to properly earn the joyous responsibility of spending their Too many times I’ve gone into time around the staffrooms in England, some developing of which were in the most minds, challenging of circumstances possible, and heard the name of a student alongside whom I’ve worked with great enjoyment, linked to a plethora of negative adjectives as long as a basketball player’s arm. None of these adjectives has ever really, properly, matched my experience of the student.

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It’s caused me to wonder why B, Christmas!’ In Australia of course The tricks with which you create If you stand in front of a student sincerely interested in their The final piece of language that whom I regard as a stone-cold it’s, ‘Never smile before Easter,’ the conditions to reveal your and tell them off, you’re in nascent humanity, their fledgling I think might work, but haven’t genius in somewhat loping and and it’s just as damaging a piece students’ good souls to you are a cowboy shoot-out. You’ve brilliance, their emotional had the guts to try out yet is to over-apologetic form, is regarded of advice. simple, and the time they take, signaled with your body that landscape. look deep into a student’s eyes as a dangerous and unruly idiot once internalised, are minimal. the student is in a gladiatorial and say, ‘I see you.’ Maybe there by another teacher? The answer Never smile They can be learned in less than environment in which the Language hasn’t been a right point yet before is simple: the teacher doesn’t Tip 2 the time you’ve taken to read likelihood is that they’ll be Tip 5 There are a to employ this. Alternatively, it see B. Christmas? might just be that, ‘I see you,’ is this article, and fall under three humiliated or diminished. Side- few key phrases you can use to implicit in everything that a good And I can see why. B is prone to ‘Never smile before Christmas!’ categories: body language, facial on, the confrontational aspect of create the conditions for students teacher does, and possibly it giving out signals that he’s not the old lags say, sure their expressions and language. the quiet chat disappears, and it to feel cared for and worthwhile. doesn’t need to be said, but don’t interested in education; his body position as the font of all remains just that: a quiet chat, a Body The first of these is, ‘You are tell the Na’vi of Pandora. language can be overly laconic, teaching knowledge is entirely communication between souls. language clever.’ It stunned me that on passive aggressive or definitively safe. This absolutely absurd Tip 3 Phil Beadle will be teacher-in- Facial The Unteachables, the television closed. He can be monosyllabic, and abhorrent maxim is not Let’s look at body language first. residence at Knox Grammar expressions series shown on ABC1 a couple non-committal, ‘just not in the only useless, it’s also damaging. Here’s a trick that I’ve employed Tip 4 School, Sydney, in late July. He of years ago, the young people mood.’ But he has a smile that, New teachers bomb into lessons unconsciously for many years, There’s a facial expression that is in Australia throughout August I was working alongside found when tempted into being, lights thinking that looking stern, and that I’ve only become aware should be your default setting: to conduct professional learning. this revelation so strange. The up the room; a sharp sense of shouting a bit and dispensing of since someone told me they the smile. With the student Contact Phil@inspired-education. fact that they were 14 years his own ridiculousness (always punishments will make a class saw me do it on television, and whose company I’m much co.uk His latest book, How to old and hadn’t encountered this a sign of high intelligence); and, instantaneously stand in ordered thought it was deliberate: in enjoying this year, the much- Teach, published by Crown House, phrase before just shows how when tempted into picking up lines, salute and display a lifelong any one-to-one circumstance, misunderstood and oft-derided was reviewed in the October 2010 vital it is that teachers use it his pen, a sharp analytical mind commitment to learning; but it always make yourself as small B, this has been the secret: issue of Inside Teaching. every single time they feel it. and a pleasing fluency with the doesn’t work. Why? Because, as you can with a student. If every day he has been greeted REFERENCES Often this phrase is all it takes language. as Daniel Goleman, author of you’re speaking to them in a by someone who appears to be Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional for a productive relationship to Yet some teachers regard him Emotional Intelligence and a pile corridor, lean against the wall, pleased to see him (and I am: Intelligence. New York Bantam commence. as an idiot – their bête noire. of other books on psychology so that as much as possible the smiles come easily), which Books. Why is this I wonder? I think it’s and education, has pointed out, you’re eye to eye – and, yes, sets the tone for his behaviour. A second useful phrase is, usually because they’re unable to emotion is viral. this can be tricky if they’re in He’s welcome and wanted ‘Imagine I was a human being in the class, and is made to see past the body language, and Think about it. If you shout at Prep. and that I cared about you, and feel it. There’s no stimulus to don’t or somehow can’t take the someone, which is more likely: If you’re modelling how to write, then talk to me.’ It’s all too easy trouble to see him. It’s easier for cause him to feel undervalued, that your shouting will put them sit on the classroom floor and for students to feel that teachers them to write him off as an idiot misunderstood or insulted. in a preternaturally calm state, have students gather around, are, as Neil wrote in his letter to than to spend the little time it or that they’ll shout back at towering above you. When it’s time to talk about the his bank manager, in The Young takes to create the conditions for you? If you enter the classroom work – the side-on quiet chat Ones, merely authority figures If you’re supporting students, him to display the genius he is. in a calm, smiling, intellectually – a second facial expression of the ‘darling-fascist-bully-boy’ answering questions or marking And the time this takes is engaged state, sure that the comes in: the sincere raised variety whose main function is their work, do it from a kneeling minimal. There’s a hoary behaviour will fall into place if eyebrows and furrowed brow to oppress. Identify yourself as position as they are seated at old cliché in England that is the learning is good, is this likely of the ‘none more interested’ belonging to the same species their desk. dispensed to newly qualified to send tense or objectionable expression. We all want to be as your students, reveal your teachers, wrapped up with a signals to your students, or is If you’re gently discussing the valued and taken seriously, and humanity openly and nakedly, silver bow and presented as it more likely to set a mood for fact that they haven’t been many of the students I teach and you’ll witness the change in being the ultimate in wise old learning that is both relaxed and giving of their best in a lesson, simply aren’t. It takes nothing their countenances as you speak lag’s advice: ‘Never smile before quizzical? do it side-on. to show that you are genuinely, to them.

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I searched ‘Jane Caro’ on the and me and my siblings. They I think the traditional workplace web and Google gave me have a curiosity about the world is dying out more and more. 2,720,000 results covering and what people think. My father My husband and I both work areas as diverse as the non- has so much energy, even at 80. from home. Centralised offices * party-political coalition that you He’s fast moving and dynamic, are coming to the end of their 20 questions convene in support of public to a fault on occasion. I inherited lifespan. I don’t want to work education called Priority Public, a lot of that. My mother is the under those circumstances where with Jane Caro mentoring, feminism, religion and more intellectual and analytical. time is more important than atheism, advertising, hosting Life They’ve been a fantastic team quality. Accountability has made Matters on ABC Radio National, for 55 or so years. They gave the workplace brutal. your board membership of Bell me a model of a good, respectful How about schools? Are they Shakespeare, and loads more. relationship. What my father liked held back by being building With this in mind I thought I’d about my mother was her brain. bound? start with a hard-hitting question: He took her ideas seriously. Not when you appear on The Gruen a lot of fathers did 55 years ago, I don’t want a time when there’s Transfer, do you borrow Wil so many daughters didn’t expect no community. I remember in Anderson’s nail polish and would to be taken seriously. Publicly the early days of computers you ever put on his thongs? smart, clever women usually seeing an interactive department I do tend to do a bit, perhaps have fathers who accept that in which was filled with young all connected to an interest in their daughters. It’s a key to my ear-phoned people staring at communication and education feminism to some extent. Plus screens. Separated. There will and the arts. I like to contribute my mother was an out-and-out always be a point for children to to things. I don’t wear nail polish feminist. As was her mother. be together. We need to liberate and Wil’s thongs are his thing parents and children from each The F Word could have been – a style statement. The Gruen other. Children need to know dedicated to Vittoria – Do you Transfer was amazing, something their peers and their community. have a serious caffeine addiction? I didn’t expect to happen. Home schooling keeps children Yes! – as you and Catherine Generally women get booted out under control. Your children planned it over morning coffees of television before their 50s. are not little-yous. They are, after dropping off your daughters according to Khalil Gibran, ‘the at school. Do you think it’s Have you ever succumbed to a sons and daughters of Life’s Talk with copywriter, important for work to move desire to deck Russel Howcroft? longing for itself.’ Children are lecturer, author and media outside traditional work venues? No, I like Russel – an honest man brutal and honest and there are commentator Jane Caro for who believes absolutely in what And I could add over wine on benefits in being part of that, an hour about education, he does, very bright. many an occasion. A bit of learning street smarts and savvy, feminism, life and being wildness and naughtiness is to lessening vulnerability. What occupation do you have in be encouraged. We didn’t want a panellist on The Gruen You’re working on your third your passport? to write a book about dressing book? Can you tell me about it? Transfer and you’ll still be Writer. Writing is my core skill. differently or speaking differently talking two hours later, as I’m a writer/broadcaster/speaker. and stuff like that. You don’t It’s my first novel, for young have to change anything. Why adults, called Just A Girl, a David Rish discovered. Your book, The F Word, co-written should you be anything other historical novel about Elizabeth I with Catherine Fox, is dedicated than what you are? Lighten up on the night before being to your parents, Kate and Andy; and have a good time and let crowned. She’s in the Tower of can you tell me a bit about their other people take on some of the London, unable to sleep. To pass importance in your life? responsibilities in parenting and the time she sits and thinks about Parents are incredibly important. in household chores. Women still how she’s survived for the past Mine are strong-minded and feel that they have to do those 25 years. It’s to be published argumentative, with each other things to have a right to exist. by the University of Queensland

Inside Teaching | April 2011 www.atra.edu.au | [email protected] 34 20 QUESTIONS 20 QUESTIONS 35

Press and will be launched in May and high school. I made myself no ill effects. She teaches at innovation and new ideas, a bit Duffy and John Howard – at least The public school is the last at the Sydney Writers Festival. more likable. I learned how Canterbury Boys High School in of irreverence and naughtiness. Howard is smart. institution that can’t file a child It’s dedicated to a few people. My to pitch presentation to my Sydney and sent the letter to down because they have a legal Do you use humour as a teaching Your main argument in The parents Kate and Andy; Derek audience. I wore short skirts talk show host Oprah that was obligation to educate. They do a tool? Stupid Country, co-written with Hansen who taught me to write, and swore a lot. I took up responsible for rapper Jay-Z welfare job to keep at-risk kids Chris Bonnor, is that choice turns a hard task master in advertising; smoking, which I regret. It was visiting the school, and the school Humour is how you connect. hanging on in there. The public the public system into a poor Jytte my friend and counsellor an important lesson in not giving being bussed to the taping. It’s about revealing your own school system shouldn’t be option, and sometimes a very who helped me get my life into up who I was but in pitching Afterwards Oprah donated a humanity. I’m incapable of not despised for doing this. poor option. Can you explain this perspective in my 20s when I language to the people I was laptop to every student as well telling people who I am. I get process? I mentioned my daughter had obsessive-compulsive issues; talking to. I learned to connect as music studies gear worth a lot of laughter by just saying and the Oprah donation to Natalie Scott who taught me without putting off. It wasn’t Society is not obliged to provide $1 million. Charlotte was 36 or 37 what I think. Some of the Canterbury Boys High earlier. to persevere in a writing group dumbing down. This skill has weeks, six pounds. Some women laughter is from shock but what’s everyone with choice but The value wasn’t just in the stuff she ran; and finally my husband stood me in good stead for all just cook their kids quicker. the point in conversing if you governments have an obligation donated but in the recognition Ralph, and my children Polly and my life. It’s not copying people don’t say what you think? to provide excellent education, that the students’ futures and Charlotte who taught me to feel. but learning to be like them, What’s scarier, facing a roomful free of charge to every child. If opportunities mattered. Trinity having not a top-down discussion of students at the University Who would you most like to get people want to buy an advantage Can you recall a teacher who was Grammar, say, or Abbotsleigh but a person-to-person one. It of Western Sydney (UWS) or in to talk to your students at for their child, they can pay for it important to you? are not more important even if succeeded. I had friends and had facing a bunch of fellow creatives UWS? as happens in most democracies, they’re the schools governments In primary school at French’s a good time. I loved it. presenting a new campaign? but frankly it probably doesn’t Aung San Suu Kyi probably, help first. Oprah and Jay-Z Forest Public School, in Year 4 matter that much at all. Their What would you call a future I’m not frightened of facing any or Germaine Greer. Greer is showed these kids that they Mr Dan thought I was as smart kids will do as well wherever autobiography? group of people. I’ve got some fantastic, although I don’t agree mattered. We shouldn’t walk as mustard. He encouraged my they go. We’ve confused people knowledge here. My advertising with everything she says. Chris away from them. felicity with language. The kids A Woman of No Importance. I about what schools do. Parents work teaches me that you have Hitchens is incisive, intelligent didn’t like it. I used long words don’t represent anyone. I’m my are ultimately responsible for If you were going to send a copy to engage people first. Some and human. His use of language and read long books. Mr Corkhill own self, completely free to say what kids achieve, not schools. of The Stupid Country to Julia students don’t like me because is precise, economical. Stephen my English teacher in fourth what I like. Kids who grasp opportunities Gillard what inscription would they want a script but when Fry. Richard Dawkins. form, a nice man. June Frayter wherever they go to school are you put in it? Your daughters, Polly you come to creativity you in fifth and sixth form. She was If you were back hosting Life the ones who’ll do well, but it’s and Charlotte, were born can’t follow rules or you end up ‘Stop playing politics with a wonderful, wonderful teacher Matters, what team would you unfair if from the age of five the most vulnerable and prematurely; what effect did that where everyone ends up. Linear – good mind, fun, rigorous. All put together to debate the differences are exacerbated so disadvantaged. Be the first to have on your life? control freaks find my course three had humour and warmth public/private funding of schools that everything goes against stand up for them because no more difficult. They must have and liked a bit of cheek. Polly was 34 weeks. She picked issue and why these people? them. The less fortunate should one else has.’ She’s been sent fun and try to bring their own up a respiratory infection and have more opportunity, not less. about 35 copies; I doubt she’s Can you tell me something way of relating to the world to On the public side, the president was admitted to intensive care, read any. you did as a school girl that What are a school’s most the last neo-natal bed available their work. Creatively you know of the Australian College of was perhaps a bit outside the important assets? that night – a very traumatic and feel if you’re right. A new Educators Lyndsay Connors, Thank you, Jane Caro. acceptable limit? ad campaign is scary because Chris Bonnor, John Kay, Ross introduction to parenthood. Teachers and students. The David Rish is an award-winning formulaic thinking kills creativity Gittens. Private? Maybe some I’d joke and laugh in class, We learned that there was no teachers and the principal create writer for children and a regular dead. Intuition and judgement and I loved to get involved in such thing as safety. The grief of the private school principals, the character of a school. There contributor to Inside Teaching. discussions, but I knew how to counsellor, Peter Barr, helped is killed with research and Judith Poole from Abbotsleigh are good in both public and * Okay, okay, if you counted the stay just this side of trouble so bring everything into perspective. pseudo-science. It’s depressing school, say, or Shore’s Timothy private schools. They are warm, questions you’d know there are when I was talking to someone Terrible things can happen but rather than frightening. Rules Wright. The trouble is most energetic, everyday people. They fewer than 20. they’d get into trouble, not me. you just have to get on with destroy people. We don’t need people talk crap when it comes don’t have to be inspirational, I transformed between primary things. Polly survived with measurable skills, we need to funding. I’d include Michael rather commonsensical. Image by Gregory Myer.

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Lorraine Beveridge and Amy Merchant explain how a computer animation program designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in remote communities Quite supports the literacy learning of all students in their classroom. When our Year 4 class completed available health care. We found Most of the digital resources an English unit based on Paul that its focus on animation, local we used in our Marvin projects Jennings’s ‘Smelly Feat’ from content and dialects catered were obtained from The Unbearable last year, we wanted for multiple learning styles, Le@rning Federation. The a feat to use an action learning model, but we also thought a few of Le@rning Federation provides not just because the text suited the characters were not age- an extensive range of digital this approach but because we appropriate for our primary curriculum resources, for which Action learning, were using a program called school students. To address that, copyright has already been Marvin that enabled our students on installation we removed some negotiated for use in schools literacy and to construct multimodal texts that characters from the characters in Australia and New Zealand. displayed their deep knowledge file in the program folder. Digital resources from The and understanding of the text. Le@rning Federation include multimodal To integrate Marvin we all first The fact that Marvin was new to learning objects – multimedia had some free play with the us meant that the action learning resources and interactive tools, program, familiarising ourselves texts occurred naturally as we teachers and digital resources – as well as with the different functions, and our students learned to use movie clips, music, photographs, learning to add backgrounds, the program together, in cycles of artefacts and pictures. learning, with lots of collaboration characters and voices to a Other free sites our students and reflection. file, generally exploring the possibilities of the program with used are: Marvin also fitted well with our followup group reflection on our • www.freesound.org for free- school’s approach to literacy in Marvin sessions. to-use sound files, with the English classroom. We use the National Accelerated Literacy At the same time, students acknowledgement of authors Program, which focuses on were presenting talks to the under creative commons following a structured sequence class in our talking and listening copyright licence terms, on of activities to teach literacy program, addressing themes any topic you could possibly explicitly. Talking and listening, in ‘Smelly Feat’ to do with the be studying reading and writing are taught plight of endangered species, • http://commons.wikimedia.org simultaneously. loss of habitat and damage to the environment. • www.freedigitalphotos.net for Marvin is a multimedia and free, quality photos, and animation authoring platform for Next, we learned to construct • www.ccmixer.org for remixes the rapid production of animated storyboards then began planning and mash-ups of songs, with messages. It was created by individual and group projects acknowledgement for any the Northern Territory Institute using Marvin, making the most songs used. for Community Engagement of the open-endedness of the and Development to support program, which stimulates Susan Groundwater-Smith, in Aboriginal people living in remote higher-order, creative responses Supporting Student Learning communities to learn about from students. Environments in a Digital Age,

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Lorraine Beveridge is a primary How does Marvin link to the Draft Australian English teacher and school assistant curriculum? principal in the Hunter Central Year 3 Coast Region of the New South Language 1 Comparing dialects. Wales Department of Education and Training. Amy Merchant is a Literature 3 Features of texts: use metalanguage to share primary education student at the knowledge of topic, text structure and features. University of Newcastle. Literacy 12 Multimodal texts: use audio, photos and pictures to create multimodal texts that demonstrate deep knowledge and Image courtesy the Northern understanding of a topic. Territory Institute for Community Literacy 13 Creating texts using digital technologies. Engagement and Development. Year 4 REFERENCES Language 5 Represent relationships between characters visually. Groundwater-Smith, S. (2007). Literature 2 Identify main ideas in multimodal texts. Supporting Student Learning Literature 3 Discussing, expressing an opinion about and Environments in a Digital Age: responding to digital texts. Listening to young people report. Literature 7 Create imaginative literary texts using a range of Sydney: NSW Department of text types and literature. Education and Training. Literacy 1 Identify information and main ideas by listening to Jennings, P. (1990). Unbearable. oral texts. Melbourne: Puffin.

Literacy 2 Oral communication skills: make multimodal texts Professional Learning and collaboratively in groups. Leadership Development website Literacy 8 Comprehension strategies: link main ideas in text of the NSW Department of through visualising using characters, backgrounds and oral Education and Training. (2006). responses. Quality Teaching. Available at Literacy 9 Research skills: use online search skills to locate www.det.nsw.edu.au/proflearn/ information on a topic. areas/qt Literacy 12 Recognise and explain the interplay between LINKS character, setting, events in multimodal texts. For more on the National Accelerated Literacy Program, visit www.nalp.edu.au refers to students as ‘digital school settings. Using the Marvin For more on the Northern pioneers’ and ‘creative producers’ program to create multimodal Territory Institute for Community of their future. She also refers to responses to texts is one Engagement and Development’s an expanded concept of literacy, example of how we as educators Marvin program, visit where digital literacy sits beside can support student learning in www.marvin.com.au the book in the creation of a literate person, and to ways that a digital age. Our proud students For more on The Le@rning schools can support learning have even published a class Federation, visit www. across in-school and out-of- multimodal file on YouTube. thelearningfederation.edu.au

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One such student, after difference between a lady and ‘Today’s topic has some really reluctantly selecting an a flower girl is not how she unusual terms in it and although introductory accounting unit, behaves, but how she is treated.’ it may at times sound difficult, dramatically changed her tune It should be the same in our actually you’ll find that it’s quite and declared, half-way through classrooms. If we treat our simple, once we get into it. I’m the course, that it was her students and their learning with sure you are going to enjoy favourite subject and that she enthusiasm, with the expressed learning some new accounting was now considering majoring in positive expectation that they terms today. You could even it. What inspired such a change will enjoy accounting and will be impress people at your next of attitude? successful, then the likelihood of dinner party!’ A little light- their success is vastly increased. hearted, positive scene-setting The answer, I think, was that does wonders for the motivation she discovered that accounting Our students will rise to fulfil and engagement of the class. was interesting, but for teachers our expectations. By contrast, Like that simply begs a further negative expectations on our part Let’s face it, though, accounting question: How can you make will beget negative performances can appear confusing at times accounting interesting? After on the part of the students. to the uninitiated. Some things teaching accounting at technical In undergraduate teaching just don’t, at first glance, and further education (TAFE) and degrees, ‘Vroom’s Expectancy seem to be sensible or logical. broccoli at university level for about 20 Theory’ is frequently featured. Take, for example, ‘Goods and years, I believe the answer lies in According to Victor Vroom, Service Tax input tax credit,’ three simple principles. a professor in the graduate which has a debit balance; or How to turn your students on Instilling a love of accounting business school of Yale University, the fact that ‘accrued expenses’ the strength of student motivation and a basic understanding of the are not actually expenses, depends in part on how much to accounting – or any subject concepts involved, requires: but liabilities. Then we have they believe they can succeed in ‘prepaid expenses’ which are not Accounting: it has a reputation, deserved or not, of • positive expectations their learning. As teachers, we expenses, but assets. Students have an important, ongoing role being like the least-favourite vegetable you left on your • lots of practice in the basics, can also be forgiven for being and to play in providing a platform of initially confused when we have plate as a child, so who better qualified than accounting uplifting expectations. Inspired one report with three different, • innovative ways to make teacher Wendy Collins to offer some tips for effective by a personalised, confident and equally-acceptable titles: accounting more enjoyable. teaching – in any learning area. positive expression on the part of income statement, profit and Let’s explore these three their teachers, students will often loss statement or statement of principles a little more. rise to higher levels of academic financial performance. I simply and practical achievement simply tell my students that some critics It was music to my ears at the end of the Week 3 lecture of our Positive expectations – or because someone obviously claim it is all a conspiracy by accounting program when 20-year-old Jason told me, with a smile, give it a bit of vroom believes in them and in their accountants to confuse people ‘I love accounting!’ George Bernard Shaw, in his ability to grasp difficult concepts. and ensure that accountants are Poor accounting: it’s the academic subject that often gets the bad play Pygmalion, probably better For example, when I teach the only ones who understand rap. Uninformed critics typically refer to it as boring, conservative known in its film adaptation, accrual accounting, rather than the terms, so that they can make or abstract. Occasionally students delay enrolling in accounting My Fair Lady, explores the declaring that this topic is ‘a little lots of money. It gets a laugh, units at university for as long as possible, making it seem like the theme of positive expectations, abstract and sometimes difficult and reminds them of their own least-favourite vegetable you left on your plate as a child, hoping summarised perfectly by Eliza to grasp,’ I take a positive professional importance and you eventually wouldn’t need to eat it. Doolittle who explains, ‘The perspective. I say something like, growing expertise.

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Practise, practise, practise – that students can uncover what There’s nothing wrong equity and receipts and generated and the expenditure large accounting organisations or get your hands dirty queries or concerns they are with smiley stickers or payments; and rent expense for outlaid. The importance of good say are equally important in having. the occasional lolly – or the payment when they inevitably financial management is clearly accounting graduates. Two mistakes that a lot of accounting can actually be land on their opponents’ property. obvious. Educators can easily, university, TAFE and school To reinforce the importance of enjoyable The challenge is therefore to with a bit of effort, bring the educators frequently make are getting your hands dirty and Students record each transaction make our classrooms exciting, It’s exciting to see the look of subject to life with relevance, a covering the basic concepts tackling the core concepts, the as we play the game, and engaging centres for learning, satisfaction on a student’s face positive approach and genuine too quickly, and not providing students are set weekly practical prepare an income statement and not only the basics of accounting when their first balance sheet enthusiasm. Accounting need not enough opportunity for students questions. As an incentive to balance sheet upon completion. process and function, but to practise for themselves what does in fact balance, or to notice be boring. Boredom is a self- complete these questions and Of course, reconciling the actual the equally vital people skills the instructor has demonstrated the sense of achievement when fulfilling prophecy generated by as a motivation strategy for cash remaining with the cash at required to be successful in on the whiteboard or PowerPoint. a bank reconciliation actually poor teaching, not by subject maximising effort, these weekly today’s fast-paced world. reconciles. Maria, a first-year bank ledger account is always a content. During the first lesson, I explain tasks are graded and comprise a student, exclaimed ‘Accounting challenge. The students usually A recent project by the Australian Wendy Collins is a Chartered to my students that accounting total of 30 per cent of the unit’s is fun,’ when she saw the pieces don’t want to leave for their next Learning and Teaching Council, Accountant and a lecturer in the is a lot like bricklaying. To learn overall grade. I figure if I want fall into place as the profit figure class and ask if they can play it ‘Accounting for the future: more School of Business at Christian to be a bricklayer, you need the students to put in a decent linked into her balance sheet again the following week. than numbers 2009,’ found that Heritage College, Brisbane. She to get involved in the action effort, the least I can do is offer and the ‘accounting equation’ Accounting is a natural part of the technical skills required of has a Bachelor of Commerce and get your hands dirty. You a decent reward for their hard suddenly made sense to her. everyone’s life. Every household graduates are essentially basic degree, a Master of Management can’t learn the trade simply by work. needs to balance the budget; watching someone else. You An occasional lolly, thrown accounting skills, like debits and degree and a Graduate Diploma By marking these tasks weekly every business desires to make need to pick up the tools and across the room in response to credits. Interestingly, though, of Education. Her special and then providing timely have a go. I explain that it’s a correct answer is a wonderful a profit; government and not- it’s the non-technical skills – like interests are in accounting, feedback, any gaps in learning okay to make mistakes. We write motivator. (Okay, settle down for-profit organisations are communication, teamwork and business planning and business can be uncovered relatively early in pencil, not pen, because we all you lawyers and workplace accountable for the revenue self-management – which the communication. and can be addressed, either in are learners and we’re sure to health and safety officers, it a group tutorial or with individual make some mistakes. Yes, down was very safely lobbed!) Even the track, we’ll use pen, like all students as required. my 50-year-old student beamed good accountants, and carefully Like many other curriculum warmly when her homework was rule out our errors to keep areas, learning and teaching returned with a smiley sticker. the auditors happy, but in the accounting is like building a Why can’t we have a bit of fun? meantime, pencils and erasers pyramid. The foundations at To reinforce the process of will be very helpful – as is the the base are vital. All of the recording transactions into the ‘edit’ function on our computer subsequent learning is built on various general ledger accounts, accounting package. this foundation. If the teacher is we play a slightly modified Every topic that we discuss in patient in the first few weeks and game of Monopoly. Students class is reinforced with additional serially recapitulates the basics have to open ledger accounts similar work in the tutorials, or in in detail, with a demonstrated for various asset, income and home practice tasks, which are enthusiasm for the subject expense accounts such as land designed to assist the students matter and an obvious interest and buildings, for their property to understand the concepts for in the students’ learning, then acquisitions; service revenue for themselves. It’s often only by the likelihood of students passing ‘Go’; rent revenue for ‘having a go’ at similar questions, understanding the more complex the receipt of rent when someone on their own, with a chance for topics that come later will be lands on their property; cash at later feedback from the teacher, much higher. bank for recording commencing

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development opportunities for Skills Queensland. Skills players. Boeing, Brisbane partnerships teachers. Queensland is an industry-led Airport Corporation, BHP Billiton, statutory authority, established Mitsubishi Alliance and Rio Tinto Queensland’s Gateway to strengthen Queensland’s are examples. Thus, Gateway Schools: The big picture economic base by providing a Schools Projects seek to explicitly incorporate schooling into a There are six Gateway Schools skilled workforce to meet current Projects, each associated with and future needs of industry and state-wide economic strategy a key industry sector in the the community. with connections to the global economy. Queensland economy. They aim The Aerospace Gateway to link partnering schools with Schools Project was the first Finally, traditional school- businesses, currently focused on project, established in 2004 industry partnerships involve aerospace, minerals and energy, following discussions between the use of industry sites for wine tourism, building and Boeing Australia and the then training, thus rarely affecting the Real-world learning through construction, manufacturing and Department of Education, curriculum delivered by schools engineering, and agribusiness. Training and the Arts, to establish themselves. Gateway Schools the Gateway Schools Project Their objective is to address training and employment Projects, however, have led to long-term skills shortages pathways from school to the significant transformation of the in traditional and emerging aerospace industry. This original curriculums of many participating model was adapted for the schools. Notable here is the Cushla Kapitzke and Stephen Hay report on their initial research on industries of the Queensland economy and, by doing this, formation of other Gateway Aerospace Studies Senior industry-school partnerships in Queensland. provide schooling-to-employment projects, originally for minerals Syllabus developed jointly by the pathways for students pursuing and energy – now coordinated by Queensland Studies Authority and In the last decade, a gradual Partnerships have been a outcomes, particularly for young a range of post-school options Queensland Minerals and Energy industry experts, and delivered but significant shift in education significant feature of schooling people at risk in their transitions including university entry, VET or Academy – and wine tourism. by partner schools in aerospace. A second phase of development has taken place. Schools have in Queensland, where we’re from school to post-school life. direct entry to the labour market. Because of their capacity to saw the addition of projects transformed from hermetically based, since the 1980s when Here, we want to describe an The Gateway concept is a unique connect schools to global in building and construction, sealed, impermeable schools developed vocational innovative industry-school model of partnerships in Australia employment markets and manufacturing and engineering, bureaucracies to dynamic education and training (VET) partnership model established for a number of reasons. These their potential to transform and agribusiness. and flexible organisations programs providing alternative in Queensland known as the include centralised coordination the traditional curriculum in characterised by openness to local pathways from schooling to post- Gateway Schools Projects. We through Queensland’s Skills Secondly, membership of schools, the Gateway Schools communities and connectedness school training or employment. first explain how this unique Queensland; a specific industry Gateway Schools Projects is Projects signals one of the more to global issues and cultures. Partnerships that have emerged model of partnerships was focus featuring global partners; managed by Skills Queensland significant transformations They’re also more responsive in recent times, however, have established, and then describe a and strong industry emphasis in and requires prospective schools in Australian schooling since to the aspirations of students been more structured in their study funded by the Australian the curriculum of participating to demonstrate a substantial the move to mass secondary and parents. A central feature organisation and more targeted Research Council to investigate schools. The first point relates to partnership with a relevant education during the latter of what Belgian sociologist and in terms of the outcomes they the educational implications of the way they were established. industry. This distinguishes half of the 20th century. educational researcher Christian aim to achieve. Examples here the partnerships for teaching Gateway Schools Projects were Gateway partnerships from Nonetheless, despite the growth Maroy has described as the post- have included Queensland’s and learning. We conclude with a established and administered traditional ad hoc school-industry of partnerships nationally and bureaucratic era of education has District Youth Achievement plans case study of the Wine Tourism through the Department of partnerships that typically include globally, no research has been been the relationships formed that linked schools, business, Gateway Schools Project, Education and Training (DET); a school and one or several local conducted to assess their between schools and other industry bodies, training outlining some innovations however, the program has unrelated businesses. Moreover, impact on schools, particularly organisations through formalised organisations and community in terms of curriculum, and more recently been transferred Gateway Schools Projects the enacted curriculum in partnerships. groups to improve transition the roles of and professional to the recently established often feature global industry classrooms. Our research

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currently underway examines The purpose of the ARC project and assessment practices of the Innovation and the Southern mathematics which focus on post-bureaucratic approach to these issues, so we’d like here to is to document processes of projects. Downs Regional Council. the solution of a number of the provision of school education. discuss some of our findings for knowledge sharing within and problems associated with wine Given that the Gateway Schools Typical of most Gateway Schools teachers and schools involved in across multiple school sectors Some observations to date production. The sharing of Projects now involve more Projects, the wine tourism industry-school partnerships now and multiple industry sectors. technical knowledge such as this than 100 secondary schools While the research is in its project seeks to improve student and into the future. Because of the broad scope of is changing teacher attitudes to, from the state, Catholic and early stages, two members of awareness of career options and perceptions of, their own independent sectors – one the investigation, we expect our the research team have been through first-hand experience of Researching Gateway Schools quarter of schools in Queensland findings will enhance mutual examining the Gateway Schools the industry and, in this case, the professional roles as they come Projects – the research project outlined understanding between schooling Projects for a number of years. real world of viniculture from the to see themselves as experts here is well overdue. We look In late 2010, a team of six and industry and thereby enable As we’ve already noted, it’s field right through to marketing. and leaders in their respective forward to sharing our findings researchers from Queensland both to build capacity together. apparent that partnerships This includes designing the fields of endeavour. Having been mentored by industry personnel, about this exciting innovation University of Technology, Griffith Study participants include the signify a transformation in the labels appearing on wine bottles. this newfound expertise has with industry, the teaching University and the DET obtained principals, staff and students way schooling is conceptualised. Hosting 13 schools in eight given teachers the confidence to community, parents, students Australian Research Council of four schools from each of A major point to add here different wine-growing regions conduct professional development and education authorities, and (ARC) funding to study the five Gateway Schools Projects is industry’s commitment to of Queensland, the partnership workshops with their peers as informing the formation of policy Gateway Schools Projects. This in aerospace, building and the projects in terms of both has generated a range of industry interested schools across the on partnerships in Queensland. three-year research program construction, minerals and financial investment and in- mechanisms to support teaching state that are not part of the aims to map the organisational energy, wine tourism, and kind support. This contribution and learning. These include Cushla Kapitzke is an Associate Gateway Schools Project take up structures of partnerships, and manufacturing and engineering. has provided the opportunity access to the facilities and Professor in the Faculty of to identify teaching and learning Wine Science as an accredited The research takes the form of for a range of applied student services of the QCWT, hands-on Education at Queensland relationships within them that unit of study. These professional interviews with educational and learning activities, professional training through work experience, University of Technology. best contribute to productive relationships with local and industry management personnel, development for staff, and industry consultation, materials educational and social outcomes distant colleagues, and with Stephen Hay is a Senior Lecturer and focus groups with students. the development of industry- and resources, school-based for young people. business communities that have in the School of Education at The purpose of the focus groups specific curricula that would not apprenticeships and traineeships, global reach, are forging national Griffith University. The research examines, among is to explore issues such as otherwise have occurred. attendance at workshops, and support for awards ceremonies. and international links for schools The Australian Research Council other things, how teachers and students’ choice of learning Take, for example, the Gateway that previously were more funded the project, ‘Industry industry trainers collaborate pathways, their experience Schools Project in wine tourism, Working together in this way to difficult to develop and sustain. school partnerships: A strategy to to develop curriculum and of curriculum and pedagogy, a collaboration between the develop new curriculum materials enhance education and training assessment, and how they opportunities for industry Queensland government, has also enhanced professional This example of the wine tourism opportunities’ (LP100200052), in share content and pedagogical training and the influence of the Queensland College of engagement and learning project illustrates the kinds of 2010 under the Linkage Project knowledge oriented toward these on prospective careers. Wine Tourism (QCWT), local opportunities for teachers. An shifts in school governance, Scheme. Queensland’s Department workplace learning. The study also seeks to test the winemakers and schools located example is the cooperation of leadership, and curricular and of Education and Training and Curricular reform that is relevant hypothesis that a commitment in south-east Queensland. Opened teachers with local winemakers pedagogical practices that are Independent Schools Queensland to the world of work and assists to knowledge sharing positively in 2007, the QCWT is an $8.5 and wine scientists from USQ emerging across the Gateway are contributing partners. seamless transition to work, affects the quality of pedagogy in million education and training to develop a new unit of study Schools Projects and Queensland training or university for young classrooms, industry workshops facility is a joint venture between for chemistry, Wine Science. schools more broadly. Anecdotal REFERENCES people requires educators to and other learning environments. the DET and the University of Consistent with industry evidence suggests that there Maroy, C. (2009). Convergences understand the ways in which Hence, the research also includes Southern Queensland (USQ) on standards, this unit embeds are positive outcomes from the and hybridization of educational workplaces are changing and, at a selection of classroom lessons Queensland’s Granite Belt. Other chemistry knowledge within partnerships in terms of student policies around ‘post-bureaucratic’ the same time, requires industry observed and video-recorded partners include the Queensland the theoretical and practical engagement and transition to models of regulation. Compare: to understand the ways that to show influences of this wine industry, the Queensland processes of winemaking. employment or ongoing studies, A Journal of Comparative and schools operate and change over knowledge networking on the Department of Employment, Other examples include but little is known of the long- International Education, 39(1), time. enacted curricula, pedagogies Economic Development and the development of units in term social implications of a 71-84.

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News IN BRIEF

acts in some way to discourage Cross also advocates F1 in Schools – shows that Song Room bullying when they see it, there intervention at the classroom participants: ‘Pentagliders’ and teacher Bystanders is a 50 per cent chance it will level in terms of teaching and Murat Djakic from Brooks High • had significantly higher grades stop,’ Rigby said. learning activities to increase School in Launceston, Tasmania, in English, mathematics, understanding of ways to against bullying, Rigby’s study of 2,400 students won the National Champion science and technology, and counter and prevent bullying, across Australia, Great Britain, professional class award as human society than non- and at the school level in terms well as the fastest car and best participants South Africa, Bangladesh, of clear policies and a school’s cyberbullying and energy efficient design awards Israel and Italy found that ethos. • achieved significantly higher at the F1 in Schools Australia teachers are likely to have little results in reading, writing, ‘To initiate change, we believe Grand Prix at Sydney’s Eastern or no direct effect on student spelling, grammar and violence the most important actions are Creek International Raceway bystander behaviour. ‘They are punctuation, and numeracy to get a good understanding of in March. It was the first time Education systems across the country have come together unlikely to influence children by as measured in the Year 5 the bullying behaviour in the a Tasmanian school has won. simply telling the children what National Assessment Program to take action against bullying and violence in schools. school through a student/staff/ National runner-up in the they expect of them,’ he said. – Literacy and Numeracy parent needs assessment and professional class was ‘Ace Pace Steve Holden reports. Rigby advocates classroom- then involve the whole school Racing’ from Mirani State High • had significantly higher based programs to stimulate community in policy and actions School in Mackay, Queensland. attendance, and peer pressure to encourage ‘Student wellbeing and takes into account students’ to address this problem,’ Cross The National Champion bystanders to intervene. • were more likely to be children’s safety are of safety and wellbeing in virtual said. development class winner was resilient and demonstrate paramount importance.’ So environments,’ Garrett said. ‘By stimulating children, ‘Lightspeed’ from Ballarat South All state and territory education positive social skills, good said Commonwealth Minister especially younger children, to Community Learning Precinct ‘(The National Safe Schools authorities, along with the work management skills and for School Education Peter express their thoughts about in Victoria. National runner- Framework) will assist schools National Catholic Education engagement. Garrett at the launch of the and school communities to what should be done, and what Commission, the Independent up in the development class Besides such extrinsic benefits, revised National Safe Schools develop a comprehensive they see the dangers might be, Schools Council of Australia and was ‘Velocity’ from Newington the research also recognises that Framework in Brisbane on response to bullying that peer pressure can be generated the Commonwealth Department College, Sydney. 18 March, the inaugural National to encourage positive peer of Education, Employment the arts have intrinsic value. makes everyone in the school Arts education good for Day of Action Against Bullying understand proactive and behaviour,’ he said. and Workplace Relations, students My School and Violence, which will be held practical approaches to effective have collaborated to develop Donna Cross, Professor of Child The revamped My School on the third Friday in March in student safety policies,’ Garrett resources, called Take a Stand New research suggests a and Adolescent Health at the website of the Australian ensuing years. said. Together, to support positive correlation exists between arts School of Exercise, Biomedicine bystander behaviour. education and the improved Curriculum, Assessment and The revised framework addresses Research by Ken Rigby, an and Health Science at Edith school attendance of students, Reporting Authority went live cyberbullying through the use Adjunct Professor in the School For more on the National Cowan University, concurs. academic achievement, and in March, attracting 248,000 of technologies such as mobile of Education at the University Safe Schools Framework and ‘Because of the complexity social and emotional wellbeing. unique visitors in its first phones and computers, which of South Australia, reveals that supporting resources, visit of this problem there are Funded by the Macquarie Group week. Visitors clicked on more has become more prominent students who are a third party to www.safeschools.deewr.gov.au many levels upon which to Foundation, the report, Bridging than six million page views, since the National Safe Schools a bullying incident typically react intervene, including, at the For more on Take a Stand the Gap in School Achievement checking school performance on Framework was developed for in ways they think their peers student level, through building Together, visit www. through the Arts, by Brian National Assessment Program Australian schools in 2003. expect, rather than ways they social responsibility, empathy, takeastandtogether.gov.au Caldwell for The Song Room – a – Literacy and Numeracy tests, think their teachers or parents ‘A recent study found one in five assertiveness and decision- For more on the National Day national non-profit organisation and visiting school financial expect. children experienced some form making skills especially for the of Action Against Bullying that provides free music and data pages and pages used to of this new type of bullying. This ‘Overseas research has shown role of bystanders in a bullying and Violence, visit www. arts-based programs for children make comparisons with similar is why the revised framework that when a child bystander situation.’ bullyingnoway.com.au in disadvantaged communities schools.

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Reviews

inception in 1974, a report of the intellectual exercise, and an wellbeing throughout the school reasons for these and effective experience of participating in the extended professional placement community. responses to them in an program from the perspective provides the opportunity to The question Sue Roffey poses extremely helpful way. Her of a variety of stakeholders and practise the necessary skills and and answers in her book is: emphasis is on focusing on a research-based exploration hone the perceptual, reasoning ‘How can we encourage students individual strengths, enabling of its nature, development and and decision-making skills that to feel good about being reparation and applying success. underlie it. Skilful support is a there and engaging with their restorative practices to achieve The book makes a powerful case key part of a successful clinical learning?’ effective long-term positive for the success of the program at changes in student behaviour. experience; however, simply Roffey challenges our producing effective, committed Finally, she emphasises the need practising teaching will not management of behaviour in teachers who are also in high for a whole-school approach in all necessarily produce a competent schools, providing teachers demand among employers of the above. professional. with information, guidance, and who remain in teaching in strategies and processes which Changing Behaviour in Schools greater than average numbers. A key aim of the UNH program positively affect the behaviour provides a wealth of information The program is built on the is to help interns develop and and learning of students, and practical ideas for teachers. selection of the right candidates; articulate their vision of teaching. and equally importantly the Roffey draws on her wide the development of a solid The care and attention paid to relationships and general teaching experience for the case professional knowledge base; selecting, training and supporting Changing Behaviour in wellbeing of all members of the studies, teacher discussions and a well-planned and well- cooperating teachers, the Schools school community. and student exercises, and supervised full-year internship. grouping of interns in schools, By Sue Roffey there are helpful activities in How Teachers Learn: An Roffey looks at a range of Just wanting to be a teacher weekly seminars and the Published by Sage every chapter. Her work is well educational psychology of elements necessary for isn’t enough to make you frequent presence of university ISBN 9 781 849 207 783 supported by references to teacher preparation developing positive relationships into a successful practitioner; staff in schools all contribute to RRP $42.95 research and she provides some and wellbeing: aspects of Edited by Michael D. Andrew and consequently both the the development of competent, Reviewed by Jenny Mackay communication, the importance excellent reading and resources James R. Jelmberg undergraduate and graduate reflective teachers with a for teachers on resiliency, peer ‘The right word at the right time of a safe and supportive Published by Peter Lang versions of the UNH course commitment to constant personal support, emotional literacy and can make a difference for all environment, understanding ISBN 9 781 433 108 433 begin with a first- or second- improvement and productive children’s behaviour, developing more. year placement as a teaching time.’ This statement lies at the RRP US$32.95 educational change. emotional literacy and the need assistant to assess candidates’ heart of all Sue Roffey conveys in This book carries an important Reviewed by Catherine Scott for both student and teacher suitability, as well as attitude and The book is a very worthwhile her book. message to all in education – addition to the literature on wellbeing. that ‘welfare is not the province The understanding that teaching motivation. Candidates must also It’s a pleasure to read such a of senior staff and specialists,’ is a complex craft dependent demonstrate academic ability. teacher preparation, learning well-considered, well-researched According to Roffey, for a school and development. It will make a to be a place where students but rather that ‘wellbeing is on careful preparation for Andrew and Jelmberg and their book which focuses on who wish to be, the emphasis needs a strategy for everyone.’ And effective practice has provoked contributors are critical of the valuable part of the professional we teach as a counterbalance to be on making connections, if schools are to achieve their the development of a number redundancy that afflicts the library of anyone interested in to what we teach. It’s a ‘must establishing relationships and goal in educating the young, of evidence-based programs of content of many programs of recruiting, training and retaining read’ for educators. There’s so building a positive sense of there needs to be a far greater professional education. Among teacher preparation. In contrast, quality teachers. much written on teaching the self. Teachers can do that by emphasis on educators being these is the Five-Year Program at the professional knowledge base curriculum, on what and how Dr Catherine Scott is a Senior fostering both a ‘connection ‘teachers of wellbeing.’ the University of New Hampshire of the UNH program is tightly children learn, that it’s a sheer Research Fellow at the Australian with school and engagement (UNH). How Teachers Learn: fashioned around ‘a clear concept delight to read a book that Jenny Mackay is a behaviour Council for Education Research. with learning.’ An educational psychology of the nature of the teacher we focuses educators and schools on management consultant and of teacher preparation is a hope to produce.’ Teaching is LINKS: the need to develop behaviours Roffey then outlines different Victorian Institute of Teaching history of the program since its a practical craft as well as an www.peterlang.com which build a strong sense of challenging behaviours, the registered training provider.

Inside Teaching | October 2010 www.atra.edu.au | [email protected] 52 REVIEWS REVIEWS 53

Cardinal George Pell and The paper, to deliver discreetly to his Smoot’s interviews with 51 I just love those “aha” moments Chaser’s Julian Morrow, or friend (my teacher Br William American teachers, in and when you can just see children former finance minister Lindsay Theodore O’Malley). I still feel beyond schools, reveals some lighting up because they’ve Tanner and Liberal front bencher pleased and proud about this universals: the belief that learned (something).’ Greg Hunt.’ teaching is not just a job but regular kindness.’ Mind you, Conversations with something of a calling; the Macklin has sought Also included is our own Wendy Great Teachers isn’t just view that teaching is more contributions from actors, Harmer, who writes about her about those ‘aha’ moments. than what you do, it’s who you artists, authors and journalists, English teacher, Shirley Collins. Paul Karafiol, a high school are; the recognition that good broadcasters, composers and ‘Mrs Collins read my essays, maths teacher from Chicago, musicians, fimmakers, lawyers teachers are passionate about poetry, all my writings and I can confesses, ‘Usually when I have and jurists, politicians and teaching; and the understanding still, some 40 years later, see her a student who can’t understand government bureaucrats, and that teaching depends on signature at the bottom of the something, it’s a function of my even the Governor General, all your ‘authentic presence’ and page: “Nicely done. When can I own impatience rather than a in the public eye. Importantly, relationship with learners that see more? S. Collins.” ...There question of the student’s ability.’ he’s also sought contributions enables them to trust. was nothing I wanted more than Karafiol also tells his students from teachers and, a nice touch, for her to read my work and That may suggest that about some of his difficulties even six classmates thanking write: “When can I see more?” I Conversations with Great in apprehending mathematical Mr Bain from Temora High Teachers privileges ‘great principles. Mike Auerbach, an School in south-western New hope she sees this.’ teaching’ as the result of innate award-winning high school South Wales. The desire by the contributors Conversations with Great talent. That’s not the case. As biology and chemistry teacher My Favourite Teacher here to acknowledge the Given the concept of this book, Teachers Lynette Wayne, a Year 1 teacher from Vermont, admits that the Edited by Robert Macklin you rarely get to the nitty gritty teachers who acknowledged from Minnesota, explains, ‘I alternative program he runs for Published by New South of each student’s schooling them reinforces the idea, not By Bill Smoot became nationally board certified at-risk students ‘isn’t designed ISBN 9 781 742 231 624 and the lived qualities of the incidentally, that teaching and Published by Indiana University (by the National Board for to have them achieve greater RRP $32.95 classrooms of their favourite learning is a dialogue. In many Press Professional Teaching Standards success.’ Equally, though, ‘What’s teachers, but what the book cases, the contributors here write ISBN 9 780 253 354 914 in the United States) in the year Reviewed by Steve Holden important for me is helping necessarily lacks in depth it more specifically to say thank you RRP $27.99 2000. What that process did students identify their talents Readers of Inside Teaching and than makes up for in breadth, publicly. for me was allow me to put my and pointing out to them why our ‘My best teacher’ column and that’s the book’s inspiring Reviewed by Steve Holden Public figures like Michael Kirby practice under a microscope and they succeed and why they don’t should find much to like in feature. examine it.., deconstruct what thank their teachers, ‘now, when As Bill Smoot explains, this succeed.’ this anthology of usually short I’m doing in the classroom to see Predictably, you get Julian most of them are gone from book came into being on the reminiscences on favourite I like Smoot’s wide focus in this Morrow: ‘The Jesuits are famous model of Studs Terkel’s Hard if it’s effective, and that’s kept teachers by some well-known life,’ but nurse Joan O’Callaghan book. Teachers in schools can for the maxim, “Show me a Times: An oral history of the me looking at how to improve Australians as well as some points out that, nursing the find plenty in the question-and- boy at seven, and I’ll show my practice as I continue in lesser-known ones. dying, she’s often told that the Great Depression and Working: answer format with teachers you a potential lawsuit.”’ But my career.’ Mind you, Wayne person who changed their life People talk about what they do both in schools and beyond, As the book’s editor, Robert unpredictably you also get adds, she’s also been influenced was a teacher. all day and how they feel about not least 92-year-old fencing Macklin, observes in his Cardinal George Pell: ‘My father by her own Year 1 teacher: ‘I what they do. ‘My wish that he teacher Arthur Lane, when asked introduction, My Favourite was not a Catholic and he, unlike ‘Did you ever thank this teacher?’ don’t know if I imitate her, but had done a book of interviews whether he breaks things down Teacher collects together my mother, clearly distinguished she asks them. ‘Regrettably, I remember how she made me into stages. ‘Oh my God, yes. observations about teachers between Catholics he approved I never did,’ they answer. Her with teachers morphed into an feel, and that’s what I want my Speed is your enemy in learning.’ and teaching from a disparate of and others. Once or twice a advice? ‘Seize the moment. idea, then an intent and finally students to feel. I want them bunch, ranging across ‘such year he would give me a bottle Thank the teacher who made a a commitment – I would do one to feel valued, and loved and Steve Holden is Editor in Chief – improbable bedfellows as from our hotel, wrapped in brown difference in your life.’ myself,’ writes Smoot. appreciated for what they do.... Magazines at ACER Press.

Inside Teaching | October 2010 www.atra.edu.au | [email protected] 54 DIARY DIARY 55 Diary 27-29 April for learning – where the experts email [email protected] 8-10 July 1-2 or 4-5 August 7-9 August Queensland Studies Authority speak to you website www.radii.org/bookings Australian Literacy Educators Differentiation Institute: ACER Research Conference: Conference: Vision to reality Ground your professional goals in Association National Conference: Successful teaching in a Indigenous Education – Queensland’s new education research best practice, and learn 9 or 10 June Multiliterate, Multicultural, differentiated classroom Presenters will highlight the landscape more about brain-compatible International Professional Multifaceted... Melbourne place Brisbane 1-2 August, and conditions, context, curriculum, Themes will include curriculum, instruction; differentiated Learning Series: Learning to place Hilton on the Park, Melbourne Melbourne 4-5 August pedagogy and practices that assessment, quality teaching and instruction; professional learning strive and survive in challenging phone 03 9417 3555 website www.hbpls.com.au establish pathways to success for school leadership. communities; curriculum circumstances email [email protected] Indigenous students. place Brisbane Convention and planning; intervention strategies; Keynote speakers include website www.alea2011.com 5 August place Darwin Exhibition Centre and much more. Professor John Hattie and Carmel Jeans for Genes Day website www.acer.edu.au/ website www.qsa.qld.edu.au/11699. place The Heath, Caulfield Crevola. 4 August Donate a gold coin on Jeans conference html Racecourse, Melbourne place 9 June in Sydney and 10 June in Australian Mathematics for Genes Day and support the phone 03 8558 2444 Melbourne Competition Children’s Medical Research 11-13 August 10-12 May email [email protected] phone 03 9534 2934 email [email protected] Institute to unravel the mysteries IWBNet 8th National Interactive NAPLAN website www.hbe.com.au/conf8/ email [email protected] website www.amt.edu.au of childhood diseases. Teaching and Learning National Assessment Program tfl.asp website www.radii.org/bookings contact Nickie Flambouras Conference – Literacy and Numeracy for 3-7 July phone 1800 GENIES (436 437) place Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School, students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. 7-17 June 14 June Australian Association of website www.jeansforgenes.org.au Melbourne The genre of the Writing task will One-day Masterclasses: Powerful SCIL Seminars present Charles Mathematics Teachers and phone 1800 760 108 change to a persuasive style of strategies for teaching oral Leadbeater the Mathematics Education 5-6 August website www.iwb.net.au/ writing from 2011. language skills Leading authority on innovation Research Group of Australasia The Education Show, Melbourne conferences/itl/default.htm website www.naplan.edu.au With international literacy and creativity, Charles combined national conference: The Education Show provides consultant Carmel Crevola. Leadbeater, will address radical Mathematics: Traditions and primary and secondary 13-21 August 16, 17, 19, 20, 23 May place 7 June in Brisbane, 8 June in innovation, personalised and (new) practices teachers, school leaders and National Science Week: React to The Disciplined Mind: Educational Sydney, 14 June in Melbourne, 16 collaborative learning, disruptive phone 08 8363 0288. administrators with access to chemistry visions for the future June in Perth and 17 June in Adelaide technologies, and reinventing place Alice Springs Convention the latest education resources, Applications for school grants to Join Howard Gardner in this phone 03 9534 2934 and transforming schools. Centre products and services as well support the running of a National ACER Institute seminar to learn email [email protected] place Sydney Centre for Innovation in contact Melinda Pearson as a professional development Science Week event close on 27 about five minds for the future website www.radii.org/bookings Learning phone 08 8363 0288 program with 60 presentations May in Queensland and Tasmania, and teaching for understanding. email [email protected] email [email protected] on curriculum initiatives, and 3 June everywhere else place 16 May in Brisbane, 17 May in 7-17 June website www.scil.com.au website www.aamt.edu.au teaching and learning programs, except Victoria on 17 June. Sydney, 19 May in Melbourne, 20 May One-day Workshops: learning technologies, website www.scienceweek.gov.au in Adelaide and 23 May in Perth Developing resilient student and 3-10 July 10-13 July professional issues and school website www.asta.edu.au contact Margaret Taylor communities NAIDOC Week CONASTA 60: Science at the top improvement. phone 03 9277 5403 With Dr Annie Henry or the Join the National Aboriginal The annual conference of the place Caulfield Racecourse, 1-3 September email [email protected] Resiliency Group (NZ/USA) and and Islander Day Observance Australian Science Teachers Melbourne IWBNet 5th National Leading a website www.acerinstitute.edu.au Professor Mike Milstein of the Committee to celebrate NAIDOC Association. contact Tina Tolich Digital School Conference University of New Mexico. week and promote a greater place Darwin High School phone 03 9596 8881 place Crown Conference Centre, 21-24 May place 7 June in Newcastle, 8 June in understanding of Aboriginal and contact Josie West email team@resourcesforcourses. Melbourne Hawker Brownlow Education’s Sydney, 13 June in Perth, 15 June in Torres Strait Islander peoples phone 02 6282 9377 com.au phone 1800 760 108 Eighth Annual Thinking and Melbourne and 17 June in Adelaide. and our culture. email [email protected] website www.educationshow.com. website www.iwb.net.au/ Learning Conference: Teaching phone 03 9534 2934 website www.naidoc.org.au website www.conasta.edu.au au conferences/digital/default.htm

Inside Teaching | April 2011 www.atra.edu.au | [email protected] 56 SEE ME AFTERWARDS SEE ME AFTERWARDS 57

random stuff and they take it out sent one poor soul sprawling on doesn’t know you. He doesn’t When disciplining on us. Like that’s our problem?’ her face. know that Jasmine always waves my kids, they’ve at the window. The girls shouldn’t Of course, as a parent, I listened to The most ingenious and hilarious have been fighting. And, maybe what my kids were saying and my was the time the entire class accused me of he hasn’t got a very good sense of immediate impulse was to get on disappeared down a hatch in the being ‘insensitive humour.’ the phone, ring the school, find the wooden floor while the teacher’s to the rights teacher in question and ask, ‘Mate, back was turned. We stayed In essence, I said, as they put it in what is your problem, exactly?’ there, under the floorboards, in American sit-coms, ‘Cut the guy a of minorities.’ a huddled, muffled heap until we break.’ However, I decided the case for I received a heard him leave the room. Then the prosecution needed more To the relief teacher I’d like to say, we piled back out of our hidey-hole handwritten information. ‘Relax. Make your time with a new and were quietly working away like ‘So why did he say you were ugly class as enjoyable for everyone as Mother’s Day card little angels when he returned with and had big mouths?’ you can. Remember the legendary the headmaster to investigate our that began: ‘You are Mrs Doubtfire, Nanny McPhee or ‘I think that was supposed to be a sudden disappearance. Mary Poppins and leave a sprinkle my role model and joke, but it wasn’t very funny.’ Heh, heh – 40 years later and I’m of stardust in your wake.’ primary caregiver.’ ‘Why did he slam the window in still laughing. Most of all, I’d like to give Jasmine’s face?’ Even now, that teacher is probably everlasting thanks to my ‘Just because she stuck her head in therapy. daughter’s classroom teacher. in the window and yelled “Hello” One of the differences, though, Thank you for your deep insight and waved to everyone.’ We missed you these days is how savvy kids are, into my daughter and her ‘And why did you all get detention?’ Wendy Harmer writes in defence of her daughter’s relief not only about their rights, but classmates’ personalities. about the tenuous hold you have teacher, and why she’s mighty glad when her classroom ‘Only because two girls had a fight Thank you for bonding them as a over a bottle of White Out.’ over them as a parent. teacher returns. group, for making it possible for Hmmmm. When disciplining my kids, they’ve them to stand up for each other accused me of being ‘insensitive to in the face of what they, however All of this got me thinking of the ‘He’s mean!!’ my daughter howled school! He said us girls were ugly the rights of minorities.’ I received misguidedly, perceive to be an plight of the relief teacher. as she wrenched open the car and had big mouths! He slammed a handwritten Mother’s Day card injustice. door and plonked herself on the the window in Jasmine’s face! He It reminded me of the times when that began: ‘You are my role Thank you for making their passenger seat. yelled at us and we all jumped out I was a radio broadcaster and model and primary caregiver.’ classroom a welcoming place. of our seats. He’s mean and angry. went on holidays. You don’t wish ‘He’s mean, he’s mean, he’s mean!’ Again, you have to laugh. And we didn’t do anything! He’s your fill-in any ill, but then again, Thank you for being a warm, She was so incensed she couldn’t got some personality problem and isn’t it nice to imagine that sigh of What’s pretty clear is that tolerance wonderful and wise presence in stop gabbling. In six years of that’s not our fault!’ relief from your listeners when you is called upon from all sides when my child’s life. primary school, I’d never seen return? that precious bond between I soothed and cajoled as best as I Welcome back! teacher and child is interrupted. her so outraged. On the drive was able, but when her big brother I recalled all the things we did We all missed you. home she articulated every got in the car she was off again, to relief teachers when I was at It’s not that much different from misdemeanour committed by her repeating every grievance as he when the stepmother comes to school. The cat was away and the Wendy Harmer is one of Australia’s relief teacher. listened and nodded in agreement. mice did play! stay. best known humorists and ‘He made us do detention. We ‘I know,’ he said. ‘Sometimes The most shameful incident was ‘Imagine you were that relief authors, and a regular columnist don’t even have detention at our they’re getting a divorce or some rigging a chair so it collapsed and teacher,’ I said to my kids. ‘He for Inside Teaching.

Inside Teaching | April 2011 www.atra.edu.au | [email protected] QUIZ 59

1 According to research by The Swinburne University’s Brain Sciences Institute, which is more likely to predict a student’s Quiz educational achievement: emotional intelligence (EI) or intelligence quotient (IQ)?

2 According to Christopher Bantick, writing in the Mercury, what education reform in Tasmania is ‘a no-brainer,’ necessary to ensure smooth operation of the national curriculum and national testing and to prevent teacher and student exhaustion?

3 Which state premier recently argued that salary increases of more than 2.5 per cent a year will need to be offset by 7 To Catholic schools? penalising schools that are playing by the rules’? ‘commensurate productivity 8 To independent schools? improvements’ in education? 9 According to the Australian 13 For what has a strict new 4 According to the Queensland Scholarships Group, how much code of conduct been released, Teachers Union’s recent paper will it cost a parent to educate accompanied by warnings that on resourcing state schools, the a child born in 2011, if they principals and teachers will state government should reduce choose government schools in a be investigated for alleged class sizes in Prep to Year 3 to metropolitan area? breaches? how many students per class? 10 In Catholic schools? 14 Which is the highest-ranked 5 School staff in which state Australian university in the would reportedly boycott new 11 In independent schools? laws that would give them greater Times Higher Education World 12 To what was the Grattan power to search for knives and Reputation Rankings? Institute’s Ben Jensen referring weapons on students, on school when he told the Age, ‘People 15 Which is the highest-ranked grounds, and in parents’ cars? will lose faith in the system if it Australian university in the 6 According to Maralyn Parker, can be gamed in this way.... If Quacquarelli Symonds World writing in the Daily Telegraph this is allowed to go on, you’re University Rankings? about the funding comparisons ANSWERS made possible by the relaunched 1. emotional intelligence; 2. the move from three to four terms in a school year; 3. Victorian My School website, what is the Premier Ted Baillieu; 4. 20 (the current target is 25); 5. Victoria; 6. $10,600; 7. $7,700; 8. $6,200; average government funding, per 9. $80,000; 10. $217,000; 11. $415,000; 12. the between-school differences in percentages of students sitting the national literacy and numeracy (NAPLAN) tests; 13. administering NAPLAN student, given to government tests; 14. the University of Melbourne (ranked 45th in the world); 15. the Australian National schools in Australia? University (ranked 20th in the world).

www.atra.edu.au | [email protected] Inside Teaching | August 2010