Issue 5 Centenary Special Edition METHERELL MAYHEM In one of the largest demonstrations Students from Mosman High School in Australian labour history, more than and North Boys High School 80,000 teachers, parents and students led the School Students’ Union at the gathered for a Day of Action in Day of Action in The Domain. Students The Domain, Sydney, on 17 August from at least 100 schools took part. 1988 to reject the Greiner/Metherell School Students’ Union Secretary Alex government’s attack on public Malatestas was most concerned about the education. loss of 2000 teachers from public schools. The newly elected NSW Government Student activists carried banners with had been quick to announce: strong messages such as: • the axing of 2400 teaching positions • “Concerned students today, voters of • the axing of 800 office staff positions tomorrow” • abandoning capital works in the • “40,000 HSC students can’t be wrong” education portfolio • “Education is a human right” The demise of • curriculum to be under the central • “Teachers, parents, students united in and control of the Minister for Education defence of public education”. • the sale of $340 million of public assets On 20 July 1990, Terry Metherell was forced to Teachers first took industrial action over • changes to the HSC resign from his position as education minister the government’s plans on 9 June 1988. • the dismantling of the Department when media revealed he had evaded paying They participated in further strikes and of Education’s Women’s Programs tax on his property portfolio. He was replaced stopwork meetings in coming years to in TAFE by on 24 June 1990. demonstrate their strong opposition • dismantling of equal opportunity and In October 1991, he resigned from the Liberal to the Greiner government’s approaches gender equity programs for students Party on live TV on the ABC’s 7.30 Report. on education and industrial matters. and teachers Mr Metherell ended his political career • staff and funding cuts to TAFE Scott Report in April 1992 when he resigned as the • reducing casual teacher numbers independent member for Davidson. • eliminating free public transport for Mr Greiner frequently remarked how he Mr Greiner was reported to the school students wished to manage the state of NSW like Independent Commission Against Corruption • increasing charges for public education a business. Education Minister Terry (ICAC) over Metherell’s resignation and • increasing class sizes. Metherell appointed Brian Scott to review appointment to a position at the Environmental Thousands of people marched to the education in NSW. His 1999 report, Protection Authority. After Commissioner Ian Education Department offices in regional Schools Renewal: A Strategy to Revise Temby found Mr Greiner “corrupt within the centres and to Parliament House in Schools within the New South Wales State meaning of the Independent Commission Macquarie Street, carrying banners that Education System, contained a radical Against Corruption Act 1988” on 19 June told Premier Nick Greiner and Education devolution agenda that was at the heart of 1992, he was forced out of office and resigned Minister Terry Metherell exactly what the struggle between Federation and the on 24 June 1992. The ICAC finding was later More than 80,000 teachers, parents and students marched in Sydney on teachers thought of their agenda. Greiner government from 1988-1992. overturned by the NSW Court of Appeal. 17 August 1988 to protest the NSW government’s cuts to public education

Wran government announces plans to close the Superannuation Scheme

Ten-week re-training courses are introduced to address teacher shortages Statewide strikes in August and Octo ber 40,000 students are refused TAFE to protest against special education Differential staffing achieved enrolments due to a lack of teachers Cuts to TAFE funding results in fewer staffing levels for disadvantaged schools and suitable accommodation enrolments for TAFE courses

1978 1980 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988

Schools allocated two student-free days 80,000 protest in The Domain over the Child rearing recognised in salary Hawke Labor government announces plans for professional learning programs Greiner/Metherell government’s attack progression to further fund wealthy private schools on public education Maternity leave extended and provisions for part-time leave included Succession of social justice firsts Three significant appointments between 1975 and 1986 demonstrated Federation’s commitment to social reform. Other unions made similar appointments as a result of the high-profile activism of Federation officers in these pioneering roles. Women’s Coordinator Gail Shelston was elected as Federation’s Coordinator of the Women’s Action Program in 1975, the International Year of Women. That year’s Annual Conference voted to extend the Women’s Coordinator position beyond 1975, however not all members were pleased with this decision and voiced their objections in Education’s letters to the editor and in conference debates. PROTRACTED BATTLES IN TAFE Ms Shelston started her teaching career at Corrimal High School in 1972. Her Federation activism began that same year TAFE teachers engaged in difficult, protracted of the Labor government to honour a string of election TAFE and begin charging students administration in the Illawarra Teachers Association. As the first Women’s and budget promises since 1976. In 1985, 40,000 fees for courses studied. Coordinator from 1975-1977, she established the permanent battles with the Wran Labor and Greiner Liberal Women’s Action program within the union. governments over equal teaching hours, known as the students were denied an enrolment in TAFE because These attacks on TAFE were unprecedented. She published regular articles in Education and 18:12 campaigns. of staffing and accommodation shortages. Teachers were forced to make trade-offs for small travelled throughout NSW speaking at conferences and at Teachers of General and Diploma courses taught 18 In 1987, the Unsworth Labor government cynically salary increases. After the resignation of Education universities on affirmative action and equal opportunity. hours with 12 hours of preparation time (18:12 princi- dismissed earlier promises and again claimed that Minister Terry Metherell in 1990, TAFE was During this period, Ms Shelston was a member of the ple) while trade teachers taught for 24 hours with six budget constraints worked against the implementation transferred away from public education to the Minister Department of Education’s Equal Employment Opportunity hours of preparation time. All full-time TAFE teachers of equal teaching hours for all TAFE teachers. for Industrial Relations and Employment, . were required to be on site for 30 hours per week. The withdrawal of $13 million in funding from Task Force and Federation’s Affirmative Action Committee. Scott Review As a result of the high profile and successful advocacy by 1986-1988 by the Labor government resulted in the A management review of TAFE by Brian Scott fore- Ms Shelston in her pioneering Women’s Coordinator Unfulfilled promise loss of 520 full-time TAFE teaching positions. role, other unions appointed similar roles from 1975 onwards. In 1981, the Wran Labor government accepted the shadowed significant changes to the working condi- 18:12 staffing principle for all TAFE teachers but failed Savage attacks on sector tions of TAFE teachers from 1989-1990. Aboriginal Education Officer to follow through with any implementation strategies The election of the Greiner Coalition government in The further loss of 100,000 students from TAFE, Federation’s first Policy Statement on in the state budgets from 1982-1986. March 1988 exacerbated the fraught industrial following the introduction of fees, seemed to concern Aboriginal Education was adopted at During 1986, several confrontational stopwork landscape. Within three months of the election, in NSW voters and Federation significantly more than it the 1980 Annual Conference. Earlier meetings, one-day strikes, rallies, mass meetings, a very provocative move, the Greiner government concerned the government. statements and publications outlining referrals to the Industrial Relations Commission increased TAFE staffing to 22 hours per week for all The attacks on TAFE funding, staffing provisions, the problems faced by Aboriginal (IRC), delegations and strong campaigning failed to full-time teachers from 1989. and vocational education curriculum guarantees for students in schools had been resolve the 18:12 issue. Each time the government The “daylight equivalent” (time-and-a-half after students continued throughout the Greiner/Fahey released previously. claimed there were insufficient funds to appoint 6pm) was also cancelled by the newly-elected governments until the Carr Labor government Nominations for the foundation additional teachers to facilitate the implementation of government, despite it being part of the TAFE award was elected in April 1995. Unfortunately, the ongoing position of Aboriginal Education the 18:12 formula for all TAFE teachers. since 1938. In November 1988, the IRC rejected the marginalisation and residualisation of TAFE as Coordinator were received in October 1985, and Tony Amatto Industrial activity secured a revised 20:10 staffing government’s application to increase teaching hours. a public education provision by successive Labor (pictured) was elected as the first Coordinator in 1986. He held hours formula for 15 trade schools in 1980-1982, but The Greiner government also announced it would and Liberal governments has continued into the the position until he was succeeded by David Prosser in 1991. the gains were very modest and highlighted the failure dismantle Women’s Access and EEO Programs in 21st century. In his report to Annual Conference in 1987, Mr Amatto urged delegates to seek the truth about the black history of white Australia and reminded them that as recently as the early 1970s, Aboriginal people were not allowed to use public Jennie George: A union pioneer swimming pools and movie theatres in country towns. “As teachers, we share an enormous responsibility to set the Former Federation President Jennie George In her first year on the ACTU executive, in 1983, record straight,” he said. “We owe this to ourselves and to the demonstrated strength and passion for social justice Ms George was the only woman in the governing children we teach.” during her distinguished union leadership career. body that consisted of 38 men. She was elected as Mr Amatto also explained that Aboriginal Australians would As the first female President of both Federation and the ACTU Vice President in 1987, and in 1991 became find very little to celebrate in the upcoming 1988 Bicentenary ACTU, she was an articulate media performer who the first female Assistant Secretary. She was elected of white settlement. overcame resentment from some sections of the old as the first female ACTU President in 1996, and held Former President of the Aboriginal Education Consultative guard male unionists who questioned the leadership this position until 2000. Group (AECG), , stated at the time, “As a NSW credentials of a woman from a white collar union. In 1998, Ms George was prominent in the Maritime Teachers Federation member, I am proud my union has Ms George was a Federation activist throughout the Union of Australia dispute with Patrick Corporation adopted a position supportive of Aboriginal people declining early 1970s and was elected as full-time Welfare and the Howard federal government. She hailed the to partake in the celebrations.” Officer in 1973. In 1980, she became the union’s first federal court win in that dispute as imperative to the female General Secretary, a position she held for union movement’s survival. Ms George was one of the Multicultural Coordinator three years. Ms George became Federation’s first key activists in the labour movement to establish the Barbara Fitzgerald was elected female President in 1986, and held this position until 50 per cent target for women in unions. She was also unopposed as Federation’s first 1989. During her tenure, she led the union through the integral in securing paid maternity leave for women Multicultural Coordinator in 1986, tumultuous period of the Nick Greiner/Terry from the federal government when they did not receive a position she held until 1988. Her Metherell reforms from 1988-1989, and rejected a maternity leave benefit from their employers. work in this position involved exten- the Scott Report, which proposed that public schools Ms George was elected as a Labor MP for the sive communication with APHEDA- be corporatised and managed as businesses. federal seat of Throsby in 2001. She was shadow Union Aid Abroad, especially in Her powerful leadership during the Metherell disputes parliamentary secretary for the environment and Vietnam, East Timor and Cambodia. was widely supported by teachers, parents and heritage from 2004-2007 and remained in federal Jennie George led the way for women as the first Ms Fitzgerald’s teaching career students across NSW. politics until her retirement in 2010. female President of Federation and the ACTU began in 1964 at Blacktown Girls High School. Between 1966 and 1973 she taught in Papua, New Guinea and London. On returning to Sydney in 1974, she joined the Adult Migrant the 1980 Anti-Discrimination (Amendment) Act, in March 1988, it foreshadowed the dismantling of English Service (AMES), teaching English to migrants from which demanded all public sector agencies introduce EEO programs in schools and TAFEs, along with the multicultural backgrounds. Her work with AMES coincided The politics strategies to create opportunities for girls in schools Department of Education’s EEO Management Plan, with the development of AMES Teachers Association as an and for women in the public sector workforce. as one of its cost cutting measures. Savage cuts to active association within Federation in the 1980s. of Equal The programs made considerable impact, EEO programs were introduced, especially in Ms Fitzgerald was elected as Federation Welfare Officer in especially in the identification of discrimination TAFEs, despite ongoing Federation campaigns from 1980, where she continued her strong activism with AMESTA Employment against women and girls in the curriculum. 1988 to 1992 to preserve as many equity programs as until 1982. The Federation Multicultural Officer’s position was EEO programs targeted women to participate in possible. Some elements of the equity programs were foreshadowed in 1983 and designated from 1986. Opportunities TAFE retraining courses. A small minority of male restored under Virginia Chadwick in 1993-1994 and By the time Ms Fitzgerald returned to the classroom in Federation members did not support the introduction by the Carr Labor government after its election 1989, AMES had grown to almost 500 teachers in NSW. From 1981 to 1986, NSW Labor governments of EEO or affirmative action programs and heated in 1995. By 1996, the concepts of equity, equal Her work with multicultural programs was recognised with introduced a series of Equal Employment correspondence ensued in Education in the 1980s. opportunity and non-discrimination were much more Federation Life Membership in 2000. Opportunity programs in line with the demands of As soon as the Coalition government was elected prominent in NSW government education policies. Decade of RFF campaigning In September 1981, NSW Premier in Sydney demonstrated the seriousness 90 per cent of parents kept their children made several promises of Federation’s primary/infants staffing home in support of the strike. The NSW regarding primary/infants staffing during campaign demands. Those who attended the state budget on 20 September failed to his re-election campaign. “Release from meeting did so during a huge downpour, address the RFF and staffing issues. face-to-face teaching in primary schools which flooded many parts of the city, The second strike on 20 October is a high priority matter,” he said. including the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This reminded Education Minister “The government will begin a program of turnout demonstrated the magnitude of of his previous comments about the implementation during the next financial support for Federation’s campaign. importance of investment in early years of year.” However, this promise was broken Throughout 1981-1982, the Department schooling. In December 1983, the Wran and all infants, primary and SSP teachers of Education delayed a reduction in class government announced it would phase in did not receive two hours release from sizes and face-to-face teaching time despite RFF from 1984-1987. However, by 1987, face-to-face (RFF) per week until 1988. promises to the contrary. The re-election of fewer than 50 per cent of relevant teachers Primary and infants teachers had the Wran government in September 1981 had been allocated weekly RFF so the campaigned strongly through the 1970s delivered more promises but, again, very campaign resumed in 1987, highlighting the for a reduction in class sizes, RFF, and little action. “The infants/primary staffing government’s broken promises. a reclassification of schools to protect staffing issues were far from won,” reported Barbara By 1986, had replaced entitlements due to falling enrolments. Murphy (Federation Deputy President Wran as NSW Premier. On 31 August 1987, The Wran government made several 1982-1983) in the 1981 Annual Report. From he agreed to fund the equivalent of an promises when it was elected in May 1976, 1981-1983, she was concerned about the additional 820 teachers in order to fund RFF but by 1980 very little had been achieved. anticipated loss of 2100 primary and infants for every remaining relevant teacher from The Minister for Education, , positions in the years 1983-1986 if there was 1988. At the same time, he agreed to trial was unresponsive to concerns about the no adjustment to the staffing formula. 150 permanent part-time teaching positions. loss of teaching positions as a result of the In 1983, primary and infants teachers The Unsworth government was defeated ruthless application of the primary and staged two 24-hour strikes in support of the by Nick Greiner and the Liberal coalition infants staffing formula in the face of staffing campaign and RFF. The strike on in March 1988, however RFF had been falling enrolments in parts of NSW. 23 August was widely supported by the implemented for all teachers in all schools A mass meeting of 1800 teachers on Federation of P & Cs and the Federation by Term 1 in 1988, concluding a long and 9 November 1980 at the Regent Theatre of School Community Organisations, while difficult 10-year campaign.

Federation activism immortalised CANE In 1988, Federation applied to the Australia Council for the Arts for assistance with the commissioning of a trade union ABOLISHED campaign banner. A grant of $8600 was approved and used for the hiring of a professional banner FOR GOOD painter, who worked on the project for 12 weeks. A Federation Banner Committee was formed to advise on design components and The abolition of corporal punishment in schools — usually to review initial drawings. Preliminary referred to as “the cane” — was debated many times throughout sketches were displayed for Federation the history of Federation before it was abolished in NSW public Council and TAFE Council in 1988. schools by the Minister for Education, , in 1986. Artist Birgitte Hansen was chosen to The cane was abolished in Victorian public schools in 1985. design the banner and she was assisted by Motions to abolish the cane were debated at Council, textile artists Susie Crooks and Nola Taylor, who had previously worked on the Association meetings and Annual Conferences as early as the design and construction of banners. 1930s, but they were invariably defeated. Teachers argued they The construction involved painting, deserved the right to make their “own professional judgements” knitting, sewing, weaving and patchwork, about appropriate use of the cane. Principals wanted to retain the symbolising the work of women. right to use the cane and delegate its use to senior teachers. The various panels of the banner reflect In 1974, Federation commissioned a survey on the use of the the rich history of campaigns fought by cane, and of the 200 schools that replied, only five supported Federation in its 70 years to 1988. Some of the abolition of the cane. In the 4 June 1975 edition of the images include a cartoon encapsulating Artist Birgitte Hansen and Publications officer Paula Bloch works on the banner’s design the life of a female teacher when the Education, Teachers from St Marys High School in western Married Women (Lecturers and Teachers) It also features images of women campaigns to provide resources for Sydney mounted a spirited defence of the “professional Act of 1932 forced the dismissal of married teachers at the 1988 rally against the Aboriginal education. judgement of teachers” regarding use of the cane. Several women teachers; International Women’s Greiner/Metherell government’s devolution The banner is on permanent display in teachers and head teachers from the school signed the defence Day in 1975; and the fight for equal pay. reform agenda, and images from the union’s auditorium in Surry Hills. of corporal punishment document. Although it had been government policy for decades that all corporal punishment administered at school had to be recorded From Bathurst TA to the world stage in a “punishment book”, it was not always recorded. Those who were opposed to the cane argued that its use was Sharan Burrow began her teaching career in 1982 and Ms Burrow was the first woman to be elected to the demeaning for both students and teachers and had no place in was a public education activist as a member of position of General Secretary of the International Trade 20th century public schools. Minister Cavalier claimed the cane Federation during the 1980s. She was President of the Union Confederation (ITUC) — the world’s peak labour was “neither humane nor effective”. Anti-corporal punishment Bathurst Trades and Labor Council before becoming organisation. In her acceptance speech in 2006, leaflets were occasionally distributed in various forums. President of the Australian Education Union in 1992. Ms Burrow outlined the international labour The decision by the Minister in 1986 was criticised by some In 2000, Ms Burrow was elected as ACTU movement’s priorities. “I am a warrior for women and Federation members when it came into effect in all public President, becoming just the second woman to hold the we still have to work to ensure the inclusion of women position after Jennie George. During her presidency, she in the workplace and in our unions,” she said. schools from the start of the 1987 school year. Schools were was heavily involved in the Your Rights At Work “The investment in and participation of women is not encouraged to study alternative methods of discipline and campaign, opposing the industrial policies of the only a moral mandate, it is an investment in democracy classroom management. British parliament also abolished the Howard federal government. She was also involved in and a bulwark against fundamentalism and oppression. cane in both public and private schools in 1986. the establishment of the Fair Work Act in 2009 by Organising women must continue to be a priority for The NSW Federation of P & C Organisations welcomed the the Rudd government, which abolished the Work the ITUC.” Ms Burrow had previously been President of abolition of the cane. The P & C state council had been arguing Choices legislation. Ms Burrow was also involved in the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. establishing the Paid Parental Leave scheme, which she In 2014, Ms Burrow was re-elected as ITUC General for its abolition since 1975, and Federation supported it despite argued was crucial to the ongoing participation of Secretary. In 2017, she became co-chair of the World misgivings from many members. women in the workforce. After a decade as ACTU Justice Project, which works to strengthen the rule of Sharan Burrow has dedicated her career Corporal punishment was abolished in NSW private schools President, she was succeeded by Ged Kearney in 2010. law around the world. to union leadership and women’s rights in 1995 by the Carr Labor government. SACKED FOR REFUSING TRANSFER In February 1985, Bega High School teacher Dick O’Neill refused a forced transfer to Bombala High School and was sacked by the Department of Education. He was the first NSW teacher to be sacked for refusing a transfer, taking a stand in defence of the curriculum available to Bega High School students. The curriculum, including HSC maths courses, had been compromised by the Labor government’s new staffing formula implemented that same year. The Minister for Education, Rodney Cavalier, threatened to sack any teacher who refused a forced transfer in 1985 and relished provoking industrial action against a ruthlessly enforced new staffing formula. Mr O’Neill had been teaching maths and science at the school since 1981, and despite a controversial court case challenging the forced transfer, the Department of Education refused to reinstate him. He enjoyed support from all 16 high schools in the Illawarra Teachers Association, and his colleagues from Bega High School and across NSW raised funds to support his salary during the protracted dispute that lasted 44 weeks. The dispute received extensive media coverage. Mr O’Neill was vilified and received death threats. The Secretary of the NSW Labor Council, John MacBean, and Assistant Secretary Michael Easson urged Premier Wran to reinstate him to Bega High School. After his dismissal, Mr O’Neill was employed by Federation as a country organiser from 1986 -1987. He was appointed to Narooma High School before the NSW election in Federation members waged a fierce campaign to prevent Dover Heights Boys High School from being sold March 1988 after Federation announced it would campaign in marginal seats against the Unsworth government. He retired from Narooma High School in 2002 after being awarded Federation Life Membership in 2001. KEEPING SCHOOLS When Mr O’Neill passed away in March 2007, he was remembered as a proud union- IN PUBLIC HANDS ist and activist who inspired others to stay strong during difficult times. The bitter Dover Heights Boys High School dispute from 1980-1985 Members regarded the proposed sale as a complete betrayal of public exposed the Wran government’s lack of commitment to public schools education and public assets by a Labor government at the same time it and public education. Never before had a public school been offered for was subsidising NSW private schools by $80 million per year. sale to a private school. In April 1983, Premier Wran suggested students of Dover Heights The Wran government had already foreshadowed the closure Boys HS and Moriah could jointly occupy the site. This was met with of Randwick North High School, Cleveland Street Boys High School, widespread condemnation. Following several days and nights on Wilkins High School and Newtown Boys High School. picket lines at Dover Heights Boys HS, plus strike action, mass meetings, Federation’s School Closures Committee demanded an immediate leaflets, the lobbying of MPs, stopwork meetings across Sydney’s eastern two-year moratorium on all school closures from 1981. suburbs and a unanimous motion condemning the government at The proposal to merge Dover Heights Boys High School with Dover the Federation of P&Cs Annual Conference in July 1983, the Wran Heights Girls High School to form Dover Heights High School on the government finally met with Federation and parent groups on girls’ school campus was strongly opposed by all members of the Dover 17 November 1983 to announce the site would be used as a TAFE college. Heights Boys HS community, and the struggle to keep the school in The long fight to keep the Dover Heights Boys High School site in public hands lasted many years. In 1982, the school site was offered to public hands ultimately failed. It was occupied by Dover Heights TAFE Moriah College, a publicly funded Category 1 private school, but the from 1986 to 1995, before the Carr Labor government presided over its 60-year lease at $150,000 per year did not proceed due to Federation’s sale to a private religious school. Since 2003, it has been occupied by strong campaign. From 1976, Moriah College had received $3 million in Kesser Torah College, a Jewish Orthodox co-educational K-12 school federal and NSW government funding. and preschool. The merger of Dover Heights Vaucluse and Dover At Federation’s 1982 Annual Conference, hundreds of teachers Heights high schools in 2003 created Rose Bay Secondary College, signed up to occupy the site of Dover Heights Boys HS from 1983. which is still part of the public education system. Supporters came out in force to support sacked teacher Dick O’Neill Teachers in time: the 1980s

Four-term year Department of Education to provide her Year 12 class In 1987, the four-term year replaced the three-term year, with a teacher for such an extended period. She urged which had been in place since 1930. Prior to 1930, Federation to campaign to address teacher shortage issues. a four-term year had been in place from 1848-1928. In 1929, there were only two terms in NSW public schools. 1988: Federation fees During the three-term years, teachers and students • Full-time teachers: $182 per year, or $7 per fortnight often struggled with colds and flus through the 13- or • Casual or part-time teachers: $63 per year 14-week winter term, especially in classrooms that were • Education cost: $1.40 per edition poorly heated or insulated. White Australia has a black history Double marking and the HSC Throughout 1986 and 1987, the issue of how Australia’s The Greiner government announced major revisions to 1988 Bicentenary year should be celebrated was the double marking procedure of HSC exams in order frequently debated. Annual Conference of 1987 to save $800,000. Federation activists opposed these unanimously called on Federation to produce teaching cost-cutting measures that could compromise the integrity material for members that presented an Aboriginal and credibility of the HSC. perspective on Australian history. In November 1988, HSC English markers staged a “sit in” and continued to implement the double Visit by Margaret Thatcher marking process. Eventually, the Minister for Education, During her visit to Australia in 1988 for the Bicentenary Terry Metherell, relented and double marking was celebrations, UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher restored just as HSC marking was underway. The decision Teachers shortage of Education to express her dismay at not having a trained addressed the National Press Club. She advised Australian was widely applauded in the press and by parent groups. In August 1988, the Department of Education advised some science teacher for the previous four months of the year. politicians to introduce small government, thrash out Double marking may have been rescued, but there secondary principals they would have to consider leaving However, Ms Moore was appreciative of her principal, policies in the party room and then “stick with them”. was a constant battle by Federation members senior classes untaught and also cut some senior electives in who had been teaching the class himself. In Business Review Weekly on 12 August 1988, she throughout the 1990s to retain credible HSC marking order to absorb staff cuts. This contradicted Mr Metherell, Her letter also quoted the Bicentennial memento, advised the Greiner government to “tackle interest groups procedures. Successive governments sought ways to who publicly stated that staffing cuts would be “minimal”. which had been issued to all school children in 1988: “You head on” just five days before the mass rally of more reduce costs rather than investing in high quality and On 27 June 1988, Amanda Moore, a Year 12 student are Australia’s Future.” Ms Moore was having difficulty than 80,000 parents, teachers and students opposing viable assessment procedures. from Evans High School at Blacktown, wrote to the Editor reconciling this message with the failure of the the government’s education reforms.