FROM THE FRONT: report from Parliament House, Canberra by Jenny Branch, President of ACSSO
Parliament House. The steps lined with reporters. Crowded with the famous, the politicians - the best and brightest in the nation - and me.
A beautiful clear calm Canberra morning - yet I could feel the shared excitement, the sense of opportunity. So many feelings running through my mind. I knew something special was about to happen - and I was going to be part of it.
Brought together in the Great Hall like a precision military operation. Proud to be Australian as we all sang the National Anthem together. Then the Prime Minister’s inspirational speech of what this might deliver for the future of Australia.
The challenges were exhilarating. Think big, wide, long-term, inclusive and linked-up. Think outcomes and impacts. The things that will take us forward together to a future we can only guess at. The future our children will inherit ... read more
ACSSO EDITORIAL:
A fresh perspective on Australian education issues that are making news - or ought to be.
16-04-08: Values - Vital Elements of Successful Learning and Personal Development
When ACSSO does its polling and focus groups, we find parents are very strong about the need to teach and practise values in our schools.
They want good academic results and they want schools to be safe places for their kids.
And they want schools to reflect, teach and model the positive values they know are important to all young people’s learning and personal development.
Values of mutual respect, inclusiveness, empathy and compassion, integrity, honesty, trust and personal responsibility.
ACSSO has been listening to parents.
As a result, we are strongly advising the Australian Government that the Values Education Programme must be continued after June this year,
Values education has given a green light to teachers and parents to teach the whole child about such important values as doing your best, respecting the rights of others, practising tolerance ... read more
AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION DIGEST:
A free weekly email summarising education news, issues, events and resources. subscribe now | browse archives
06-05-08: Hot Topic: The Drift to Private Schools; Hot Topic: 2020 Summit; Hot Topic: School Size; Research: leaving school early, school leadership, student engagement in tertiary education; Indigenous Education: Aboriginal literacy; University Funding: Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund; Parent Teacher Relationships: When Parents Lose the Plot; Humane Education: Jane Goodall Institute, Australian Animal Welfare Strategy; International Year of Planet Earth 2008; Conferences & Events: Frontiers in Education Conference, World Indigenous Peoples Conference: Education, Hawaii Conference on Education, Back to School; Reminders ... read more
29-04-08: Hot Topics: Early Childhood, School Funding, Teachers' Pay, Safe Schools; Opinion: A vision for 2020 - Achieve Equity in Education, Need for remedial action on public schooling; Research: Teaching of Geography in Years 3-10, Protecting Children from Tobacco; Awards & Prizes: National History Challenge, Eureka Science Prizes; Resources: ACSSO Website; International Year of Planet Earth; Conferences & Events: Walk Safely to School Day, Australian Parliament House Open Day, 2009 Summer School For Australian Teachers, Back to School; Reminders ... read more
