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AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION DIGEST

COMPARING SCHOOL PERFORMANCE

Principle has been abandoned, say principals

Anna Patty, Sydney Morning Herald, June 13, 2009

EDUCATION ministers are no longer committed to avoiding "harm" to school communities in the publication of school league tables, say teachers and principals.

The ministers met in Tasmania yesterday and adopted a set of principles for reporting on schools as part of the Commonwealth's new "transparency" agenda.

The previous set of protocols released last July included the following key principle: "The avoidance of harm to members of the community: this could occur where the privacy of individuals would be compromised or where the reputation of an institution or group of people would be damaged through the publication of misleading information or stereotyping."

The new protocol statement does not include any reference to avoiding harm or damage, but says data will not be published in a form that compares the performance of individual schools "without contextual information".

Angelo Gavrielatos, the president of the Australian Education Union, said omission of the 2008 principle amounted to an admission the new reporting approach could cause "harm".

"The decision by the ministers clearly shows that they have conceded there will be harm to individuals and schools as a result of publication of league tables," he said.

Read entire article: http://tinyurl.com/nkaawj

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Omission is admission: league table website will damage schools

John Kaye MP Media release: 14 June 2009

The nation's education ministers' omission of the 'do no damage' principle from their data publishing protocols is an admission that their website will inevitably lead to the humiliation of many schools, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Dr Kaye said: "The omission is an admission of guilt. Verity Firth and her federal counterpart Julia Gillard knew that maintaining this key ethical principle would rule out their website.

"The nation's education ministers have admitted that 'doing no damage' is completely inconsistent with publishing results on a single website.  They had no choice but to drop it or abandon their 'name-and-shame' agenda.

Read entire release: http://tinyurl.com/mn7bvk

BUILDING THE EDUCATION REVOLUTION

Primary Schools for the 21st Century – Round Two Grants announced

Hon Julia Gillard MP, Minister for Education, 14 June 2009

3,716 Australian primary schools will receive $6.3 billion for major infrastructure projects under Round Two of Primary Schools for the 21st Century (P21) to support local jobs.

With one round remaining (Round Three), P21 will have to date delivered $9.1 billion to 5,215 eligible primary schools for 6,983 projects to help stimulate jobs in every local community.

In the next 12 months there will be over 23,000 projects in around 9,500 schools across the country.

A full list of successful schools and their planned projects are available at: http://www.buildingtheeducationrevolution.gov.au or at: http://www.economicstimulusplan.gov.au

12 June 2009: P21 delivers $129 million to 88 Tasmanian schools: http://tinyurl.com/l78kga
10 June 2009: P21 delivers $2.3 billion to 1,354 NSW primary schools: http://tinyurl.com/lyzau2
10 June 2009: P21 delivers $140 million for 67 ACT primary schools: http://tinyurl.com/le53v8
10 June 2009: P21 delivers $579 million to 349 WA primary schools: http://tinyurl.com/nfp2kd 
9 June 2009: P21 to deliver $1.4 billion to 776 Victorian schools: http://tinyurl.com/np68rp 
9 June 2009: P21 to deliver $520 million to 318 SA primary schools: http://tinyurl.com/m8rp3t  
9 June 2009: P21 to deliver $1.2 billion to 702 Queensland schools: http://tinyurl.com/nuegvx 

Read more at: http://tinyurl.com/l4cb2w

Issues: Building the Education Revolution

Transcript, ABC Radio 612 interview with the Hon Julia Gillard MP, Minister for Education, 12 June 2009

SPENCER HOWSON: The Australian today reveals that grants of between $75,000 and $200,000 have been handed to Inala West State School, Richlands, Dimore and Bremer State High, despite those schools being slated for closure, or in the case of Bremer, it’s moving to a new campus. The Federal Education Minister is Julia Gillard.  Minister, good morning.

JULIA GILLARD: Good morning.

SPENCER HOWSON: Explain what’s going on here.  Has there been some sort of bureaucratic bungle?

JULIA GILLARD: I can certainly explain what’s going on here.  The Building the Education Revolution guidelines make it absolutely clear that our money which is for our National School Pride program, for small scale repairs around schools and things like shade cloths and interactive whiteboards, must go to schools that are continuing for the future.  And of course our building 21st Century Primary Schools money also has to go to schools that are continuing for the future.

In every state, there are schools that are either going to close or consolidate with other schools into a limited number of school sites.  What we do with those schools is that they may qualify for the money and put it into things that can be moved into the new school sites.  We’ve had examples around the country, for example of interactive whiteboards that are going to be moved to the new school site.  The guidelines are perfectly clear.

SPENCER HOWSON: So the Bremer State High School $200,000, which is for a running track and revegetation – that running track and those trees will all be moved to the new site, will they?

Read entire transcript: http://tinyurl.com/lzr754

Adviser slams $14.7bn school cash as a 'missed opportunity'

Nicolas Perpitch, the Australian, June 11, 2009

ONE of Kevin Rudd's hand-picked Infrastructure Australia board members has slammed the federal government's $14.7 billion education revolution program, claiming it has missed a generational opportunity to build environmentally sustainable schools across the nation.

Peter Newman, who heads Curtin University's Sustainability Policy Institute in Perth, claimed the Building the Education Revolution programs were being pushed out too quickly, with new buildings and infrastructure based on standardised templates at the cost of innovation.

The billion-dollar bonanza, part of the government's efforts to stimulate the economy, is being met by a growing chorus of concern over how the money is being distributed and administered across the states.

Complaints about equity are being joined by concerns that narrow funding parameters are making it impossible to build high-quality schools for the future. 

Read entire article: http://tinyurl.com/kkaozm

Labor's largesse to private primary schools

Natasha Bita, the Australian, June 10, 2009

ELITE private schools that boast of their superior facilities were handed hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer funding for new libraries, halls and refurbished classrooms yesterday.

Education Minister Julia Gillard - who is insisting that she be personally invited to open new facilities in all the nation's 9540 schools - yesterday defended as equitable the decision to give infrastructure funding to some of the nation's wealthiest primary schools.

She announced $3.1 billion for schools in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia yesterday, under the second funding round for Primary Schools in the 21st Century (P21) program.

Private schools will receive $537 million - or 17 per cent - of the second-round funding, with 63 per cent going to public schools and 20 per cent to Catholic schools.

Ms Gillard yesterday defended the funding of wealthy schools, saying the allocations had been based purely on the size of each school.

Read entire article: http://tinyurl.com/ly6fof 

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EDUCATION TAX REFUND

Education Tax Refund – Don't forget to claim

As the end of the financial year (30 June 2009) approaches, the Australian Taxation Office would like to remind those eligible to make their Education Tax Refund claim.

How do I claim the Education Tax Refund?

• In your tax return.
• If you don't lodge a tax return, claim on a separate form or over the phone.
• If you use a tax agent, make sure you ask them to claim for you.

The Education Tax Refund lets you claim up to 50% of eligible education expenses for school children. If you are eligible, you can get back up to $375 for each primary student and up to $750 for each secondary student.

You can claim things like text books, stationery and even internet costs.

If you receive Family Tax Benefit Part A for a child at primary or secondary school, you will be eligible. Some other people are eligible too, to find out more about this and other information such as what you can and can't claim go to australia.gov.au/educationtaxrefund or call the Tax Office on 13 28 61.

Remember, you need to keep all receipts for expenses you claim.

The Tax Office has prepared some frequently asked questions and answers at: http://tinyurl.com/klgybd

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INDIGENOUS EDUCATION

Submission to the Senate Select Committee on Regional and Remote Indigenous Communities

Australian Education Union, May 2009

From the Overview:

"The AEU is alarmed about the disadvantage experienced by regional and remote school students in areas such as:

• The availability and accessibility of both primary and secondary schooling;
• The quality of educational services, including technological support services, and
• Whether the education available to Indigenous children complies with their human rights."

From the Conclusion:

"The provision of quality public education is crucial to the well being of all communities, but particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) communities in regional and remote Australia, especially students. The public education system in all States and Territories must provide access to quality pre-school, primary, secondary and post-school education every Aboriginal community."

Read more at http://tinyurl.com/krxdbb

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EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Australia:  Real benefits in imaginary friends

Latrobe University Media Release, 02 Jun 2009

Children with imaginary friends are better at learning to communicate than other children, according to La Trobe University psychologist, Dr Evan Kidd.   Dr Kidd and colleague Anna Roby explored the hidden world of imaginary companions in a bid to understand the benefits.

The study of 44 children showed that the 22 children who had imaginary friends were better able to get their point across than were children of the same age who did not have one.

“Children with imaginary friends have a lot of practice at inventing interactions between their imaginary friends and themselves,” said Dr Kidd.  “We think that this is what facilitates their development of conversational skills – being in charge of both sides of the conversation.”

Read entire article: http://tinyurl.com/qhx9k4

Early Childhood Education Intervention Reports

Doors to Discovery and Bright Beginnings

US National Centre for Education & Evaluation

On June 9, the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance’s What Works Clearinghouse released two Early Childhood Education Intervention Reports.

The first is an update on Doors to Discovery™, an early childhood curriculum that focuses on the development of children’s vocabulary and expressive and receptive language through a learning process called “shared literacy” in which adults and children work together to develop literacy-related skills. Based on the Clearinghouse’s review of the research, Doors to Discovery™ was found to have potentially positive effects on oral language and print knowledge, and no discernible effects on phonological processing and math.

The second Intervention Report is on Bright Beginnings, an early childhood curriculum based in part on High/Scope® and Creative Curriculum® with an additional emphasis on literacy skills. The curriculum consists of nine thematic units designed to enhance children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development.  The Clearinghouse’s evaluation of the research found Bright Beginnings to have potentially positive effects on print knowledge and no discernible effects on oral language, phonological processing, and math.

To download the reports, visit http://tinyurl.com/m8ydas for Bright Beginnings and http://tinyurl.com/ls7azu for Doors to Discovery™.

Source: National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition http://tinyurl.com/nq65tp

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TERTIARY EDUCATION

Government to vote on compulsory student service fee

Sunday Telegraph, June 14, 2009

The Senate is expected to pass legislation this week allowing universities to charge students a compulsory services fee of up to $250 a year.

Several Nationals senators are expected to cross the floor and vote in support of the bill because of the deterioration of student services at regional campuses.

For the bill to pass, it needs the support of the Coalition or the votes of all five Greens senators, independent Nick Xenophon and Family First's Steve Fielding.

Senator Xenophon told The Sunday Telegraph he would vote in favour of the bill because an enriched campus life was about more than just attending classes.   "The Howard government's voluntary student unionism bill went way too far and had a terrible impact on campus life," he said. "I think the Government's bill will ensure tertiary students come out with a rounded education with varied experiences."

Read entire article: http://tinyurl.com/n6mec5

Gillard pledges university degrees for poor students

AAP, June 10, 2009

ONE in five university students will be from low socio-economic backgrounds by 2020, if the Federal Government achieves its aims.

Launching a program to educate students from disadvantaged schools about options they have to study at university, Education Minister Julia Gillard said $5.6 million had been allocated to the project.

Titled "Compass - find your way to higher education", the program is jointly funded by the Commonwealth, the University of Sydney and the NSW Government.

Focusing on primary school students in years 3,4 and 5, and on high school students in years 8, 9 and 10, the program's activities will include students visiting the University of Sydney for "cultural and learning activities".

Read entire article: http://tinyurl.com/nfptxm

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HEALTH & WELL-BEING

Labor must respond to parents on restricting junk food advertising

Senator Rachel Siewert, 9 June 2009

The Australian Greens have urged the Rudd Government to follow the advice of parents and health groups and restrict junk food advertising aimed at children.

Greens Health Spokesperson, Western Australian Senator Rachel Siewert said that earlier this year the Government had refused to allow a vote in the Senate on a Greens' Protecting Children from Junk Food Advertising (Broadcasting Amendment) Bill  which would have banned junk food advertising during children's peak television viewing times and restricted junk food advertising in schools.

The Bill had been backed by health groups, including the Cancer Council and Public Health Association.

"Now a new survey has shown that the overwhelming majority of consumers, including parents, want bans on junk food advertising," Senator Siewert said. 

Read entire release: http://tinyurl.com/muwm26

Unhealthy PE teachers giving wrong lesson to children

Kate Benson, Sydney Morning Herald, June 11, 2009

TRAINEE physical education teachers are more likely to be dieting, using laxatives and over-exercising than other teachers, prompting fears they could convey inappropriate and dangerous messages about eating to vulnerable students.

A study of more than 500 student teachers at three major universities found male physical education teachers were almost five times more likely than other teachers to fast and twice as likely to use an illness to avoid eating.

They were also more likely to smoke, take laxatives, slimming pills or to vomit to control their weight.

Read entire article: http://tinyurl.com/lkxyqe

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INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

Greens to push for Senate Inquiry as international student tensions build

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, 10 June 2009

The Greens say ongoing tensions in the community around the safety and welfare of international students necessitate a Senate Inquiry into Australia's international education sector.

Protests by Indian students have continued in response to attacks on Indian students studying in Australia, while other reports say some international students may be facing deportation for entering the country on forged documents.

"The concerns for international students in Australia are not limited to Indian students. The issues facing international students are challenges the Government must tackle head-on.”

Read entire release: http://tinyurl.com/kmea7p

Meeting fails to quell Indian student anger

ABC News, Jun 11, 2009

Unrest has continued for the third night in a row in Sydney's west involving Indian students angry about violent attacks.  Police have broken up a stand-off at Harris Park between about 70 Indian students and two members of the Lebanese community.

Earlier the chief executive of Universities Australia Glenn Withers echoed calls for an end to unequal treatment of international students.  Many international students believe policies of state and federal governments are partly to blame for the attacks.

In New South Wales and Victoria, state governments do not give international students travel concessions, like they do for domestic students.  It is claimed that means foreigners are more likely to walk home at night, and leave themselves more vulnerable to attacks.

Read entire article: http://tinyurl.com/nrj6nx

International student safety & welfare

Hon Julia Gillard MP, Minister for Education, 12 June 2009                            

The Australian Government is taking steps to ensure international students and their families remain confident that Australia will not tolerate discrimination or the victimisation of students who are guests in our country. 

As part of this commitment, an International Student Taskforce has been established to develop strategies to support the wellbeing of overseas students. It will also work with the taskforce established by the Prime Minister to address crimes against international students. 

The Minister has announced the establishment of a student hotline - 1300 363 079.   Students can anonymously raise concerns which will be collated and published on  http://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au so that all students can benefit from this information.

Read entire Release: http://tinyurl.com/oeshz3

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AWARDS & PRIZES

Nominations for Australian Awards for Teaching Excellence

FINAL REMINDER: NOMINATIONS CLOSING FRIDAY 19 JUNE 2009

The prestigious awards celebrate the work of our best and brightest teachers and recognise the crucial role they play in improving educational outcomes.

Parents, students and the community are encouraged to nominate excellent teachers, principals, staff and schools - with more than $1 million in prize money available for 64 awards across the teaching profession.

Read more at http://tinyurl.com/l6ottl

All-sorts of inspirational teachers deserve recognition:

The NEiTA 2009 ASG Inspirational Teaching Awards are now open for nominations for all sorts of teachers from all sorts of schools and centres in all parts of the country.

NEiTA’s Chairman, Terry O’Connell says, “NEiTA is the only national community-centred teaching awards program that gives Australian students, parents, and school communities the opportunity to formally thank their hard-working, inspirational teachers.”  For 16 years NEiTA has worked in partnership with education communities to help raise the profile and recognition of teaching across Australia.

All-sorts of inspirational teachers are found throughout the early childhood, primary and secondary education spectrums and it is a real benefit to the teaching profession that the wider community continue to honour these examples.

School leaders can now be nominated for a NEiTA award in the new leadership and development category. The new leadership category not only includes principals, deputy principals and centre directors, but also recognises the valuable role played by all forms of school leaders—from team leaders, house leaders to department heads.

Nominations for the 2009 ASG Inspirational Teaching Awards close 31 July 2009.

Read more at http://www.neita.com.au

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AROUND THE STATES & TERRITORIES

ACT: Government urged to widen special education review

ABC News, 10 June 2009

Catholic and independent schools want to be included in a review of special education requirements in the ACT. The ACT Government announced earlier this year it would review special education in government schools.

Private schools say there has been a 40 per cent increase in enrolments of students with disabilities over the past four years.  Association of Independent Schools’ executive director Jeremy Irvine says the requirements of all students need to be examined:   "Students with disabilities and special needs go to government and non-government schools.”

"What our association, independent schools, the Catholic Education Office, and the Association of Parents and Friends of ACT Schools who are non-government parents, are saying ... 'let's actually widen the review'. Let's encompass all students whether they be government or non-government."

Read entire article: http://preview.tinyurl.com/l7p724

NSW: Budget funding for bi-lingual primary schools

AAP, June 15, 2009

SOME NSW primary schools will soon offer students a bilingual education, with subjects taught in Asian languages.

The NSW Government is funding the four-year $2.25 million program in tomorrow's state Budget, with the first four schools to start offering the stream next year.

Schools will have to apply to be part of the program, which will be taught by specialist teachers and run alongside the standard English curriculum.

NSW Education Minister Verity Firth said that with Asia on the doorstep, the program was vital to the state's future economic and social prosperity.

Read entire article: http://tinyurl.com/lgjto5

NSW: Harmony garden promotes multiculturalism at Narellan Vale Public School

Matthew Ward, Macarthur Chronicle, 10 Jun 09

Narellan Vale Public School’s new garden was a special place to pause and reflect on important values, Principal David Byrne said. 

The school community built the garden through working bees and a $2000 grant from the Immigration and Citizenship Department and Camden Council.

The Harmony Garden, a bastion of tranquillity amid the schoolyard bustle, features seven poles.  Each pole represents a different continent and is surrounded with that continent’s native plants. Signs greeting visitors are written in the various languages of students at the school.

Read entire article: http://tinyurl.com/nqsh3h

NSW: Unions recruit from high schools

Bruce McDougall, Daily Telegraph, June 10, 2009

UNIONS have hatched a controversial plan to turn around dwindling membership - by targeting children as young as 14 in their classrooms.  The state's peak union body Unions NSW has hired two young activists to go into public schools and lecture students on "industrial relations" as part of its UnionStart program.

Lectures on workers' rights and the role of unions will be built into the curriculum in subjects such as business studies, careers education, vocational work placements and the School to Work program.

Teens are also being lured to join UnionStart for a $10-a-month fee with incentives including discounted tickets to sports events and the prospect of better-paid jobs.

Read entire article: http://tinyurl.com/mb42bw

NSW: Education Department’s double standards as walkathon banned

Bruce McDougall, Daily Telegraph, June 11, 2009

EDUCATION chiefs were accused of double standards yesterday after banning a student walkathon in school time while allowing activists to address classes on unionism.

Students said they had been stopped from holding the protest walk to raise money to fight the planned sale of Hurlstone Agricultural High School's farm. 

Save Hurlstone campaigners claimed that the Department of Education and Training (DET) had declared the event "political".

The department said it had advised the boarding school that the students could take part in the walkathon outside of class time.

The Rees Government has been forced to announce an independent inquiry into the proposed sale of Hurlstone land at Glenfield in Sydney's southwest after an outcry.

Read entire article: http://tinyurl.com/ksnzn2

QLD: Smart students at Banksia Beach State School impress in maths

Glenn Roberts, Caboolture Shire Herald, 11 Jun 09

HARD work, talent and the help of a retired scientist have proved to be a winning equation for Banksia Beach State School.

As part of Banksia Beach State School’s gifted and talented program, identified students in Years 5-7 work with retired scientist Ian Beaumont in extension maths classes twice a week.

This impressive combination allowed the team to win the annual Sunshine Coast South District Mathematics Tournament for the second year in a row.
 
Read entire article: http://tinyurl.com/kn4ch6

QLD: Schoolboy scolded because his socks were too short

Gavin King, Sunday Mail, June 14, 2009

Five-year-old Prep student Matt Tunney was warned he would be sent to the principal's office if he didn't wear regulation long socks the next time, and a note was sent home to his parents.

Matt's parents were surprised, but the move underlines a growing issue across the state as many schools return to strict uniform policies to improve discipline. 

In some cases, parents have been called to collect their children from school after they have been suspended for repeated uniform breaches.

Matt attends St Andrew's Catholic College in Cairns. His dad, Andrew, thought they had sent him off to school in proper uniform as his ankle socks were the correct colour, but a few centimetres short of the style outlined in school's rules.

Read entire article: http://tinyurl.com/ljhz8v

SA: Helping improve young people’s relationship skills

Hon Tanya Plibersek MP & Hon Jane Lomax-Smith MP, 10 June 2009

South Australia’s Keeping Safe child protection curriculum, the first update in more than two decades, was rolled out to the State’s schools and preschools in 2008. Every teacher was required to undergo training before the program was taught in the classroom.
 
Through its new Respectful Relationship Program, the Australian Government is investing $9.1 million over five years to test and evaluate best practice respectful relationships education programs with school-aged young people across the country.

Programs will be tested in school and non-school settings and will address the diversity of young people, including those with intellectual disabilities, young people who have left school, and young people living in remote communities.

Read entire release: http://tinyurl.com/p6zxe9

SA:  Skills push in primary schools

Hon Jane Lomax-Smith MP, SA Education Minister, 10 June 2009

South Australian State primary school students will be the first in Australia to have minimum teaching times to learn science, mathematics and literacy skills for the future, as part of a new Primary School Skills for the Future strategy to improve the skills of young South Australians.

The strategy will be supported with State and Federal funds, as outlined in the 2009-2010 State Budget, totalling more than $105 million over the next four years.   “We want to lift the achievements of each child and establish South Australia as a leader in science, maths and literacy education,” Dr Lomax-Smith says.

Read entire release:  http://tinyurl.com/p6zxe9

TAS: $1.164 billion investment in education and training

David Bartlett MP, Minister for Education and Skills, 11 June 2009

Successful partnership negotiations and agreements with the Australian Government have resulted in an investment of $1.164 billion for Tasmania’s education and training sector in this year’s State Budget.

Premier and Minister for Education and Skills, David Bartlett, said this will mean that schools would get the “front-line” budget priority.

“We have already foreshadowed that we are directing our energy and expertise on supporting students and continuous school improvement.

“We will not shift our focus from this goal.”

Mr Bartlett said that State Government was putting families first in committing more than $76 million to fund up to 30 Child and Family centres state-wide.

Read entire release: http://tinyurl.com/nlkvjx

VIC: Brumby Mismanages Education Building Funds

Martin Dixon, Shadow Minister for Education, 11 June 2009

The Brumby Government has completely mismanaged the implementation of the Federal Building Education Revolution (BER) program.

Speaking in Parliament this week, Shadow Minister for Education Martin Dixon described a litany of mismanagement, inflexibility and bullying claims.

"Schools are being bullied and coerced into merging under the threat of no funding and School Council decisions against merging are being overturned by the Brumby Government.

"Many school communities are being shut out of school merger discussions and denied resulting information.

"The Brumby Government is being bailed out by the Federal Government to repair 10 years of Labor's neglect of the maintenance and rebuilding of Victorian Schools," Mr Dixon said.

Read entire release: http://tinyurl.com/m32glz

VIC: Uneducated Liberal Party Still Lost on Schools

Bronwyn Pike, Education Minister, 9 June 2009

The Liberal/National Coalition again remains in a policy vacuum about what it takes to improve Victorian schools, with the Opposition education spokesman again talking down record funding to Victorian schools announced today.

Education Minister Bronwyn Pike said her Liberal shadow Martin Dixon had embarrassed himself and the Liberal Party today by making a gaffe that shows they have nothing positive to offer Victorians on education.

Ms Pike said the simplest of checks of recent State Government funding would have saved Mr Dixon yet another embarrassing education mistake when he claimed to media the Federal Government was covering an alleged underinvestment in schools by the State.

Read entire release: http://tinyurl.com/leh9f6

WA: Teachers recognised for what they do best

Education Minister Liz Constable, 12 June 2009

At one point in their life, everyone has been influenced by an outstanding teacher - and now is the time for our best teachers to get the recognition they deserve.

Education Minister Liz Constable today urged Western Australians to nominate inspiring teachers, principals, school support staff and schools for the WA Education Awards 2009.

“These awards identify and reward these people, as well as excellent schools in the areas of literacy, numeracy and science,” Dr Constable said.

“We know teachers, principals and school support staff work hard to inspire and motivate their students and we need to show them that their efforts are being noticed.”

The Premier’s Teacher of the Year award - the highest accolade for public school teachers in Western Australia - will return to a $25,000 prize this year.

Read entire release: http://tinyurl.com/m7comr

WA: Students get $18m abuse rehab centres

Paul Lampathakis, Sunday Times, June 10, 2009

WA will get six new centres for students who physically and verbally abuse teachers or students at schools.

State Education Minister Liz Constable announced the centres, which would cost taxpayers $18 million over four years, would be established for primary students in Bunbury, Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Geraldton.

Centres for abusive secondary students would be opened in Bunbury, Geraldton and Port Hedland, as part of the State Government's $46 million strategy to improve student behaviour.

“One of the most significant challenges facing our public education system is poor student behaviour, with verbal and physical abuse by students against teachers and other students becoming more common,” Dr Constable said.

Read entire article: http://tinyurl.com/nwr8xo

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REMINDERS

19 June - Nominations close for Australian Awards for Teaching Excellence - http://tinyurl.com/peahdl

4-7 July - Contasta Science Education Conference - Launceston, TAS - http://tinyurl.com/r4yluh

5-8 July - World Conference on Higher Education - Paris, France - http://tinyurl.com/p3624s

5-10 July - Youth ANZAAS 2009 - Melbourne, VIC - http://tinyurl.com/oroyk4

8-10 July - SPERA National Conference - Flinders University, SA - http://tinyurl.com/qtjfkn

9 July - Registration closes for Environmental Song for Australia Contest - http://tinyurl.com/pp4yjq

13-16 July - Conference of the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers - Fremantle, WA - http://tinyurl.com/qgjf9f

14-15 July - Educational Leadership and Coaching Conference - Sydney, NSW - http://tinyurl.com/kk3ree

31 July - Nominations close for NEiTA ASG Inspirational Teacher Awards - http://tinyurl.com/ojjh3z

31 July-1 August - NSW Federation of Parents' & Citizens' Associations Annual Conference - Penrith, NSW - http://tinyurl.com/ofzcvw

6-7 August - Professional Development Network School Leaders' Conference - Gold Coast, QLD - http://tinyurl.com/qrfnoh

13-14 August - Isolated Children's Parents' Assoc. of Australia Federal Conference - Longreach, QLD - http://tinyurl.com/pdnxcr

22 August - Tasmanian Parents & Friends Association State Annual Conference - http://tinyurl.com/lzqrpn

31 August-6 September - Reach for the Stars - http://tinyurl.com/l3zh3e

2-4 September - ARACY Conference - Melbourne, VIC - http://tinyurl.com/qljgzw

26-28 September - ACEL International Conference - Darwin, NT - http://tinyurl.com/pgf6cq

2-4 October - Australian Curriculum Studies Association Biennial Conference - Canberra, ACT - http://tinyurl.com/pcslmo

12-13 October - ACSSO National Conference - Hobart, TAS - http://tinyurl.com/q8njl3

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