NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2006

The Schools We Need ...

... and how to get there

ACSSO, Australia’s peak public schools parents body, held its annual conference for all key stakeholders in education on October 26th and 27th 2006; teachers, parents, principals, administrators, support staff, guidance officers,teacher unions, academics and researchers were all major participants.

ACSSO President Jenny Branch opened the National Conference with a challenge for academics and governments. (PDF download).

The key components of the Conference blueprint will be:

Curriculum	Physical design of schools
Technology	Financing and maintaining our schools
Teacher training	Teaching methods including homework
Student well being and health	Parent school partnerships
The arts in our schools	Communicating with the public about schools

SPEAKERS AND TOPICS

Notes and associated papers will progressively be made available at this website

A number of speakers presented original research, much of it specially commissioned by ACSSO for the Conference. The Conference was opened by Victorian Education Minister the Hon Lynne Kosky with Senator Mitch Fifield representing the Australian Education Minister Julie Bishop. Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley gave a keynote address in which he released details of Labor’s new policy on rewarding teachers for mentoring and other exceptional professionalism (PDF download). Other speakers included:

• Professor Terry Lovat (Newcastle Uni)

  Values and Student Achievement
  Where there is mutual respect, all aspects of school and student performances improve. A simple but vital theme that can be lost in a world of measurement and evaluation. PDF download

• Dr Richard Denniss (Greens Policy Advisor)

  How Schools Communicate
  Richard surprised us all with a survey of government school websites which were poor advertisements for public schooling. Are we still failing to communicate, even at that basic level? Are teachers and schools doing enough to communicate a welcoming and informative picture of their school. PPT download

• Dr.Denis Muller (Saulwick-Muller)

  Family School Partnerships
  Some teachers and principals say they are too busy to do family school partnerships but smart, focused and strategic use of family school partnership principles can actually lighten the work load and achieve better results. PDF download | PPT download

• Senator Nick Sherry

  Paying for our Schools
  This session looked at public-private partnerships and superannuation as sources of funding for future schools. A critical issue that must be addressed if our schools are to be appropriately funded. This session analyzed the myths, misconceptions that can surround the voucher system and charter schools.

• Andrew Macintoch

  Vouchers-Paying for It
  This session analyzed the myths, misconceptions that can surround the voucher system and charter schools.

• Pam Cahir (CEO Early Childhood Australia)

  Early Childhood Education-Back on the Radar
  Pam emphasized the absolute importance of a headstart for young people and how this area of children’s development needs to be improved to at least the level of other more advanced countries.

• Joanne Richmond, Assistant Principal of St Albans Primary School and speakers from the Foundation for Survivors of Torture

  What a School in an Area of High Refugee Numbers Can Teach Us About Parent School Partnerships
  Although this began with examples of how the school with a high refugee intake managed to draw parents into the school, it was also a blue print for all schools to follow in making parents welcome and involved. A message of hope. PPT download

• Pat Byrne (AEU President)

  Teacher Training - What Teachers Really Need
  Pat looked at the relevance of current pre-service and continuing training support for teachers in a world that is more demanding of schools. PPT download

• Ray Trotter and Esme Capp (Principal and Deputy Wooranna Park Primary School)

  School Design, Technology and Pedagogy
  How you can create a contemporary and exciting learning environment that makes use of new technology and student involvement in planning and learning. PDF download

• Bob Heath (Principal Eastern Fleurieu School)

  Homework Policies
  How do we ensure that students are able to learn at home and in their communities through self-directed and family friendly activities. How do we avoid the same old homework treadmill? PDF download

• Nick Abbey (Education Consultant)

  Governance - The Power and the Glory
  This session dealt with future schools and governance directions that will need to be addressed. PPT download

• Principals Jenny Cole and Peter Davis (Australian Federation of Special Education Administrators)

  Disability - Leaving the Doors Open
  Jenny and Peter looked at how the profile and causes of disability have changed over the years. What does inclusion really mean and how does this relate to the concept of choice? PPT download

In addition to the key speakers a number of organisations took up the offer to present in 5 minute challenge spots. They ranged from issues such as values expressed in the way we deal with the animal world, national languages policy, Australian Technical Colleges, school guidance and counselling, parents as literacy tutors programme and mathematics.