Term 1, 2010
To those who are long term supporters of Public Education and those for whom 2010 is your first experience with our great Public School system, welcome to another school year. We hope that your association with Public Schools and your local P&C Association is a rewarding experience for both you and your child.
This year has commenced with some angst and concern. The official launch of the My School website on 28th January, has met with great media attention. Our concern of course is that the information will be misused, not as a source of information and celebration, but as means to construct school league tables. Even as the Federal Government is selling the notion of families viewing their child's school in comparison to statistically similar schools across the nation, the resources merely promote the search of profiles of 10,000 schools across Australia. It does not offer information on the full range of rich and rewarding experiences that children have each day in their learning environments. It would appear that the My School Website is essentially a league table in its own right. Despite Deputy Prime Minister Gillard's assertions that she does not support simplistic league tables, this is what appears to have been produced.
Last July, delegates to the Federation of Parents and Citizens' Association of New South Wales Annual Conference, voted unanimously to oppose league tables in any form. This does not imply that we do not want transparency and accountability in our schools. Parents want schools that are accountable to their communities, provide accurate and regular information about their child's progress and provide a supportive environment in which their child can grow, learn and develop into productive members of their community. Our Term 1 2010 Journal provides a four page lift out regarding league tables. Further information can be found on the Federation's website under "campaigns".
Also hitting the headlines in the New Year is the funding debate. This year has started with the revelation that private schools have yet again received a massive boost in funding. While this method of funding was instigated under the previous government the Rudd Labor government has done little to redress this injustice. A report commissioned by the Australian European Union has revealed obscene levels of funding pouring into the most elite private schools in the country. One school, run by the exclusive Bretheren will this year receive funding equivalent to $125.000 per student - this is in contrast to public schools that receive around $120 per student. Of course, private schools also receive state funding. As much as 25% of the states recurrent funding to public schools flows through to private schools. This is in addition to the benefits they enjoy as registered charities as well as the grants they can apply for to undertake capital works.
Some will argue that States are responsible for the funding of public schools thereby implying that the Federal Government is responsible for private schools. Regardless of this state versus commonwealth debate, the amount of money being received by these schools is beyond belief.
Of course all the current funding and league table debate is masking continual developments in the National Curriculum. The Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority (ACARA) will release the draft curriculum for K-10 English, Mathematics, Science and History in mid February and seek public consultation to May 2010. All states and territories have strategies in place to support the consultation process from mid February and to communication information to parents, teachers and other stakeholders.
Late in term 4 2009, the then Premier Nathan Rees and Education Minister announced the pilot of an ethics program to be delivered to students who wish to participate and do not attend Special Religious Education. This achievement was thanks to the efforts of the St James Ethics Centre, P&C Federation and parents and community members across NSW. The pilot is being written by Professor Phillip Cam in conjunction with the Department of Education and Training and the NSW Board of Studies. A monitoring committee whose membership includes the Federation of Parents and Citizens of NSW will oversee the trial.
The new child protection system commenced on January 24 this year, this new system contained numerous changes with regard to child protection. These changes will affect thousands of professionals, including teachers, who regularly come into contact with children as part of their work. Now only children deemed at 'risk of significant harm' will be reported to Community Services. Where children fell below the new threshold, NGOs and other government agencies such as Health, Police, Housing and Education will work together to support vulnerable children and families.
These changes are part of the NSW Government's $750 million action plan Keep Them Safe, developed in response to Special Commissioner James Wood's 12-month inquiry into child protecion services in NSW. The philosophy behind this strategy is that child protection is everyone's responsibility. An article regarding the "Well - being" unit-set up in each of the government agencies, including the Department of Education and Training to support this strategy appeared in the Term 4, 2009 Journal. A copy of the Journal can be found on the Federation website.
The work of communities in support of schools is something we should continue to celebrate so don't forget to mark P&C Day, Wednesday, 3rd of March on your calendar. This special day, first celebrated in 2007, recognises the efforts of local P&C Associations. It provides an opportunity to promotes the role of the P&C and to celebrate your outstanding contributions in support of public education. We encourage all P&C Associations to recognise this important date and the spare some time to congratulate yourselves for your continual involvement.
Over 18 months ago, the Federation issued all P&C Associations with pandc email addresses. To date not many have been opened and the mailboxes are overflowing. Please contact the Federation's office should you require any support in access the email account. We would like the opportunity to give you up-to-date information as it comes to us and believe this is to be the most effective way.
May i also remind you of our Annual Conference to be held on 23rd, 24th and 25th of July at the Sebel, Parramatta. This is an ideal opportunity for P&C Associations to become involved in setting the directions for Federation in the ensuing twelve months. It's also a great opportunity to network with many other supporters of Public Education.
Following the by-law change at Annual Conference 2009 regarding the election of Councillors, Regional Councils are now responsible to conduct this process. These elections will be held as part of the Regional Council Annual Great Meeting in first term this year. Details will be sent to all affiliates by their Regional Council and will be available on the Federation website shortly. We look forward to seeing a healthy and vibrant election.
On December 23rd, long term employee Lyn Boorman left the P&C Federation. Lynn retired in 2007 but came back and worked for us two days per week. This concludes a long relationship of in excess of 26 years. Those of you who have known Lynn either as a member of Council or a supportive voice on the end of the phone you will know she has been an honest, committed, empathetic and knowledgeable member of the Secretariat. She will be missed but we wish her and her husband Frank all the best as they enjoy lifes next adventure.
I look forward to working with you all in 2010.
Take care
Dianne Giblin
President