Term 3, 2010
As I pen this very last message as your President, I look back over the many years of involvement and recall the many achievements we have made as a team. I see that there are still many challenges in front of us but can only be excited for the future directions this organisation will be taking.
Can I say on the outset it has been indeed a pleasure to have served as a councillor, journal editor and officer of what is the largest and most active parent organisation in the Southern Hemisphere. Every day working alongside committed parents and citizens, all committed to that wonderful institution that is Public Education has been a great pleasure. I am deeply honoured to have been your President.
This term began with great trepidation regarding the NAPLAN testing. It was always our view that the then Deputy Prime Minister should have consulted and collaborated with all stakeholders in regard to the use of the results of this test, particularly in light of the MySchool website. The P&C Federation is fundamentally opposed to the use of student data to create simplistic league tables.
Whilst we supported the testing to go ahead we were very vocal in our opposition to parents being used to implement the testing. This action in itself would have put a wedge in the partnership between parents and teachers that we so strongly promote and wish to preserve.
We are optimistic that the working party developed to make improvements to the My School website will bring about a more balanced picture of the great work of our schools. The My School website in its current form makes with no references to levels of funding, extracurricular activities, the achievements schools make or the communities they serve. We are, as always, pursuing parent input to these vital conversations.
Although the review of Federal funding to education is not to occur until 2011 the Federation is currently involved in discussions with P&C’s and other stakeholders regarding the priorities expected of a government when looking at funding education. In discussions the underlying premise is always that Public Education is vital to the growth of our nation by ensuring that all children have the opportunity to access an education of the highest quality. Considerations in particular focus on the areas of quality teaching, quality learning environments fit for the 21st Century, diverse and relevant curriculum that is fully resourced and technological outfitting to engage and access all learners.
The Ethics Pilot was completed on the last Thursday of Term 2 and from all the feedback we can report that it was a resounding success for all students involved. The Federation has worked for over 8 years to see it come to this point and all people involved should be extremely proud of their achievements.
A principal from one of the trial schools noted said she had noticed a positive change in the students' behaviour after the trial. "They loved it and they want to continue with it. I saw an improvement in their confidence and their ability to discuss social issues, express ideas, clarify opinions and recognise perspectives,'' she said."Each week they became more involved and developed their skills, and no one dropped out of the class.”
As you have no doubt noted the trial has met with much opposition from in particular the Anglican and Catholic churches. Much misinformation has been voiced in regards to the motives of such a course. Let me once again refute the claims that the Federation of Parents and Citizens’ Associations of New South Wales wishes to remove scripture from Public Education. This could be no further from the truth and is scare mongering. We firmly believe and support the inclusive nature of our Public Schools. What we are clearly requesting is for students, who opt out of scripture, to be given the opportunity to participate in a meaningful way discussion that challenges their thinking and values. This requires a change to Department of Education and Training policy – the Act remains intact.
We now await the outcomes of the independent evaluator, commissioned by the Department of Education and Training to see the future of ethics course as an alternate to scripture for those children.
Can I put on record our thanks to Phillip Cam, from the University of New South Wales, who developed the course; Simon Longstaff, Coleen McKinnon and Teresa Russell from the St James Ethics Centre for their outstanding work and support, the many volunteer P&C members who gave freely of their time to train and deliver the course in the ten pilot schools and to the children who participated honestly and enthusiastically. Job well done
The NSW Minister for Education and Training, the Hon. Verity Firth, has announced funding of $163,500 for the development of programs to enhance relationships between teachers and parents in NSW schools. The funding has been made available to a joint forum of the NSW Parents’ Council, Federation of Parents’ and Citizens’ Associations of NSW and the Council of Catholic Schools Parents.
The funding will be used to enhance teacher professional development with the aim to support teachers in building and maintaining strong links within their school communities. In addition it will be of major benefit to the university sector as they prepare pre-service teachers for life as a teacher.
This goes a long way to supporting new scheme teachers in meeting the requirements of teacher registration in NSW. It will also assist universities in the delivery of programs designed to provide new scheme teachers with the necessary skills required by their workplace.
This year Anti-Poverty week is held in the week commencing October 17. Poverty and hardship affect more than one million Australians. The week is concerned with poverty around the world, especially in the poorest countries but also in wealthier countries like Australia. This year the facilitating group is made up of representatives from the following organisations: Red Cross, Catholic Education Commission, UnionsNSW, NCOSS, Federation of Parents & Citizens’ of New South Wales, the Welfare Rights Centre and CatholicCare. We are very proud to be a part of these events.
The main aims of the Week are to:
- strengthen public understanding of the causes and consequences of poverty and hardship around the world and within Australia:
- encourage research, discussion and action to address these problems, including action by individuals, communities, organisations and governments.
Official opening activities will be organised on Sunday 17 October and Monday 18 October. This year special provision has been made to ensure that schools can notify their proposed events without having them open to the public. The website http://www.antipovertyweek.org.au has a section about how schools can be involved and a long list of activities. Please get involved.
Just recently the Deputy Director –General (Schools), Trevor Fletcher, retired from the Department of Education and Training after over 38 years of work in public education. He has spent the last 6 of those years in NSW leading the Office of Schools. Trevor’s contribution to education was recognised by peers and colleagues at his farewell function held on July 16. We wish him well in his retirement.
I went to my last P&C Association meeting on June 15th at Werrington County Public School – my husband, David and I are life members there. This P&C Association will always have a special place in my heart because this is where my P&C journey first began. The members there are young enthusiastic hard working people, all with the best interests of Public Education at the core of their work. I pay special tribute and thanks to Werrington County Public School P&C Association and Cambridge Park High School P&C Association for providing me with a thorough grounding in the workings of local P&C Associations and keeping me working locally til the very end. I would also like to thank the many staff that worked collaboratively with myself and other parents in true partnership. What I learned from those experiences I will carry with me always.
Thank you to my many friends and colleagues that I have worked with through Western Sydney Regional Council and the Federation of Parents and Citizens’ Associations of New South Wales, I treasure your friendship and thank you for all that I have learned from you. To the Department of Education and Training, the Public Education Alliance and the many, many organisations and people I have had the pleasure of working with particularly in the past four years, thank you. I have enjoyed working with the many Ministers and Shadow Ministers involved in all the portfolios relating to Public Education, always fruitful discussions. I have gained so much from you all and thank you and your families for the tireless work you do in support of Public Education.
To the key people who keep a president both motivated and on time and work behind the scenes to ensure they organisation hums along can I thank and congratulate the Federation staff led by our Executive Officer, Ken Deacon.
Lastly, my family and the reasons behind the attendance at that first P&C meeting in 1984 – Daniel, Belinda, Luke and Josh – its not always fun having Mum around at school a lot – and never home much lately. I thank them for their support and understanding, to that I also add my daughters-in-law Sariah and Rachael. To my “other half” and best friend – his support of my work and his support of the Federation through his roles are immeasurable and priceless. We look forward to participating now as Nanny and Poppy as Makayla starts school next year and Wiremu in the years to come. (and of course the many more future grandchildren that build our family)
As we begin term three schools are busy preparing for Education Week, as parents and grandparents we enjoy the time to celebrate the great work that happens in our schools, see our kids perform and enjoy the interaction with other parents and our child’s teachers. These are indeed special times.......
Take care
Dianne Giblin
PRESIDENT