Big Apple for our teachers means big trouble for Public Education

AEU (SA) Research Officer, Mike Williss, tells us why the Rudd-Gillard infatuation with the New York model is a threat to the provision of high quality public education in Australia.

Focus on Learning campaign reduces excess workload

AEU members around the State are forging ahead with initiatives to reduce excess workload by putting limitations on non-core tasks. The campaign is having a positive effect on curriculum delivery. South Australian students are benefiting from an increased focus on learning as teachers reduce many of the excessive bureaucratic burdens imposed by DECS and the State Government.

It is the role of the local AEU Sub-branch to discuss Focus on Learning initiatives that are most appropriate to their site and to implement where possible. The AEU does not endorse any activity which may negatively impact on student learning, which must remain a priority.

Below are some of the areas of work that AEU members around the State have identified for the campaign.

• Refusing to engage in new initiatives which relate to the implementation of the Future SACE (N.B This does not affect current senior secondary students, nor the Personal Learning Plans for Year 10s in 2009)
• Reporting of student data to DECS. (SACSA, DIAF etc.)
• Limiting staff meetings to one per week for a duration of no more than one hour
• Non-participation in after-hours training and development, unless agreed that it goes toward the required 37.5 hours
• Ensuring all staff receive at least one twenty minute break for eating of lunch.
• Ensuring that there are no reductions in NIT time (PAC meetings are not to be held in this time)
• SSOs and ECWs should not agree to work any unpaid overtime and any overtime work must be recorded as Timebank or Toil
• Adherence to DECS reporting policy, i.e. reporting to parents three times per year, of which two must be written.
• Limiting Parent/Teacher interviews to after-school, not going later than 5pm (for example)
• Non-participation in Panels that are scheduled beyond 4.30pm
• Holding pre-entry and transition meetings during normal working hours (preschools)
• Deferring DECS Annual Reports until March 2009. (These are not student reports)
• No fundraising activities out of hours
• Not spending own time and money on purchasing resources
• Refusing to implement new initiatives proposed by DECS
• Non-participation in DECS surveys
• Referring to current AEU policy which recommends against the use of Running Records as a means to 'test' literacy
• Non-participation in the under-resourced Premier's Reading Challenge
• Continuing with concerts, discos, graduations, field days, art exhibitions, open-nights, BBQs etc. but during to the school day
  
• Refusing to work in scheduled term breaks
  

AEU enters mediation with State Government

In this episode of AEUPOD we talk with AEU (SA) Branch President, Correna Haythorpe, about the AEU's decision to move into voluntary mediation with the State Government.

AEU postpones industrial action

Last night, AEU Branch Executive voted to postpone further industrial action as a show of good faith in the mediation process. The mediation with the State Government will take place on a daily basis from next Monday on. Click here to read more.

Future Education Forum

Click on this link to go to the new education blog "Future Education Forum".