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".

Focus on Learning campaign rolls into action

With Branch Council unanimously endorsing the next stage of our campaign for Fair Pay, Fair Funding and a Fair Go for Public Education, workload protections are being implemented by AEU members around the State.

Click here for more information.

National: McMorrow report shows public schools underfunded

Reviewing the evidence: Issues in Commonwealth funding of government and non-government schools in the Howard and Rudd years by education policy and funding expert Dr.Jim McMorrow recommends an immediate investment of at least $1.5 billion to restore federal public school funding to 1996 levels in order to ensure equality of opportunity.

Click here for more information

Is Paul too busy for Public Education?

Two weeks ago, I wrote across to the Minister for Industrial Relations Paul Caica and requested a meeting with him to discuss EB issues. After receiving no response, I wrote again last Monday with the same request – a meeting to discuss a proposal for moving the parties closer together in position – again, no response! I followed this up with a phone call to his Chief of Staff to ask why there had not been a response and to reiterate my request for a meeting.

Today we rang his office again and finally received a response. NO MEETING! Apparently the parties are “poles apart” and we need to take our issues up with the Government negotiating team. Well, this is the same group of people who have managed to work their way into a full on industrial dispute with education workers. The same group of people who have brought us SCRFM (the Student Centered Resource Funding Model) and the same people who sit across from our team week after week and say “ it is a package deal; there is no money for that; that is a policy matter not an EB issue; we’ll take that on notice; and so on.

I have to question why Minister Caica cannot spare half an hour of his time to discuss EB issues. It just might be the turning point for our negotiations. You have to ask why he would decline a meeting request that might avert the need for our members to take further industrial action. AEU Branch Executive was holding their meeting at the time of his message and was astounded at his refusal. They have endorsed a recommendation which takes this issue up with Premier Rann as a matter of urgency and I will follow this up by writing across tomorrow. Let's hope that this letter will not also go unanswered.

A government which does not respond to its constituents is a government in danger of losing the next election.

In solidarity

Correna

For those of you with YouTube access...

I don't suppose Miss Foley is related to our Kevin...

Click here to watch the video.

AEU members rally in the Riverland

Among the thousands to rally across the State last week were AEU members in the Riverland. AEU Organiser Marg Bastian said the turn out was fantastic and members were very committed to the action. "Hundreds of AEU members and supporters of public education rallied outside Karlene Maywald’s office demanding a fair go for public education. Everyone in attendance signed a letter which was presented to the staff in her office. There was plenty of discussion about the funding model and how that will affect schools in the area. The members are very concerned about the Government's proposed model and are committed to opposing it."