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2. Coastcare Community Grants (VIC)
The Coastcare Victoria Community Grants Program supports community organisations to protect and enhance the coastal and near-shore marine environment. Grants of up to $10,000 for one-year projects and $15,000 for two-year projects are available. Schools are eligible to apply. Applications close midnight, 20 February 2019. https://www.coastsandmarine.vic.gov.au/grants
4. Public Education Foundation Teacher Scholarships (NSW)
The Foundation's Principal, Teacher and Emerging Leader Scholarships rounds are now open. Applications close on 26 February 2019. https://publiceducationfoundation.org.au/scholarships/teachers-scholarship/
6. ANZ Tennis Hot Shots Grant
ANZ is awarding $10,000 grants to 20 tennis clubs or venues around the country through the ANZ Tennis Hot Shots community grants program. Applications close 11.59pm AEDT Thursday, 28 February 2019. https://communitygrants.anz.com/featured
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The video shows Steve Warner, the principal of Manor Lakes P-12 College in Wyndham Vale southwest of Melbourne, hauling a nine-year-old boy by his left arm.
The footage appears to have been taken on a mobile phone and was posted to social media on Thursday.Victorian Education Minister James Merlino said the footage was "appalling and concerning".
"Let me very clear, I will not tolerate this kind of completely unacceptable behaviour in our schools," Mr Merlino said while announcing the principal had been immediately stood down.But parents and educators are pleading with the public to keep an open mind, saying it is wrong to jump to conclusions on the strength of a short video clip viewed without context.
Teachers safety, too quick to judgeEducational psychologist and RMIT Adjunct Professor Helen McGrath told The New Daily the public didn't know the circumstances behind the video and the school had an obligation to not reveal details for the student's privacy.
Professor McGrath said dragging a child was "not the right move" and "seriously dangerous", but thought it unlikely an experienced principal would use aggressive discipline in normal circumstances."It doesn't have the characteristics of just a naughty kid giving cheek," she said.
The education trainer said best practice in child behaviour management was assertive discipline that involves calming down a child, not aggressive, violent, coersive or threatening practices.However, Professor McGrath said the teacher's duty of care was often "complex" and legal protections were given if physical restraint was necessary to protect the child, other children or staff.
She said "assertive-style disciple" that hangs on appealing to the student's rational mind was often difficult with younger children, those with behavioural disorders or mild intellectual disabilities"I'm always struck by how hard teachers work to get it right and to keep everyone safe," Professor McGrath said, adding "we don't have all of the information in this case."
Online petition to reinstate stood down principalAn online petition to the Victorian Education Minister to "reinstate" Mr Warner as principal of Manor Lakes had received almost 4000 signatures by late on Friday afternoon.
"We are asking that his dedicated work at the school not be in vain due to this one isolated incident," the change.org page read."The worst outcome of this situation would be for the school to lose him as the principal and leader."
Many parents heralded Mr Warner's work at the school and sought to justify "manhandling" under "extreme circumstances" and the "safety of others"."I have a child who was like this a few years back," parent Jess Spiers wrote. "I one hundred percent support the principal, as I supported the principal that had to hold my son who was out of control."
Investigation into teaching conductThe Victorian Institute of Teachers told The New Daily it was conducting an investigation into the principal's conduct and "can't comment at this time".
An investigation will determine if Mr Warner complied with the Victorian Teaching Profession Code of Conduct.Relevant principles include teachers treating "learners" with "courtesy and dignity" as educators' personal conduct has an impact on the "profession as a whole".
An spokeswoman for the Department of Education and Training told the ABC it was aware of the video and had also launched an investigation."All school staff are expected to uphold the department's values, and abide by the Child Safe Standards," the spokeswoman said.
The department's policy on restraint says staff members may "take any reasonable action that is immediately required to restrain a student from acts or behaviour dangerous to the member of staff, the student, or any other person".| Posted in: Leadership | 0 Comments |
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The Productivity Commission's government services review into education on Friday revealed 15-year-old students were having a harder time fitting in with their peers and schools in 2015 than in 2003.
In education results, teenagers were also scoring worse on reading, maths and science.
Experts attributed the social change to the rise of social media and technology, and adolescents' increasing reliance on them for connectivity.
"Siri can beat box, but can't teach us emotional resilience," Mr Burns told The New Daily.
"The reality is that some young people do not have the skills or the support to keep up with these social changes. But this disconnection and loneliness is not their fault, but is a result of the failure of our current systems."While globally overall, results from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) showed a sense of belonging had increased on average over 15 years from 2003, it had dropped for Australian students.
The results were worse for girls, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, regional or remote, and low socio-economic students.The 2015 survey looked at 5.6 per cent of Australian students aged 15 as part of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
Nationally, 76.5 per cent disagreed they felt like an outsider or were left out of activities at school. That's below the OECD average of 82.8 per cent.Students were also asked if they "feel awkward and out of place" at school, with 78.1 per cent of Australian 15-year-olds disagreeing compared to 80.9 per cent of the OECD average.
Nationally, 83.5 per cent disagreed with the statement "I feel lonely at school" and 71.9 per cent said they felt like they belonged.Belonging in school
[Aust first %; OECD second %]
Overall, PISA found 15-year-olds nationally were less likely to feel belonging in school than they did in 2012 and 2003, while belonging improved across the OECD.
Laura Eason, youth wellbeing coordinator at YMCA NSW, said there were lots of issues that seemed more prevalent than they used to.
"Stress is a massive one, and anxiety and mental health issues are all on the rise," Ms Eason told The New Daily."Belonging is one drop in the ocean really. We've got rising mental health, high stress and we've also got lower activity levels. There's a whole bunch of stuff going on that's all feeding into some negative outcomes for young people."
She said social media could both be part of the problem and the solution."That's where the young people are as well, so we can reach them in that way as well. You can also feel a sense of belonging to a group on the internet."
On top of providing programs to help engage young people, she said adults need to remember to listen and pay attention."I think sometimes we really need to sit and listen and understand their perspective, and I think that can go a really long way in ensuring they feel like their voices are heard," Ms Eason said.
The rate of young people identifying mental health as a key national issue doubled between 2016 and 2018 in Mission Australia's Annual Youth Survey.Teens aged 15-19 in each jurisdiction named mental health as the top issue facing Australia for the first time in 2017.
Academic outcomesYear 8 students were also struggling academically in 2015, with 60.6 per cent meeting the national reading benchmark in the PISA test.
Mathematical literacy was 55.4 per cent, while 60.8 per cent of students met the national benchmark for scientific literacy.The year 8 students had worse results in each of the subjects compared to the previous PISA tests in 2009 for reading, 2012 for maths, and 2006 for science.
In another test the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 15-year-olds met the maths standard 64.4 per cent of the time or 68.8 per cent of the time in science.Year 4 students performed better, meeting the maths standard 70.2 per cent of the time, and 75.4 per cent of the time in science.
Results for both student groups were about the same between 2011 and 2015, except for year 4 science results which significantly improved.The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) by the International Association for the Evolution of Education Achievement (IEA) found 80.9 per cent of year 4 students met reading standards in 2016.
By: Rachel Eddie
From: thenewdaily.com.au
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Trinity College - Darren O'Neill |
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Columba Catholic College, CHARTERS TOWERS - Candi Dempster |
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St Catherine's Catholic College, Proserpine - Mel Scherwitzel |
If you would like to join the growing number of schools who have their profile on the CaSPA website, simply send an email with "CaSPA Profile Template" in the subject line to admin@caspa.edu.au and we will send you a template to complete and return.
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Parents across the nation this week waved their children goodbye for the first day back at school, with many sporting checked dresses, polo shirts and the ubiquitous flip-style netball skirts.
But Fitzroy High School in Melbourne's inner suburbs and Indooroopilly State High School in Brisbane were among a small percentage of schools that allowed a few more colourful fabrics onto school grounds.So long as it was "not offensive", "not too short" or "not too brief" these schools welcomed children's self-expression through clothing.
But child psychology experts beg to disagree, saying the benefits of school uniforms outweigh the potential problems of free dress.Australian Catholic University Professor Peter Wilson, who researches the field of motor and cognitive development, told The New Daily uniforms deter social-status comparisons and reduce pressure on children about their clothing options.
He said children were sensitive to labelled clothing and brands and had the potential to create "in groups" and "out groups"."There is an argument in the United States, where uniforms are less common than they are here in Australia and the UK, that clothing can promote a strong-sense of independence and freedom of thought," he said.
"That's very much a part of the US ethos, however kids and adolescents still get opportunities to express their individuality with clothing [on occasions] and in their choice of pastime or recreation outside of school."Perth-based child psychologist Jordan Foster told The New Daily the uniform model "as it stands is still working".
Ms Foster said there was scientific evidence to support both the US free-dress model and the Australian model, where uniforms are generally enforced in government and many private school institutions.She said uniforms fostered a sense of camaraderie, a unity within peer groups, minimised bullying in schools and particularly assisted children with developmental issues.
"Having a uniform makes them feel included when they otherwise might not," Ms Foster said."Everyone is on the same page, there is a sense of belonging and any differences between socio-economic status gets ruled out."
The cost factorChildren's desire for designer brands aside, the jury is still out on what is more affordable, free dress or school-designed uniforms.
Managing director of Melbourne-based school uniform shop Dobson's, Alistair Dobson, said the average price for a basic basket of clothes for a government-school uniform ranged between $240 and $340, with independent schools registering a slightly higher top figure of $380.However, those numbers are dwarfed by the cost parents must fork out for the bare basics at a number of Victorian schools, according to the Dobson's website.
Scotch College, an independent school in Melbourne's inner-east, demands $465 for these basics: a blazer, a shirt, a pair of school shorts, a set of trousers, a tie, a pair of socks, a backpack, and a sports ensemble.For a standard uniform at the co-educational Auburn High School, parents will be set back $500 for a blazer, a dress, a pullover, a winter skirt, a polo top, and a pair of sports shorts.
The 'safety' factorPresident of the South Australian Association of School Parent Communities Jenice Zerna believes uniforms ensure student safety.
"If somebody comes on grounds not in uniform, someone can look out and notice," she said."It's more effective they look really good, the classes are in the same colours, it looks nice and can be a good reflection on the school."
However, Ms Zerna acknowledged free dress policies could be acceptable if appropriate standards were upheld."It's all about consultation with the students and the parents if the students are involved, I would be more supportive," she said.
By: Farrah Plummer and Matt Johnson
From: thenewdaily.com.au
| Posted in: wellbeing | 0 Comments |
