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Jean Walker

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Everything posted by Jean Walker

  1. What happens to all the disaffected, dysfunctional, switched-off students who do not want to learn at school, let alone left to their own devices at home? This model seems to presume that children/teenagers really want to, and are willing, to sit at home and work in front of a computer all day. How do we keep their home PCs on-line and working? I presume govt would have to provide and repair them? How would students learn to relate to a whole range of real people instead of machines? Hoe would their parents like them at home all day? How would we deal with special needs students? How do they learn routines, punctuality, respect for others, real life communication, etc.?
  2. This style of education is beginning to take hold all over Australia, particularly in government schools. In Queensland it is called The New Basics. Here in Tasmania it is called The Essential Learnings. It incorporates all the elements mentioned above, as well as interdisciplinary learning using "Big Questions" or "Rich Tasks". There are mixed responses to it here. If you happen to be one of the management team who is driving it, then you probably believe it is the irrefutable way of the future. If you are an older, experienced teacher, you may well have some questions about academic rigour, skills teaching, preparation for tertiary courses and so on. Some secondary teachers are concerned that they are being compelled to become "generalists" and will be de-skilled. Some are concerned that it is basically untried and untested over any length of time and may not deliver what it promises. Further info could be found if you do a search for Queensland or Tasmania Departments of Education websites and go to their curriculum areas. I think Victoria also has their version on line now. I would be really interested to discuss this further with people as I have some reservations about it.
  3. I'm going to throw in my tuppence worth as a union leader here in Australia, albeit a much smaller constituency than the NUT. Here, we have one national union with each state being a branch of the same union. We have 95% membership in some states and we are the strongest union in the country - BECAUSE WE ARE UNITED and do not have to waste time on fighting/disagreeing with competing unions. We achieve conditions for teachers which are the envy of other countries because our union is not split on issues and we represent all teachers, including Principals. I would suggest that is one of Britain's teacher unions' major problems. However, whether it could ever be achieved is another question. My salary as President of the State Branch, as in the other six states, is about the same as that of a large-school principal or what we call a "district superintendant". It probably equates to 45,000 pounds, plus a car, in real cost-of-living terms.The salary is set at this level so that any member winning the position will not be disadvantaged. (I am the first unpromoted classroom teacher ever to be elected) As the position means that I am the officer responsible to the whole membership, the one who can be "sued", and that I have to liase with the Education Minister etc. I believe this level of salary is appropriate. I agree with many of the comments here that teachers' conditions in Britain are appalling. I have taught there and am amazed with what they have to endure. I fervently hope that whoever the next NUT Secretary is, he (no women, I gather?) will fight for and win some better deals for teachers, because all I hear on various teacher chatlines I belong to, is the overwhelming desire among British teachers to get out before the profession kills them.
  4. I have just moved into a new role as full-time paid President of our state teachers' union (Australia) and will retire at the completion of my term in 4 years. I was a classroom teacher for 35 years and the job has got progressively harder and more stressful and less rewarding in all senses. I DO NOT miss: Not being constantly verbally, emotionally and phycically abused Not being permanantly tired, stressed and frustrated Not being able to take a short break if you are feeling the need of it Being constantly on one's "best behaviour", being "jolly" all the time Not being able to call your evenings and weekends your own Being a slave to bells, timetables and routines Not being able to go to the loo when you need to Not being able to have a coffee when you feel like it I am now living and working like a normal human adult should and earning decent money for it. Until we can make teachimg more attractive, shortages will continue.
  5. Hi. My name is Jean Walker and I have recently been elected to the full-time paid position of President of our state Teachers' Union here in Tasmania, Australia. I have been involved with our union at Board level for many years as well as being a classroom teacher for over 30 years, teaching secondary English/History/Special Needs. I am English by birth (Huddersfield, Yorkshire) and migrated here with my parents. I taught in Maidstone, Kent in 91 and 92 and for a short time in Gothenberg, Sweden. My journalist partner is an ex-Geordie from South Shields and we travel a lot. I am particularly interested in comparitive education and look forward to some interesting discussions on current and future trends in education, now that I am in a position to influence our education policies here.
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