an ncylc e-bulletin

Issue #1: June 2003

PUBLIC EDUCATION FORUM

Our Future - Public Education forum: Town Hall, 5.00 pm 19 February 2003

Public Education Forum: picture courtesy of the NSW Teachers Federation

What do you get when you pack over 2500 teachers and several politicians from major political parties into Sydney Town Hall on a Wednesday evening, a month prior to the NSW state election? A most interesting time, no doubt.

On 19 February 2003, teachers and parents were given the opportunity to ask questions of the state's major political parties about their policies for public education in the run-up to the state election. In turn, each political party representative also had the chance to "sell" their policies on public education to the prospective voters.

The host for the forum was the ABC's Stateline presenter, Quentin Dempster. Speakers included John Brodgen (coalition leader), John Watkins (the Minister for Education and Training at the time), Professor Tony Vinson (chair of the NSW Public Education Inquiry, Lee Rhiannon (Greens), Nina Burridge (Democrats), and Maree O'Halloran (the NSW Teachers Federation president). Mr Carr was conspicuously absent. 95% of the audience (my rough estimate) were (comprehensive) public school teachers. After speeches from O'Halloran and Vinson (who gave his own assessment of what's been done so far in regards to his recommendations in the Vinson inquiry), each party representative highlighted their plans for education should they get elected into office at the upcoming election. There was also a short Q&A session afterwards. What was most interesting for our purposes were several issues that were raised at the forum which had specific relevance to young persons' rights:

Child protection legislation

One question posed by a member of the audience related to the impact of child protection legislation. Apparently, teachers are worried that minor complaints (and, I think, unsubstantiated child abuse allegations) are being made to the Ombudsman and the NSW Children's Commissioner (with details being kept on record) and as such are demanding an urgent review be made of the legislation. Watkins replied that a Working Group is being convened at present to review the Children's Commissioner guidelines (not in force at present) and the Ombudsman legislation. From the impression I received, I have a feeling that any results from this review would only seek to contract young people's rights. I could be wrong, but still, it's something to be aware of.

Private schools

Another issue raised was from a teacher who was angry that "troubled" students expelled from private schools are being sent straight to enrol in the closest public school. Watkins' reply was somewhat coy, but he did mention that should his party be re-elected, they will enact legislation (policy?) which will require non-government schools to report on suspensions, expulsions and their discipline policies much like what their government schools counterparts are currently required to do. Apparently, this is as per the recommendations in the Grimshaw Report, which called for the increased accoutability of private/non-government schools. I was most heartened to hear about this --- making private schools more accountable can only be A Very Good Thing (considering the amount of complaints we get from private school students in regards to their dissatisfaction with their schools' draconian discipline policies).

Professor Vinson's assessment

Professor Vinson, in his assessment of the situation 5 months post-Vinson Inquiry, commented that current responses to his recommendation regarding student discipline and welfare are inadequate. Particularly, although the current government has recently recruited additional school counsellors (to deal with troubled students), there is a long ways to go yet. He was also disappointed in the lack of response to the recruitment of mental liaison officers (to cope with students with mental health problems -- teachers do not have the training and capacity to deal with them), and a responsible conduct code/guide (he was particularly dismissive of the Coalition's proposal of toughening school discipline codes). He also emphasised that a good discipline policy requires a range of responses, and not just reliance on the traditional responses of suspension and expulsion.

A copy of Professor Vinson's full speech is available at the The NSW Teachers Federation site, at http://www.nswtf.org.au/media/latest/files/20030221_townhall.pdf.

All in all, a most interesting and enlightening (and often amusing) evening was had. It was refreshing to see the point of view of public school teachers in regards to their perceptions on class size, student discipline, professional training and teacher salaries. It was also a first (for me) seeing the (often) quite hostile reception of politicians' promises by disgruntled teachers, live and loud.

Note: ABC's Stateline ran a feature on the Public Education Forum in their Friday 21 February program. A transcript of the program is available on their site at http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/nsw/content/2003/s790992.htm.

Chelyn Woon