Outgoing AEU President Andrew Gohl announced the new candidates for the 2007 AEU Leadership elections to be conducted later this year at a well-attended wine-tasting and fundraiser last Friday.
Current AEU Womens’ Officer Correna Haythorpe intends to stand as a candidate for the position of President. Correna has developed an extensive understanding of the issue of work and family balance and understands the workload issues that are faced by all educators under an increasingly complex education environment.
As AEU President Correna will be able to lead AEU members in a struggle to regain professional control over working lives and restore balance with family and personal life.
It is time for a female President for the AEU.
Marcus Knill and Anne Crawford were also introduced as the male and female Vice President candidates.
Marcus Knill has served AEU members as male Vice President for two years and has managed a strong curriculum focus and supported AEU principals.
Anne Crawford is a respected educator who has a long history of strong advocacy in Equal Opportunity and inclusion of disadvantaged groups in education including vociferous support for Aboriginal people. Anne has recently worked as an AEU Organiser.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
(Public) Education Works Phase 2 - be warned.
Phase One – the amalgamation of 16 education sites to create 6 new ‘superschools’* is a clear investment in public education – real money - $134m was contained in the 2006/07 budget.
Phase two is a different matter. Many sites are considering amalgamations or closures under the umbrella of (Public) Education works.
A nominal $82m has been identified in the same state budget, but this money would be generated by sale of school/preschool assets and land. That is, there is absolutely no certainty that schools going down this path will be able to access the quantity of funding required to realise the dreams of the amalgamating school community.
Same old advice applies – proceed cautiously and get your commitments from DECS in writing before proceeding.
Every amalgamation ultimately means loss of leadership and administrative time. Autonomy of leadership in curriculum for specific age cohorts is threatened too.
The experiences of staff in some schools are that consultation is inadequate at worst and at best rushed. Get agreement about your consultation process.
* There has to be an alternative name.
Rumours
The Minister has received a bit of caning from cabinet over the state budget.
The Minister is furious to have been compromised by DECS inept advice….again.
Government is said to be reconsidering its approach to education issues following the union community campaign.
DECS leadership is concerned about anti union practices including lack of consultation with the union over key matters. Word around the traps is that DECS policy makers should be working more with the union because of the lack of talent and understanding within DECS to get it right.
Principal Associations struggling to find representatives for all the DECS working parties they are called to be part of.
National Testing for Years 3,5,7 and 9
State and territory ministers have agreed to implement the national testing regime called for by the federal Government.
The battle lines are drawn however because SA Minister Lomax Smith is on the record stating that the state government will not support the creation of league tables. Someone should tell Stephen Smith (and Julie Bishop) this. Labor federally seems more than willing to go down this path.
Stay tuned.
Phase two is a different matter. Many sites are considering amalgamations or closures under the umbrella of (Public) Education works.
A nominal $82m has been identified in the same state budget, but this money would be generated by sale of school/preschool assets and land. That is, there is absolutely no certainty that schools going down this path will be able to access the quantity of funding required to realise the dreams of the amalgamating school community.
Same old advice applies – proceed cautiously and get your commitments from DECS in writing before proceeding.
Every amalgamation ultimately means loss of leadership and administrative time. Autonomy of leadership in curriculum for specific age cohorts is threatened too.
The experiences of staff in some schools are that consultation is inadequate at worst and at best rushed. Get agreement about your consultation process.
* There has to be an alternative name.
Rumours
The Minister has received a bit of caning from cabinet over the state budget.
The Minister is furious to have been compromised by DECS inept advice….again.
Government is said to be reconsidering its approach to education issues following the union community campaign.
DECS leadership is concerned about anti union practices including lack of consultation with the union over key matters. Word around the traps is that DECS policy makers should be working more with the union because of the lack of talent and understanding within DECS to get it right.
Principal Associations struggling to find representatives for all the DECS working parties they are called to be part of.
National Testing for Years 3,5,7 and 9
State and territory ministers have agreed to implement the national testing regime called for by the federal Government.
The battle lines are drawn however because SA Minister Lomax Smith is on the record stating that the state government will not support the creation of league tables. Someone should tell Stephen Smith (and Julie Bishop) this. Labor federally seems more than willing to go down this path.
Stay tuned.
Monday, July 23, 2007
New AEU leadership team at Wine Tasting
Come and meet the new AEU leadership team who will be contesting this year’s AEU elections at the Progressive Educator Wine Tasting.
Sample some great wines and buy a cheap crate at Options Wine Merchants, 33 King St Norwood, 5.30-730pm Friday 27 July.
Tickets are $10.
Have a drink with the next President and Vice Presidents of the AEU who will ensure a continuation of balanced and strategic leadership of SA’s strongest and most successful active union.
See you there.
Andrew Gohl
Sample some great wines and buy a cheap crate at Options Wine Merchants, 33 King St Norwood, 5.30-730pm Friday 27 July.
Tickets are $10.
Have a drink with the next President and Vice Presidents of the AEU who will ensure a continuation of balanced and strategic leadership of SA’s strongest and most successful active union.
See you there.
Andrew Gohl
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Welcome to Progressive Educator
Progressive Educator is a network of education workers in South Australia.
Our goals are to further the interests of public education and of education worker unionism.
We will update this site from time to time with articles about social and educational issues of relevance to AEU members in South Australia, including links to relevant articles and websites.
Our most recent email newsletter is reproduced below.
Your comments and suggestions are welcome.
(Forward this website on to friends and colleagues who want a progressive union that will strongly represent educators in preschool, school and TAFE.)
2006/2007 Budget Cuts Campaign
Strong community campaigning by AEU members across the state supported by principals and parent associations has forced a state government back down on the Workcover component of the 2006/07 budget cuts. It’s a great result and demonstrates the power of united and sustained strategic action. The tactic of targeting MPs in their electorates and providing them with information about the impact of the cuts was very powerful. So too, was the threat of the one hour industrial action. The campaign continues and further action is possible, if not likely, depending upon the outcome of negotiations with DECS about the remaining matter:
- 5% interest creamed from preschool/school SASIF accounts
- 30 TRT days loss for preschools and schools with TPTs
- $36 million over four years loss to education for the so called state government efficiency dividend
These remaining matters still have the potential to impact upon learning programmes in preschools and schools. Branch Council of 18 August will consider the outcomes of negotiations and decide upon the need for further industrial action.
Swimming and Aquatics
In another campaign win for AEU members the state government announced that Swimming and Aquatics jobs would be saved and the budget allocation remain. Some further negotiation is required around the ongoing delivery of the swimming and aquatics program. DECS has proposed the introduction of 3 year contracts for instructors. There is a strong argument for permanency on this basis.
Instrumental Music
Announced in much the same terms – maintenance of the budget and no loss of jobs has also been a win for the campaign mounted by AEU members of the IMS sub branches. Significant issues remain to be resolved including delivery to secondary schools, music class size and travel. There is also some significant concern regarding the methodology of delivering music to students and further discussions will need to occur.
Activists get the white car call in DECS attempt to intimidate
A member from the IMS branch recently received a call to meet a DECS executive officer to discuss their active role in the media and the Code of Conduct. It was a clumsy attempt to intimidate and bully an active AEU member and to undermine their right to engage in AEU campaigns. This comes on top off media reports of principals also feeling intimidated by DECS officials. The Minister of course denies that a culture of bullying exists in DECS
One Minister, 20 DECS Officers and still clueless!
Budget estimates is the annual exercise in parliament whereby the Treasurer and ministers are interrogated about the state budget.
Opposition spokesperson for Education Iain Evans asked quite a few insightful questions about the impact of budget ‘reinvestments’ (otherwise known as budget cuts).
One question in relation to Work Cover costs for DECS had the Minister scratching for an answer and the gathered DECS officers scrambling through papers for a response – which wasn’t forthcoming.
The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Will the minister explain the difference between the 2005 figure of $40.488 million from DECS and $18.9 million?
The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH: I will take the question on notice.
The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Out of 20 officers and a minister, no-one knows
Howard’s jackboot takeover
The Howard Government’s 11th hour response to the issues facing Aboriginal communities should be seen for the cynical political election stunt that it is. His new found concern for Aboriginal children comes months out from an election after more than a decade of utter contempt for reconciliation in office and ignoring the plight Aboriginal people.
Commentators have already identified the puzzling attempt to eliminate community control over who enters Aboriginal lands as part of a broader strategy to make easy the takeover of Aboriginal land for mining interests. Territory police are advising against such a move because unlimited access will allow for undesirable and exploitative individuals entering the lands for exploitative purposes.
Howard has failed utterly to enunciate any positive initiatives that would support the self determination of Aboriginal people. No commitment has been made to boost education for Aboriginal people despite the recommendations made by the Wilde-Anderson report.
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