Readin' 'ritin' and 'rithmetic focus to keep schools 'float

Backdoor justification for State Labors Cuts

English, maths, science and history would be defined as the cornerstones of primary education under a schools charter drawn up by principals.

The Australian Primary Principals Association has put forward the charter that would outline primary schools' precise role, amid concern their curriculum has become too cluttered.

The association covers public and private schools across the country.

The charter was developed at a forum in Sydney last month.

The association's president Leonie Trimper said principals felt it was essential to simplify the curriculum by making English, maths, science and history "critical and essential elements" to be taught by primary schools.

Teaching these key subjects would allow children to best develop skills including learning, thinking, communication, self-management and use of technology.

However, these needed to be balanced so children also had the opportunity to take part in music, physical education and other activities.

"These experiences, while not seen as core areas, were viewed by the forum's delegates as having great value in introducing children to many other important areas of life," Ms Trimper said.

"The draft charter suggests programs and interventions, such as bike safety and financial literacy, should only be taught if they don't detract from a school's core business.

"If we are to give our children a proper education foundation in life, the accent must be on core areas that are vital to learning."

The charter defines the purpose of primary school as "ensuring that all children learn, and that they gain a permanent love of learning".

The document will be circulated to schools and parents for comment before being submitted to federal and state governments.

The reality is that this will be about all the schools will be able to cover with their reduced budgets from Cutmeiseter in Chief Kevin The Chop Foley.

Super Schools Not so Super for Existing Schools

Much of the long term strategy for public education appears to be bigger means better.

This is from the State Budget in 2006. All was rosy. No talk of the pain which was heading the way of the public school sector. A one size fits all strategy is not very sustainable.

Six super schools will be built across the metropolitan area as part of a new $216 million education program to be unveiled in tomorrow's state Budget.

The six schools, which will cater for students from kindergarten to Year 12, will replace existing schools, which are facing falling enrolments and increasing maintenance costs.

Premier Mike Rann and Education Minister Jane Lomax-Smith announced the move today, saying two of the schools would be built in the Smithfield Plains-Playford North area, two in the Woodville Gardens-Mansfield Park area, and two in the Enfield-Gepps Cross area.

They will replace up to 17 schools such as Smithfield Plains High School, Davoren Park Kindergarten, Gepps Cross Girls High School and Regency Park Special School.

The schools will be built as public private partnership projects with the private sector building them and leasing them back to the Government.

The private sector builders would remain responsible for maintenance of the schools.

However, Mr Rann and Dr Lomax-Smith said there would be no forced school closures and there would be full consultation with the communities involved.

"Under our plan, there will be schools that decide to close, some schools will decide to combine and others will be reconfigured," Mr Rann said.

Mr Rann said this was the most significant reform agenda of the state's school infrastructure in more than 30 years.

"Plenty of other communities will take up the offer if these schools don't," Dr Lomax-Smith said.

She said the aim of the plan was to have the new super schools opened by 2011.

Also under the plan, $24.8 million will be spent to establish 10 hi-tech trade schools for the future, $23.3 million to bring to 20 the number of children's centres offering childcare, school and health services, and $45.5 million for 20 major capital works projects.

Dr Lomax-Smith said that under the capital works program, the Government would look at the feasibility of future capital works in a further 15 state schools.

The education funding cuts appear to me to be designed to put pressure on smaller schools to amalgamate and in the short term, to reduce the operating budgets of these schools, which in turn will reduce the appeal of these schools to parents, who will withdraw kids and potentially put them in private schools. This has already happened with rural schools. Now it is the turn of other schools. This not so virtuous cycle is not very appealling.

Building the Mike Rann, Dr Jane Lomax Smith, Kevin Foley Super Schools may be good in the longer term, but why do we need an immediate efficiency dividend to fund these potential white elephants?

And This is the Word of The Martin Hamilton Smith

Premier Rann’s backflip on the Schools Tax means other cuts are likely.

Savings initiatives listed in the last two Budgets were hailed as the base on which the Rann government was rolling out its Super School reform program.

“So what’s next,” asked Opposition Leader Martin Hamilton-Smith.
“If they say they need the cuts to fund the reforms, either the reforms are gone, or there will be cuts elsewhere,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.

“You can be sure this government will try what they first attempted last September – cuts by stealth.”

Cuts listed in the Budget papers include:
• Remove benefit of interest earnings on bank accounts.
• Water efficiency measures where schools are allocated 25% less.
• Unattached teachers funding.
• Energy funding cuts.
• Small programs.
• Grant payments.

The projected total of these cuts over the next three budgets is $165 million.

“What a mess the government has made of its budget planning,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.
“The so-called savings initiatives are now in disarray and we can assume that the whole education strategy is in tatters – all in less than a month since the last Budget was handed down.
“It’s another sign the budget is a shipwreck looking for a rock to hit.”

Pasha Bulker Eat Your Heart Out. The Rann Government has their own Shipwreck waiting to happen.

Guided Reading A Very Valuable Program

My daughter has been doing Guided Reading at school for three years now. The school made an investment in developing the program and has seen a regular improvement in reading capabilities throughout the school. Literacy levels are higher in standard testing. These improvements have been directly correlated to the implementation of this program.

Basically kids of the same reading level work together in small groups with a trained leader to develop reading skills. Hannah has worked hard with this and we believe that it has made a huge difference to her confidence in school.

To lose or to reduce a succesful program like this would be a tragedy. Currently options to address budget cuts include reducing Guided Reading to one day a week from three. What a short term budget cutting disaster for young children just getting going with reading.

Public School Funding Still Many Issues

Despite the back down on the ludicrous Work Cover levy, the State Government is still hell bent on pursuing deep cuts in public school funding. Treasurer Kevin Folly has an agenda of efficiency dividend. Quite where these are going to come from with schools having classroom budgets for kids of around $50 a year and money for computer upgrades hard to come by without Commonwealth support.

There is only so much fundraising and fee raising that Public Schools can do.

Despite the fact that Public Education preschools and schools have been subjected to more than two decades of cost cutting and so called ‘efficiency’ drives this State Labor Government seems intent on extracting $54 million from 2008 to 2010 from cash strapped preschools and schools.

The Fight Continues!

Thanks AEU SA

Just Call the Radio

Another good way to make our argument is to call the radio stations. It is very easy. Our issue is very basic and resonates with the community. Just tell your story and the impact that these policies may have on your school.

I have called and been on the air 4 or 5 times now. You reach a lot of people that way.

State Opposition Opposes Workcover Levy

State Liberal Opposition Education Spokesman, Ian Evans pledged to drop the "mean spirited" Work Cover Levy from the proposed theft from Public School Budgets. That would be a start.

Too bad they are not likely to be in government for a while. Martin Hamilton Smith, the opposition leader said at the protest rally that we attended that this was his priority, to have the levy rescinded. Obviously he had thought it through.