AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR THE
DEFENCE OF GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
PRESS RELEASE 370
30 March 2010
LEAGUE TABLES AND CYBER
BULLYING OF TEACHERS
There
is good reason why public school teachers and parents are concerned about the
side effects of misinformation of Federal Government MySchool website.
In
the game of blaming the victims the Government has not only passed the
accountability and transparency buck down the line to under-resourced schools
in economically depressed areas. They have also opened up the potential danger
of cyber bullying as well as media bullying of teachers and pupils in these
schools.
The internet is both a useful tool and a dangerous
master. Gillard and her advisers think they can stay safely out of reach on the
sidelines of the information highway and avoid consultation or even contact
with teachers and parents of public schools – until election time. Whereas in
the 1970s the Labor party had the sense to ‘buy off’ public school teachers and
parents with representatives on ‘consultative committees’ which legitimated the
alienation of billions of dollars from the public to the sectarian system of
education, in 2010, they are ignoring their existence.
Since
Gillard and her advisers are slavishly following the mistakes of the
DOGS quotes from the Guardian of
28 March.
School staff in the
Parents are using social networking sites to form online campaigns targeting school staff. Members of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) say they are alarmed at the detrimental effect the sites can have on those working in education, from incidents of harassment to pupils wanting to be their "friend" online.
"The government is expecting us to use more and more ICT," she
said.
The
Meanwhile, back in
A survey of over 1000 principals conducted by the Australian Education Union
(AEU) has revealed the damaging impact of school league tables on students,
teachers and schools. The survey results strengthen the call for the Federal
Government to take action to stop the publication of league tables.
Conducted between February 26 and March 11 this year, over 90 per cent of respondents were concerned that no action had been taken by the Federal Government to stop the creation and publication of league tables using the average scores from the My School website.
In schools that were identified in league tables published in newspapers earlier this year, the responses were particularly disturbing, with 51 per cent of principals reporting that their school's appearance on the list would have a negative impact on their students. For those schools listed in the bottom section of a league table, that figure increased to 78 per cent. When the potential impact on the reputation of schools was looked at, 58 per cent of principals reported that publication would have a negative impact, rising to 84 per cent of principals in schools listed at the bottom of a table.
The survey revealed that many schools at the bottom of league tables were experiencing teacher shortages. Some 79 per cent of the principals in these schools also believed that the school did not have the resources needed to deliver the educational programs needed by their students.
The survey also reported concerns about the My School website, with 88 per cent of principals of the view that it did not present an accurate picture of school performance.
In a result that is likely to cause concern to many parents, as well as to teachers, 80 per cent of principals believed that the public comparison of test scores on the My School website would lead to more teaching to the test to the detriment of other areas of the curriculum.
When announcing the results of the survey, Angelo Gavrielatos, President of
the AEU, emphasised that the AEU (and the NSW Teachers Federation) supported
the provision of accurate, valid and meaningful information to parents and the
community. However, he went on to say: "Unless
the Federal Government acts to stop the misuse of data and protect students
from league tables, teachers cannot cooperate with the next round of national
testing in May. We cannot stand by and watch students, teachers and school
communities being damaged by crude league tables created only for profit."
Unfortunately, the Federal Government continues to ignore calls for action
on league tables, although in a curious move last month the Australian
Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) took action against a
private company that sold league tables online. The 854-page publication, Australia
School Ranking, was available for download for $97. It ranked the more than
8000 schools across
Apparently taking the view that publication of league tables for profit was not acceptable, ACARA forced the company to stop selling the publication. It did this by threatening action under existing copyright and trade practices legislation.
If one sets aside the hypocrisy involved in not taking similar action against newspapers, the move does demonstrate that the Federal Government already has the power to stop the publication of league tables. If it exercised this power, there would be no need for teachers to deny data for future league tables by not cooperating with the national testing program in May.
The Australian Education
Union will determine on April 12 what action will be undertaken across
Federation Representatives in all schools have been provided with a campaign
kit aimed at ensuring all members are aware of and understand the issues of
concern. The kit contains material to be used to inform and gain support from
your school's P&C and the broader parent community, and a "Declaration
of Teacher Opposition to School League Tables" for all members to sign.
The kit also has a 12-minute DVD that addresses many of the reasons why Federation is campaigning to stop league tables. It is suitable to be used in meetings with both teachers and parent/community groups.
DOGS urge teachers throughout
DEFEND PUBLIC EDUCATION AND STOP STATE AID TO PRIVATE RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS.
Listen to the DOGS program
3CR, 855 on the A.M. dial
12 Noon Saturdays