Stephen Aitken’s letter in the SMH
Good to hear this voice again!
It is rare I agree with Ross Cameron, but, as a Catholic diocesan principal for 32 years in four schools, all in low socioeconomic areas, I learnt the advantage of being able to select my teachers and control the school budget. These tasks were demanding, but rewarding; they made the school responsive to local needs, staff and parent input. This was proven by the success of Catholic diocesan schools in spending BER money wisely and strategically. I understand the federation’s fear these reforms may be a source of future government cost cutting. That did not happen in the Catholic sector (class sizes decreased). The minister promises it won’t happen in NSW state schools. Good teachers want to work for inspirational leaders, in responsive school communities, aware of the needs of their students and able to promote a work ethic and a desire for ‘‘ personal best’’ . I could not cope with a system of transfers. I believe that good teachers and schools have nothing to fear from the minister’s proposals, if he keeps his promises. Let us hold him to them.
Stephen Aitken The Entrance Copyright © 2012 The Sydney Morning Herald
Once the reality of allowing principals to be real leaders of the professional side of their schools, rather than glorified line managers bound hand and foot and gagged by departmental middle managers, one hopes that even the Teachers’ Federation will have the intellectual honesty to celebrate the improvement to the lives of their members and the education of the students.
Absolutely agree. It just makes me laugh, except it should make me cry. I’ve spent most of my career making decisions that state government school leaders are apparently incapable of making. Paula is doing her staffing at the moment for CEO; I start mine in about 4 weeks thanks to the joy of independence. Who are they kidding?
When you look at state education in Victoria, for all the issues there, one finds innovation and independent thinking in the state system. I wouldn’t teach in the government sector in NSW for quids.