Most public school principals, teachers and employees belong to unions. The implied value of membership is that the legal duties of unions – bargaining for wages and benefits, and providing representation in the event of workplace grievances – are performed…
Living in Western civilisation, we are part of an extraordinary story. We inhabit a time in history that offers us countless opportunities to be our true selves. While we live in the present moment, we can dream about the future,…
You can’t necessarily equate qualifications with capability. In terms of ‘trained’ teachers, this has, unfortunately, never been more true. The results of a national research project that gathered data over a 5-year period from 2012-2017, indicated the greatest frustration experienced…
The word ‘teacher’ can be traced back to the Greek term deiknumi, which means ‘to point out’ or ‘to show’. Great philosophers, including Aristotle, Socrates, Confucius and, more recently, Rudolf Steiner, were educators and private tutors of the highest order. Their…
Public schools in Australia are widely referred to as offering a secular education, which, by definition, should not have a connection with religious or spiritual matters. However, the singing of Christmas Carols and a strong emphasis on indigenous studies –…
Where have all the male teachers gone? The table above shows the percentage of female teachers in primary/elementary schools around the world, in 2015. Do you agree that these statistics are unacceptable? Who, or what, is driving this trend? What is the…
What’s the difference between the best school in the worst street and the worst school in the best street? The answer is simple: its community. A community is a group that holds particular attitudes and interests in common. A school…
Schools usually expect parents to be active in support of their child’s learning and to engage in school initiatives – with regard to homework, committees, working bees, fundraising and social events. You could say it’s the norm. However, this expectation…
In my workshops, I’m constantly asked: “What’s the best approach to stop parents questioning the learning and teaching taking place in schools?” It’s the wrong question. Parents have every right to know and understand exactly what is happening in schools.…
When we form views and beliefs we are usually influenced by facts and opinions. All too often, our views are also shaped by emotive immediacy and we make choices with little regard for the potential consequences. A recent vacation to…