Viewpoints
Bringing you thought-provoking views on current issues in education. Some are written to challenge current thinking. Others are written to prompt action.
Ethics Classes: Much Heat, Less Light Posted on 4 November 2009
By Dr Bryan Cowling
There's been a lot of heat but not too much light in the recent debate within the media about the proposal by the St James Ethics Centre to conduct a pilot project to test the concept of offering an Ethics-based Complement to SRE (Scripture) in Government primary schools. Not surprisingly those who don't think children in primary schools should be taught anything at all about religion have taken the opportunity to voice their opinion. Full Article >>
Could Do Better... Posted on 23 October 2009
By Mrs Jennifer Spies
Term 4 is often fast and furious, and for many, final assessment and reporting adds to the busyness and pressure of the final term. As a teacher of Mathematics, I have taught many students who struggled to achieve in my subject area, and writing final reports created a challenge to fairly and positively sum up their year's performance. Some of the students who lacked in mathematical ability were creative, some were generous and thoughtful, others were compassionate and loyal friends, and others great encouragers of those who were in need. Full Article >>
What is the Next Step? Posted on 23 September 2009
By Mr Ian Keast
(A key question for Year 12 students to think about. Or, if you are reading this and know a Year 12 student, please pass the article on!) The theme of my visits to schools to talk to students is to challenge them to think carefully and prayerfully about how they are going to serve Christ. In my position as Director of Christians in Teaching, I want them to see the value of becoming teachers and serving Christ in our schools: they are strategic places for the gospel of the Lord Jesus to be heard and seen by a new generation. Full Article >>
Tips 4 Teachers Posted on 7 September 2009
By Mrs Alison Wheldon
In my previous article I talked about how difficult it is to love some students, yet how essential! In John 13:35, John exhorts us to demonstrate our faith in Christ by showing our love to others. That's not always easy with a ‘special someone' in your class who just knows how to trip your patience circuit-breaker! Here's an idea that I've found works for me: Print off a class list and mark today's date on it. Using a colour or other code, indicate those students you relate to well. Full Article >>
League Tables Miss the Point Posted on 18 August 2009
By Dr Bryan Cowling
There's been a lot of media hype in recent months about the concerns that some people have about the use of publicly available data derived from national testing to construct school league tables. The Council of Australian Governments representing the Premiers and Chief Ministers of all States and Territories and the Prime Minister (COAG) is keen to make more information available to parents about the performance of all schools throughout Australia. Full Article >>
Tips for Teachers Posted on 5 August 2009
By Mrs Alison Wheldon
What makes your school, or more specifically, your classroom, distinctively Christian? I ask this question as I travel around visiting Anglican schools and invariably one of the responses (along with many others) is "We care about our students here." It would be fair enough to assume that all schools care about their students. In fact, I would challenge you to find a school that doesn't care about its students! We all know about "Duty of Care", which is a legal requirement, and any teacher or school employee who draws breath would know of the possible consequences for not carrying out due care with their students. But we need to think and act beyond the policies and legalities. Full Article >>
Eureka at EurECA Posted on 23 June 2009
By Mrs Ruby Holland, St Paul's Grammar School
For an Australian, the term ‘Eureka' conjures up images of foolhardy bravery at the Eureka Stockade or of scientific discovery in Archimedes' bathroom. In ‘eduspeak' we refer to the ‘Eureka moment', a surprising flash of understanding which has a long-term impact on the learning of a student. There were many Eureka moments at the EurECA (European Educators' Christian Association) Conference in Vevey, Switzerland in May, held under the auspices of The Evangelical Alliance. Full Article >>
Building on the Rock Posted on 12 June 2009
By Mrs Jennifer Spies
As our society and more specifically, families in our schools, are affected by the economic downturn there is a great opportunity, in our classrooms, to focus on values we can depend upon. For many in our school communities this financial crisis follows a long period of wealth creation and accumulation that appeared not only dependable but unending. In a very short space of time however, we have seen investments plummet and unemployment rise leading many to reevaluate the trustworthiness of economic advice and financial security. Full Article >>
Education Chief Calls on Teachers to Think Posted on 20 April 2009
By Mrs Jennifer Spies
The CEO of the Anglican Education Commission has called on Christian teachers to think and teach Christianly. Dr Bryan Cowling was delivering the occasional address to teachers graduating with Masters degrees and diplomas from the College of Christian Higher Education. Over forty graduands from Southland College and the National Institute of Christian Education were awarded Bachelor of Education (conversion), Graduate Diploma in Education, and Master of Education. Full Article >>
A Revolution Needs Leaders Posted on 7 April 2009
By Dr Bryan Cowling
All over the country, bureaucrats and a coterie of educational practitioners are working feverishly around the clock to flesh out the details of the National Partnerships between the Commonwealth and the States and Territories through which the next stage of Kevin Rudd’s ‘Education Revolution’ will be implemented by schools. There’s no doubt COAG (the Council of Australian Governments) is committed to making radical changes in school education over the next four years. The agenda is huge, expectations are very high and the speed with which COAG wants to see results is breath-taking. Full Article >>
Showing 11 - 20 of 34 Viewpoint Articles
Posted 20 Aug 2010
Fourth Annual Celebration of Anglican Schooling
Posted 19 Aug 2010
Bigger than the Rudd Revolution
Posted 4 Jun 2010
Posted 4 Jun 2010
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