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Recent headlines . . .
State to independent switch
WA – A new plan that will allow state schools to become independent schools has been met with criticism from some teachers.
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Reading and writing recommendations
WA – A parliamentary committee has recommended WA change the way it teaches reading and writing in schools, and revert to focusing on grammar and phonetics.
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International education crackdown
NATIONAL – Former immigration minister, Philip Ruddock, has said the states have not properly regulated the export education industry and the federal government should consider taking control.
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Principals yet to know where funding goes
NSW – Principals of schools in disadvantaged areas are unsure if their schools will be eligible for a funding boost for low socio-economic schools as the criteria used to select schools are still unclear.
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Teacher 'desperately' needed: school
QLD – Widgee State School parents and staff are pushing for an additional teacher at the school.
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Robbery victim student may be deported due to visa
NATIONAL – International student Shivendra Singh may be deported before finishing his Master’s degree, despite his studies being interrupted by a robbery incident and post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Rise in STIs attributed to lack of education
QLD - State president of the Rural Doctors Association, Sheilagh Cronin, has said the rise in sexually transmitted infections can be attributed to a lack of sex education.
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Swine flu risk for pregnant teachers
QLD – At least three pregnant teachers have been removed from classrooms to help reduce their risk of contracting swine flu.
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Opinion . . .
UK comparisons
NATIONAL – This opinion piece by Kevin Donnelly, director of Education Strategies, compares the Rudd government’s education policies to initiatives created by Tony Blair when he was British prime minister.
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Good news . . .
125 years
QLD – The community state school at Muttaburra is celebrating its 125th anniversary.
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International
Student disability funding scheme not to be axed
NEW ZEALAND – The New Zealand government has said it will no longer cut funding to a scheme that helps provide therapies at school for students with physical disabilities.
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Rent a book
USA – Textbook publisher, Cengage Learning, has announced plans to rent school books directly to students for a fraction of the book's recommended retail price.
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ACEL Noticeboard
What is the moment of critical mass?
The threshold or boiling point—when successful change is about to happen? What causes ideas, innovations, and products to tip into the mainstream of practice, leading to changes in behaviour and extraordinary outcomes? When do we know we are changing student lives? Spend three challenging and memorable days exploring these questions and uncovering new pathways to improving student and school outcomes. Choose from over 100 presentations and workshops addressing five conference strands:
• Challenging environments, extraordinary leadership
• Transformational practices, leading change
• Unleashing potential, emerging leaders
• Imagining the impossible, creating tomorrows
• Creating the future, challenging the past: Excellence in Learning, Teaching, and Leadership
With seven extraordinary keynotes, eighteen lead papers and over one hundred workshops to attend, this will be the learning conference to attend in 2009. Our full list of speakers and additions to the conference program will continue to be updated on the conference registration website.
Participants are reminded that the Council of Educational Facility Planners International conference will be held the 24th -26th September at the same venue and will join our conference on the Saturday to hear and share speakers. When you register for ACEL conference you can also register for all or part of the CEFPI conference if you have paid a full registration.
Registrations for conference are flying in. With over 700 delegates registered we encourage you to book flights and accommodation as quickly as possible. If you are having trouble booking accommodation contact our office on 1800 680 559 and our staff will be able to advise of vacancies. A number of hotels are on standby to take last minute delegates.
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