Inclusive education—everyone nods along when we say it’s important. It’s about making sure every child, no matter their background or abilities, gets the education they deserve. But let’s face it: the system is a mess, and the heavy lifting is being done by teachers who are struggling to keep up. What we need is aContinue reading “Inclusive Education Isn’t Broken, It’s Underfunded: A Call for Real Change”
Tag Archives: teachers
Ignore the Naysayers: Why Australia’s Education System is Stronger Than You Think
If you only read the headlines, you’d think Australia’s education system is on the brink of collapse. Recent headlines include: “Six ways Australia’s education system is failing our kids,” “One-third of Australian children can’t read properly as teaching methods cause ‘preventable tragedy’, Grattan Institute says,” and “Why Australia’s students keep falling behind.” The news isContinue reading “Ignore the Naysayers: Why Australia’s Education System is Stronger Than You Think”
The Standards Dilemma: Aligning Goals and Incentives in Australian Education
As an expat American, I’ve always been intrigued—and frankly, baffled—by the Australian schooling system. It’s a system riddled with contradictions that simply don’t add up. Take New South Wales (NSW), where I currently reside and have taught. NSW operates on a syllabus-based system of education. This syllabus tells teachers what to teach, and it’s supposedlyContinue reading “The Standards Dilemma: Aligning Goals and Incentives in Australian Education”
The Paradox of Standardisation in Australian Education: A Step Back from Progress
In an era when Australia ambitiously strides towards professionalising and valuing its teaching workforce, paradoxically, it tethers these professionals to a framework of stringent standardisation. This juxtaposition not only stunts educational progress but also undermines the very essence of the professionalisation that was painstakingly championed. As an advocate for unorthodox thinking in the realms ofContinue reading “The Paradox of Standardisation in Australian Education: A Step Back from Progress”
Teaching Strategies Part 4: The Promise and Pitfalls of Educational Research
This post, the fourth and penultimate in the Teaching Strategies series, will delve into the nuanced world of teaching strategies, guided by what research reveals and its limitations. I aim to provide a nuanced view that respects the complexity of educational research while offering clear, actionable advice to current and future educators. Educational research hasContinue reading “Teaching Strategies Part 4: The Promise and Pitfalls of Educational Research”
Band-Aids on Behemoths: Decoding the Sisyphean Saga of Classroom Chaos
In the evolving landscape of education, one of the most pressing challenges that consistently emerges is student behaviour and the challenges this poses to teachers, who have consistently ranked this among the most complex challenges they face for the past 60 years, yes – SIXTY Years. I wrote the following passage in my thesis backContinue reading “Band-Aids on Behemoths: Decoding the Sisyphean Saga of Classroom Chaos”
Maximising Student Potential 