What's newMore education planning needed for WA mining boom: scientistProfessor Robin Batterham of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences has called for more planning at school and university level to provide more maths and science graduates to meet the needs of the ongoing mining boom in Western Australia. See report on ABC South West WA 19 November 2007. Program to promote science to secondary students in VictoriaThe Foundation for Young Australians Spark Fund has awarded $5000 to PhD student Luke Webb and student teacher Travis Barnes to develop a program to promote science careers amongst secondary students. The ‘Thrust’ program will be conducted in 12 secondary schools in Victoria's Goldfields Region. As part of a research aspect of the project, Travis and Luke are particularly interested in hearing from systems personnel, education academics and teachers about their views on teaching science, engineering and/or technology. See their blog for further information. LOTE in US kindergartensA report in the New York Times 14 November 2007 describes the spread of programs for languages education in US kindergartens. School programs address sexual assault in Victoria and Western AustraliaIn Victoria, the Royal Women's Hospital's CASA House (Centre Against Sexual Assault) offers programs for secondary schools to prevent and respond to sexual assault. The program uses a principal-driven, whole-school approach to promote positive behaviours and prevent violence in young people’s lives. It currently operates in five Melbourne secondary schools. The program includes staff professional development and components tailored to middle or senior years' students. For further information, telephone CASA House on 03 9635 3600 or email casa@rwh.org.au. In Western Australia, the Domestic and Dating Violence Peer Education Project is a pilot school-based early intervention program run by the Women's Council for Domestic and Family Violence Services WA. For further information, see the link on the Council's home page. Victorian teachers strikeTeachers in Victorian schools held a strike this week in support of a 30% wage rise over three years, smaller class sizes and improved career pathways. Catholic school teachers have also been engaged in wage negotiations with their employers. See article in The Age 21 November 2007 Media studies counts toward university entrance in South AustraliaYear 12 Media Studies has been given Higher Education Selection Status (HESS) in South Australia, allowing it to be used as a contribution toward university entrance. See article in Education News October 2007, p3. 'Active dads' in VictoriaActive Dads, an initiative based at Bell Primary School, Melbourne, aims to get fathers involved with our children, their education and each other. Active Dads gets funding support from the Children’s Protection Society (CPS). US Government launches new education websiteDoing What Works (DWW) is a new website sponsored by the US Department of Education. DWW is dedicated to 'helping educators identify and make use of effective teaching practices'. Many teachers in England 'keen to lead'Nearly one in three teachers in England would like to become a head teacher in the future, and one in 12 would like to lead a school within the next three years, according to a poll of 1002 teachers for the National College for School Leadership (NCSL). See report on BBC News 9 November 2007. |