Welcome to Eureka Street

back to site

Section: Education

  • EDUCATION

    Germaine Greer's Catholic education

    • Gregory Day
    • 23 February 2011
    15 Comments

    In trying to convince my atheist goddaughter to embrace her Catholic schooling, I found an unlikely role model. I'd never thought of Greer as a chip off the old block of a convent education. Now I realised that that's exactly what she was.

    READ MORE
  • EDUCATION

    Why private schools need more money

    • Chris Middleton
    • 08 February 2011
    48 Comments

    A recent poll shows 70 per cent of people think the Federal Government gives too much money to private schools. Catholic schools have contributed enormously to the Australian community, and thus make a claim for some funding on the basis of the common good.

    READ MORE
  • EDUCATION

    Education in a post-WikiLeaks world

    • Fatima Measham
    • 15 December 2010
    6 Comments

    The National Curriculum has sparked passionate debate. An enlightened society upholds that its young people are more than just future workers; they are human beings first. Unfortunately, it is easier to generate data for the knowledge and skills that we expect of future workers.

    READ MORE
  • EDUCATION

    Tokenistic action against homophobic bullies

    • Fatima Measham
    • 01 November 2010
    16 Comments

    Principals and teachers can keep gay young people safe at school only to the extent that they are also safe in the wider community. While ticking boxes on ‘teacher training, resources and consultancy’ may not adequately address the source of the behaviour of homophobic bullies, such programs remain important.

    READ MORE
  • EDUCATION

    Gillard's education afterthought

    • Neil Ormerod
    • 15 September 2010
    12 Comments

    Only yesterday, as an afterthought, were the words 'tertiary education' added to Minister Evans' responsiblities. But a clear statement of priorities had already been sent, revealing just where the Government believes universities belong.

    READ MORE
  • EDUCATION

    A vote for the Greens is a vote against Catholic education

    • Stephen Elder
    • 12 August 2010
    26 Comments

    I differ with Frank Brennan in his belief that there is no harm in voting Green. The Greens' policy on funding for Catholic schools will force closures, increase fees and change the ability of Catholic schools to be genuinely Catholic. Stephen Elder, Director of Catholic Education, Melbourne

    READ MORE
  • EDUCATION

    Will a real university please stand up

    • Neil Ormerod
    • 29 July 2010
    7 Comments

    In 2012 Australian universities will experience a radical shift in government policy, resulting in a marketplace where universities must hawk their wares in a bid to attract the best and brightest. Whether all the present universities will survive in this competitive marketplace is an open question.

    READ MORE
  • EDUCATION

    Why NAPLAN boycott must happen

    • Fatima Measham
    • 28 April 2010
    19 Comments

    Julia Gillard has not truly engaged with concerns from teachers, principals, academics and parents regarding the overemphasis on NAPLAN-based school comparisons. For many teachers, the professional and only ethical thing is to oppose such moves.

    READ MORE
  • EDUCATION

    The trouble with school ethics classes

    • Neil Ormerod
    • 16 April 2010
    22 Comments

    The Sydney Anglican diocese is concerned that proposed ethics classes in schools might attract students away from existing scripture classes. This looks more like a matter of turf wars, of seeking to maintain numbers and so justify their continuance.

    READ MORE
  • EDUCATION

    Gillard student numbers don't add up

    • Fatima Measham
    • 26 February 2010
    5 Comments

    Many teachers argue that NAPLAN test results should be used to improve the standard of education, and not a lever for market-based competition. These critics are called secretive and defensive. Perhaps this is how Rudd and Gillard want them to be seen.

    READ MORE
  • EDUCATION

    Delivering justice in the schoolyard

    • Vic O'Callaghan
    • 01 February 2010
    4 Comments

    Brian was in tears. A sheen of skin had been removed from his right knee and his left hand was grazed. Michael was into his mantra of accidental cause — 'He tripped over my foot' — while Sam stuttered in astonishment: he'd seen Michael deliberately push Brian off the handball line.

    READ MORE
  • EDUCATION

    Best of 2009: Stairway to international student security

    • Ben Coleridge
    • 05 January 2010
    5 Comments

    After midnight, a group of international students, on a break from their night jobs as waiters, gather in a concrete stairwell and share their stories. Victorian premier John Brumby could learn a thing or two in that shabby stairwell. September 2009

    READ MORE