TOP MARKS FOR SCHOOLS, NOT SO MUCH MINISTER

1976

TEACHERS and parents could be forgiven if they awaited this week’s NAPLAN results with a degree of trepidation. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been a tumultuous two years for our schools. Considerable class time has been sacrificed.

It is therefore a testament to all involved in the education of our children that the results, when released this week, showed learning had continued unabated.

For sure, there are areas where schools would hope students could do better, particularly around writing and numeracy skills, which showed declines in some instances.

But as All Saints Anglican School principal Patrick Wallas told this newspaper, the value of NAPLAN is in highlighting such issues, allowing educators to focus on areas where there is room for improvement.

All Saints is one of a number of Gold Coast colleges to have achieved among the finest results in Queensland, continuing a proud record for the city’s independent schools.

It is worth noting that they do so despite having fees well below the national average.

A number of state schools also achieved highly impressive results – giving the lie to controversial comments from Fadden MP and Acting Education Minister Stuart Robert.

Speaking at an independent schools conference on Thursday, Mr Robert suggested the state school system was carrying “dud teachers” who could not be fired and were dragging results down.

“The problem,” Mr Robert said, “is the protection of teachers who don’t want to be there, who aren’t up to the right standard.”

It is incorrect to say that there is no process for removing teachers from the public system who might be classified as “duds”, to use Mr Robert’s term.

Only last month, this newspaper reported on the case of a state school teacher who was subject to a disciplinary procedure and ultimately lost her job after school management raised concerns about her performance.

More broadly, Mr Robert’s comments ignore the reality that, while no profession is perfect, the overwhelming majority of teachers in both public or private schools are extraordinarily hardworking and dedicated.

Despite multiple challenges, those teachers are achieving impressive results for their students.

The proof is in the NAPLAN results delivered this week.

1790

The supply ship HMS Sirius runs aground on a reef near Norfolk Island on a king tide. All aboard survive the wreck but the damage is a big setback for early colonists.

1834

Six labourers from Dorset, England, the Tolpuddle Martyrs, are sentenced to seven years’ banishment to Australia for forming a trade union.

1866

Bushranger John Dunn, 19, hangs at Darlinghurst Jail after gunning down Samuel Nelson, police constable of Collector, in front of one of Nelson’s eight children.

1917

Frank Beaumont Smith’s film Our Friends The Hayseeds is released in Sydney. It is Australia’s first substantial film comedy; Smith makes another 18 feature films.

1932

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is opened in a ceremony that is interrupted when New Guard member Francis de Groot cuts the ribbon before premier Jack Lang arrives.

1945

About 800 people are killed as Japanese kamikaze pilots attack US carrier Franklin.

1962

American musician Bob Dylan released his eponymous debut album to mixed reviews.

1976

Buckingham Palace announces Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon’s (pictured) split after 16 years of marriage.

1982

Argentine Marines posing as salvage workers hoist their country’s flag on the Falkland Islands, starting a dispute that leads to war with Britain.

2006

South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club, the Rabbitohs, members agree to a $3m privatisation proposal by Peter Holmes a Court and Russell Crowe.

2011

Bombing of Libya starts: the US fires more than 100 cruise missiles while French fighters target Muammar Gaddafi’s forces.