A Quick Guide to the Gonksi Review of Funding for Schooling
Review of Funding for Schooling – Final Report (commonly called the Gonski Review) examines the school funding system in Australia and makes a set of recommendations to the federal, state and territory governments. This snapshot will provide you with a summary of some of the significant changes recommended by the expert panel. Read full article
A School Based on Kindness
In this four minute video, watch what happens everyday in a school in Seattle dubbed The Kindness School. Students start each day talking about something they appreciate. Kindness activities and community interactions are everyday business. Academic classes are not essential. Can traditional schools learn anything from this approach? Read full article
Finding Friends Can Sometimes Mean Losing Friends
Are there any kids at your school that you’re glad your own children aren’t friends with? Do you keep an eagle-eye on the friends your child does make and, well, judge the friend just a little bit? Carol Duncan reminds her boys how to make, keep, and sometimes let go of, friends. Read full article
Starting Primary School can be an Emotional Rollercoaster
It’s several weeks into the primary school year and my five-year-old son is experiencing his share of ups and downs adjusting to life at ‘big school’. The highs (for both of us) include waving me happily off each morning, and the beautiful hug he gives his sister every afternoon on their reunion at the school gates ... But then there are the difficult moments. Such a big life change has also come with its fair share of big emotions for my sensitive boy. After trying so hard to concentrate and control his impulses all day, those emotions often came home looking for an outlet. Any small thing has the potential to set him off ... Read full article
Five Years Jail Term for Seeking a Better Education for Your Child?
I thought I’d misunderstood the headline: Homeless Mom Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for “Stealing” Son’s Education. How do you steal someone’s education? Did this mother forge her name on to her son’s graduation certificate, or masquerade as him during his University biology class? No – U.S. mother, Tanya McDowell, simply placed her five year old son in a school district in the United States in which she did not have permanent residence. When I investigated further, I found that the headline was not entirely accurate: McDowell was actually issued with a twelve year sentence, suspended after she serves the first five years. Read full article
25 Words Your Toddler Should Know and More
Perhaps intriguingly called "Is Your Child Normal" in this segment on Channel 9 Mornings I talked about a recent conference topic of the 25 basic words most toddlers should know - and then we chatted about some preschool and school readiness issues. Parents should not panic if their toddler does not know how to say all the words on this list but it is interesting to read what Professor Descorla (Professor of Psychology and Director of the Child Study Institute, Yale University) recommends parents look for. Read full article
Unisex Toilets in Schools - What Do You Think?
Two schools in Tasmania have started using standalone unisex toilets as part of a startegy to reduce bullying. But is it really the unisex toilet that is reducing bullying or is it the ease of supervision that is really the answer. Listen to thos discussion and let us know what you think? Read full article
Dear Son Starting High School - My Letter to You
My older son starts high school this year, transferring to a school where he will know no others students on his first day ...I have been giving some thought to what advice I would give my son if he asked me. Not that he is likely to, of course, given that he is now All-Grown-Up-and-Not-A-Child-Anymore, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared, just in case. Read full article
Arun Abey - ANU Speech - Connection Between Happiness and Wealth
Some decades ago, I sat where you are sitting, waiting to get my degree. It was one the greatest days of my life. I had many happy years on the campus, but was looking forward to excellent job prospects, with Economics and Arts degrees from the ANU. Like most of you, I had little money of my own, and from high school I had spent many hours working in supermarkets to help pay my way ... It is natural for graduates and their very proud but also long suffering parents to be sitting here and thinking "Great, I am now going to try and get a well-paying job, secure myself financially, and that will be the key to being happy." I want to share with you a radical thought: Based on my experience, as well as the latest behavioural research, you should, in fact, be thinking about the opposite. Read full article
Short Lesson in Positive Psychology for my Son Delivered via Telephone
Last night my oldest child had a crisis of confidence. In fact, the crisis began at pick-up and continued well into the evening. The source of his misery was an English paper that he just could not wrap his head around. A paper that was due the next day, the last day of the school term, the day we were flying home and the last thing any of us wanted to focus on was homework. Read full article
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