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TEACHER EDUCATION
Ensuring that schools can mentor our trainees
Teacher education in universities is not replete with people dedicated to purveying “arcane educational theory” (Letters, 20/7). Teacher educators know that teaching practice in schools is indispensable to the preparation of strong teachers. However, this is only made possible by the generosity of the teachers hosting pre-service teachers in their classrooms. They do this mentoring work in addition to their foremost responsibilities to their students. They receive additional payment for it but most do it for the sake of the teaching profession, not for financial gain.
University faculties of education cannot simply require that pre-service teachers spend more time learning in schools. They must enter into partnerships with schools to arrange placements. Currently many teachers are not willing to intensify their already demanding job with responsibility for mentoring future teachers.
The solutions? Add resources to schools so that teachers have more time and professional development to undertake this supervision. The teacher educator role is to prepare pre-service teachers intellectually and emotionally for their placements. And they must collaborate with teacher mentors to ensure that graduating teachers are of high quality. This is vital work.
Josephine Ryan, Brunswick
The importance of thriving as an educator
Recent correspondents and Adam Voigt (Comment, 18/7) take aim at teacher educators in the belief that they are only interested in “arcane education theory”. They are clearly arguing for practical training in classroom management and control, but for what purpose? If that is what they want, we may as well hand teacher training to TAFE colleges.
This debate originated in part because of the flight from classrooms of newly trained teachers who apparently do not have the skills for bare knuckle teaching. Young teachers have much more than challenging student behaviour to contend with, including weak and ineffective school leadership, excessive teaching loads and parental indifference. They need ways to interpret what is going on in their classes and their students. If all they know is the language of “behaviour” and if all they see is “behaviour”, they will continue to struggle. They need more than “tips” and a range of so-called skills to survive as teachers and thrive as educators.J
John Whelen, Box Hill South
The diverse challenges of today’s classrooms
Adam Voigt makes ill use of the petunia boxes when he too taunts trainee teacher training from his early days. My experience from Victoria College (1988 to 1990) was always positive and it prepared one for the reality of classroom life as best as could be done over three years. We needed a solid background in what to teach but also were given a good deal of practical experience in running a class, not merely observing.
Of course, the responsibility of actually running one’s own class and subsequent learning from it is more complete. If teacher education needs an overhaul, it is about management of students but also, sadly, how to manage increasingly combative parents, learning about online support programs and receiving full government support with new initiatives.
Kevin Mulvogue, Mount Evelyn
THE FORUM
And we wonder why…
We keep hearing about the shortages of building materials and labour. And mortgage stress. These problems are undoubtedly exacerbated by the unnecessarily enormous size of most new houses. Then to consider the warming effect of the lack of gardens and the heat-absorbing black roofs. Both add to bill stress from the subsequent extra energy consumption for cooling. And emissions. We will look back on this in stunned horror and anger. Sleepwalking indeed.
Lou Wilksch, Brunswick East
…our planet is burning
We need to publicly reinforce the connection between deadly heatwaves and fossil fuels. It is criminal insanity that our governments pour fuel on the fire by continuing to approve – and subsidise – new gas and coal projects while swaths of our planet burn and thousands of people perish as record temperatures hit 56 degrees.
Rosie Ganino, Canterbury
Scandinavian models
We should not be afraid of an Indigenous Voice to parliament. Norway, Sweden and Finland all have versions of this for the Sámi people. These representative models are not without their challenges and do not please all parties all the time, but they do provide a stronger voice for the Sámi, and clearly the sky has not fallen in in any of these Scandinavian countries.
Cathrine Harboe-Ree, Castlemaine
Ensure the right vote
In 2007, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by a majority of 144 states in favour, with four votes against. Disappointingly, Australia was one of the four. Although the four countries that voted against have since reversed their position and now support the declaration, one wonders if the outcome of the referendum will once again place Australia in a position that it subsequently realises is the incorrect one.
Mark Hulls, Sandringham
When silence is golden
Re Nick Riewoldt’s comments about St Kilda, his old club – “the standards in that joint over the last however long have been sub-par” (Sport, 20/7) – are totally inappropriate for a former captain. Past players should not be harshly critical of the hand that fed them. I wonder how Riewoldt would have felt if past St Kilda players were rightfully critical of him after his ordinary performance as captain in St Kilda’s grand final losses.
Stephen Rae, former Richmond and St Kilda player, Portland
Time to go, Mr Morrison
Former top bureaucrat Kathryn Campbell has been suspended from a $900,000 AUKUS advisory role after the damning findings against her in the robo-debt royal commission (The Age, 21/7). Can we please do the same to Scott Morrison?
Vicki Jordan, Lower Plenty
Who’ll be the scapegoat?
If I were Harriet Shing or Jacinta Allen, the two ministers responsible for the Commonwealth Games, I would be nervously looking over my shoulder as Daniel Andrews will be searching for a scapegoat for the cancellation debacle. He torched former health minister Jenny Mikakos over the COVID-19 hotel quarantine scandal and prior to that, the late MP Jane Garret over the CFA disgrace. One can only wonder in this latest failure to the Victorian public and sporting organisations just who will pay the piper.
Gary Beard, Wonthaggi
Knowing when to say no
Since the Commonwealth Games were cancelled, I have developed this Kenny Roger’s ear worm: “You got to know when to hold ’em, Know when to fold ’em, Know when to walk away, And know when to run”.
Gracie Warner, Kooyong
Gains from axing AUKUS
For Daniel Andrews , the cancellation of the Games was an “easy decision” even though it broke a contract and disappointed athletes and others. I agree with the decision.
How much easier should it be then, for the federal government to cancel the AUKUS agreement, which has a price tag of $368billion, and is unpopular with many taxpayers. Very few of us would be disappointed if it were cancelled and the country could afford to spend the money in more needful areas. We might also work towards a more independent foreign policy.
Bruce Henry, Moonee Ponds
High cost of cancellation
I am staggered that there is any support for Daniel Andrews’ decision to cancel the games. Has everyone forgotten who got us into this mess, a hole which is becoming deeper by the day? Who was the most energetic supporter of this folly? One correspondent asserts “we have lost nothing in the cancellation and saved plenty” (Letters, 20/7). Really? The cost could be in the billions. Only Dennis Walker and Doug Springall point out the bleeding obvious.
Jan Grutzner, Richmond
Ballooning costs
Perhaps in the wake of the games debacle, Victoria could start issuing vehicle plates with a new slogan: “Victoria, The Blowout State”. This neatly covers the ballooning cost of construction projects as well as the condition of our rural highways.
Stephen Toal, Alphington
Let Charles pay the cost
The one thing Commonwealth countries have in common is that they were exploited by the British. If the King of England wants the games to continue, he needs to get out his cheque book.
Mick Hussey, Beaconsfield
Tragedies in perspective
Thank you to the level headed and realistic commentaries from Greg Baum and Tony Wright (The Age, 19/7). The cancellation of the Commonwealth Games may be disappointing for some but it is not a tragedy. Robo-debt was tragic.
Jane Wilson, Caulfield
A part of Australia?
Are we are talking about the commonwealth of nations being an anachronism or the commonwealth of Australia? As someone who lives in a border community, the latter seems equally useless.
Peter Garfield, Echuca
Our true blue Aussies
Sometimes I wonder how proud are we of the country we live in. Yes, there are things that could be better but how proud are so many of our athletes (eg, the Matildas on Thursday), lustily singing the national anthem, and how proud are we of them.
Ken Nailon, Carnegie
Keeping dogs in line
I was saddened but not surprised by the story of the swan being killed in Reservoir (The Age, 20/7). I am privileged to live near a wonderful nature trail in Banyule. Almost every time I visit, I see uncontrolled dogs in spite of the signs stating that they must be on a leash. One day this week broke all records. Eleven dogs running wild and uncontrolled in the reserve. One man had four, another serial offender had two. The next day was better: only two dogs were off leash. They were the only dogs I saw however, perhaps because of the rain and wind.
I have seen owners encouraging their “pets” to chase the water birds by throwing sticks into the billabong. Some owners pick up dog faeces but others leave the plastic bagful by the side of the path. We need regular patrols as I have told the council on many occasions.
Chris Goddard, Ivanhoe
Take care, Yevgeny
While he is on holiday, Yevgeny Prigozhin should stick this notice to his shaving mirror: “Wear disposable gloves before touching door handles. And never, ever take a cup of tea (unless you know what is in the samovar.)“
Brian McGuire, Glen Waverley
Deeper side of Barbie
As a child, I didn’t like Barbie but recently I saw the new movie. It is such a strong commentary on what happens when lack of diversity in leadership creates havoc and missed opportunities for all.
Robyn Stonehouse, Camberwell
Better version of AUKUS
Julie Bishop (The Age, 10/7) is spot on re Australia developing closer ties with Canada (19/7). CAUKUS has a good ring to it.
Dan Drummond, Leongatha
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding
The Voice
The government is paying for the Yes/No pamphlet but there’s no requirement for it to be truthful. How is this acceptable?
Bill Pimm, Mentone
Surely there’s time for the government to pass laws or regulations ensuring the pamphlet only contains factual information.
Jenny Callaghan, Hawthorn
For the opportunity to help a minority group, one that by about any measure is the most disadvantaged in the country: Yes.
Graeme Perry, Skye
The Games
Could Andrews use some of the money he’s “saved” to repair hundreds of potholes on the Hamilton Highway.
Bill Gray, Port Fairy
Our new number plate: ″Victoria – The Penury State″. Our government is so broke, it can’t even pay attention.
Bruce Crowe, Sunbury
The greater shame on Victoria is the homeless lying in our streets and shopping malls.
Kay Moulton, Surrey Hills
Cancel the Games and save money: disgrace. Keep the Games and spend money: disgrace. Who’d want to be a decision maker?
Brian Powell, Middle Park
Given Collingwood’s likely prominence, I wonder if Dan could cancel the grand final as well.
Andrew Thornhill, Inverloch
Will the state government spend our money to subsidise the grand prix again?
Maria McKinnon, Northcote
Finally Dan’s pyramid complex is rubble. Time to go.
John Kelly, Hawthorn
Furthermore
Bazball is winning the cricket and younger generations. Lovers of the former Test cricket and respectful viewing seem destined to history.
Arthur Pritchard, Ascot Vale
So, “a kingless form of government” is a republic (Crossword, 19/7). I wonder if Elizabeth I and II and Victoria would have agreed.
Nadia Wright, Middle Park
Nick McKenzie, thank you for your work. May the road continue to rise to meet you.
Molly Hanrahan, Maldon
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