Discrimination – the capacity to recognise a distinction or to differentiate – is a remarkable innate trait without which we could not survive. Babies are hard-wired to discriminate – to identify their mothers’ features among those of other women. We…
A bundle of letters from a ‘pen pal’ – my best friend at primary school. A collection of Christmas cards from students I taught 30 years ago. Birthday cards from loved ones, some now deceased. They have no material value,…
Cast your mind back to 2001, to one of the most heartbreaking events of recent times – the attacks of September 11. Where were you when you heard the news? How did it affect you? I was in New York that…
There are two things that should be beyond question. First, that Australia’s common language is English. Second, the inherent value of our English language is that it gives us the ability and freedom to communicate with depth and full understanding.…
Since the establishment of various Education Acts during the late 1800s, Australia’s colonial school curriculum relied on books – referred to as readers – and monthly school newspapers, to establish and supplement skills in reading and writing. The focus was…
Schools deliver what is known as the intended curriculum. This includes broad, written statements that reflect what students should know, understand, and be able to do, by the end of each school year. It sets a framework of expectations or…
The word ‘teacher’ can be traced back to the Greek term deiknumi, which means ‘to point out’ or ‘to show’. Great philosophers, including Aristotle, Socrates, Confucius and, more recently, Rudolf Steiner, were educators and private tutors of the highest order. Their…
Public schools in Australia are widely referred to as offering a secular education, which, by definition, should not have a connection with religious or spiritual matters. However, the singing of Christmas Carols and a strong emphasis on indigenous studies –…
Cast your mind back to 2001, to one of the most heartbreaking events of recent times – the attacks of September 11. Where were you when you heard the news? How did it affect you? I was in New York that…
What would you do with a redeemable voucher of, let’s say, $11,000 per year, to be used for your child’s education? Would you stay with the school your child currently attends? Or would you ‘shop around’ to find a more…