Disability advocate calls for end of segregated classes for disabled students in ACT schools
The Canberra Times writes about a director of a Canberra-based disability advocate group calling for more support and funding in schools to allow students with disabilities to be moved away from segregated classes to have them integrated with mainstream classes.  The disability advocate group argues that the current model is setting up disabled students to fail and urged for more funding, so that students can better integrate with mainstream classes.

Mackay school praises positive behaviour program helping to curb bullying and violence
ABC News reported about a Mackay school being praised for their approach of rewarding students for positive behaviour rather than punishing for negative behaviour.  The program has been running for three years and gives students a consistency in their learning.

OECD education chief Andreas Schleicher: great teachers more important than class size
The Sydney Morning Herald reported about Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recommendations for Australian schools to have larger class sizes in order to boost student’s education.  OECD education chief Andreas Schleicher states that with larger class sizes teachers will have “a lot more time to engage with students individually, to work with parents, to work on reviewing lessons, analysing lessons, observing practice and so on.  There's more emphasis on the professional development, particularly for higher order thinking skills".

INTERNATIONAL

UK: School bans parents from using phones at school gates
9 News reported about a Catholic primary school in North Yorkshire, England, placing large signs at their entrances to encourage parents to talk to their children when picking them up.  The signs at the entrances reads: "Greet your child with a smile, not a mobile" showing a figure with mobile to their ear, crossed out in a red circle.  The school principal said that they were “always looking at ways to engage parents”.  The principal also stated : “It wasn’t an issue among our parents, it just emphasises that speaking and listening helps the children to have discussions”.

UK: Chinese maths textbooks to be translated for UK schools
The Guardian writes about British students who may soon study mathematics with Chinese books after a deal was struck between UK publisher HarperCollins and a Shanghi publishing house.  The agreement will see Chinese math books translated to English and the release of a series of 36 maths books at the London Book Fair.  China’s wealthiest cities produce the world’s top performing math students and hopefully a flow effect will occur, boosting math skills of British students.

Ireland: Woman to stand trial accused of defrauding De La Salle College of funds
According to The Irish News, a former school employee is to stand trial after abusing her position and being accused of fraud.   The former school employee accessed funds without authority for her own personal use and gain, while she was expected to manage and safeguard any financial interests.

New Zealand: Roger Partridge: Students' futures depend on paying teachers right
The New Zealand Herald writes about the teacher union’s objections to performance based pay.  This means that teachers’ salaries will be based upon student performance.  This may result in teachers moving to schools where students perform better.  The Post Primary Teachers’ Association raised a point that it would be like basing doctor’s salary on surgical success rates which may result in surgeons not taking on patients with poor prospects of success.

USA: Police: Hunt continues for armed teacher who kidnapped student
CNN has reported about a teacher who has allegedly kidnapped a 15-year-old Tennessee student weeks after another student reported seeing the two kissing.  Police have received 250 tips from 24 states including California after an amber alert was issued.  Police believe that they could be in a regional Tennessee area.