The information in the Weekly Wrap is aggregated from other news sources to provide you with news that is relevant to the education sector across Australia and worldwide. Each paragraph is a summary of the subject matter covered in the particular news article. The information does not necessarily reflect the views of CompliSpace.

AUSTRALIA

Parents, teachers are failing “cotton wool” kids

According to the Financial Review, too many school children are being "wrapped in cotton wool" and schools are not letting them experience failure, contradicting reality, where not everything goes your way, according to a senior school principal in the Western Australia public school system. Armando Giglia, president of the Western Australian Secondary School Executives Association and principal of Butler College in north Perth, said he would like to see federal and state leaders developing a more realistic strategy for education which included letting students develop resilience and resistance. His comments come as the federal government prepares to launch a national curriculum review in the wake of the Gonski 2.0 Review and an interim report from the NSW Curriculum Review panel, which argued in favour of more self-evaluation by students instead of formal testing. Resistance to letting children fail often showed up in attitudes to testing such as NAPLAN, Mr Giglia said.

Religious freedom bill would threaten human rights and create “religious privilege”, ACT Government claims

According to the ABC News, the Federal Government's proposed religious freedom laws would seriously threaten, and in some cases override, human rights protections, the ACT Government says. In a scathing submission on the latest version of the proposed religious freedom bill, Chief Minister Andrew Barr says the laws would elevate religious freedom to a special position above all other human rights, essentially creating "religious privilege". He also said the laws would threaten the well-being of ordinary citizens and their "freedom from religion". The Federal Government's second attempt at a religious freedom bill has received a mixed reception; some religious leaders have welcomed it but others have criticised it. Attorney-General Christian Porter indicated further consultation would take place before the legislation was introduced. But the ACT's submission details a wide range of problems with the draft, and its potential implications for healthcare, education and employment in Canberra.

If you’re preparing students for 21st century jobs, you’re behind the times

According to an article in The Conversation, every year, the Australian Taxation Office releases a report that includes the highest earning occupations in Australia. These are mostly in the medical, legal and financial sectors. This information is commonly used by school career advisers, together with other career development material, to help teenagers make career choices. But the nature of work is changing rapidly under the fourth industrial revolution. This is driven by disruptive technologies such as automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning and digitalisation. A recent OECD survey showed teenagers’ career expectations were concentrated in ten so-called “20th century” careers. These include doctors, teachers, lawyers and business managers. These choices have remained unchanged for almost two decades. For girls, they have become even more popular since 2000. This suggests a significant gap between teenagers’ career knowledge and choices, and the reality of the rapidly changing nature of work.

Australia could lose a third of Chinese international students if travel ban continues, survey finds

According to SBS News, nearly a third of Australia's international students stuck in China because of the Federal Government's coronavirus travel ban are considering study in another country, a survey has found. The survey, conducted by the Education Consultants Association of Australia, comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison extended the ban on Chinese visitors for another week. It found 32 per cent of more than 16,000 students surveyed said they would enrol in another country if they could not be in Australia for the first semester of 2020. Asked about their preferred "redirection destinations", 58 per cent of students chose the UK, 31 per cent chose Canada and six per cent chose the US. The survey was conducted from 5 February to 9 February via Chinese social media platform, WeChat, with 73 per cent of students currently studying in Australia and 26 per cent new students. Announcing the extension on Thursday, Mr Morrison said the government was working closely with schools and universities.

Childcare costs now higher than private school fees, as experts call for new funding model

According to ABC News, for Australian parents earning the average income, childcare fees are higher than many private school fees, according to research by Victoria University (VU). "The cost of childcare for families in Australia is among the highest in the world," said report author Jen Jackson, the education policy lead at VU's Mitchell Institute. "And we've found that Australian families pay as much for childcare as they would to send their child to a private primary school.” The report said a family with both parents on the average salary of $85,000 would pay $5,782 a year out of pocket. The non-government school sector estimates the median out-of-pocket cost for all private schools is $5,200. Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan said the Government had already significantly increased its spending on childcare over the last decade.

Judge frustrated at “shadow boxing” in Pell contempt of court case

According to The Age, more than half of the charges against journalists and media organisations related to reports following Cardinal George Pell's conviction on child sex offences have been dropped by the Victorian Director of Public Prosecutions. Thirty journalists and news organisations are still accused of breaching a suppression order that blocked media from immediately reporting that Cardinal Pell had been found guilty in December 2018 of abusing two choirboys in the 1990s. Media outlets, including The Age, published articles on their inability to report that an unnamed figure had been found guilty of a serious crime. The suppression order was lifted in February last year when other allegations against Cardinal Pell did not proceed to trial. Supreme Court judge John Dixon last Thursday ordered the Director of Public Prosecutions to provide a brief of evidence against those still facing trial. He was frustrated at delays to the proceedings, saying the whole case should have been tried already but the court was still "boxing at shadows". The matter will return for another directions hearing at a later date.

Mandatory reporting laws for religious institutions come into effect

The Age reported that laws requiring clergy to report child abuse to authorities — even if it's heard in the confession box — would come into effect in Victoria on Monday 17 February 2020, ending the "special treatment" for Victoria's religious institutions. The changes bring religious and spiritual leaders in line with teachers, police, medical practitioners, nurses, school counsellors, and early childhood and youth justice workers, who are required to report the abuse and mistreatment of children. The Children Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 (Vic) followed a recommendation in the 2017 final report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that clergy and confession no longer be exempt from mandatory reporting. The new laws also ensure the disclosures are not exempt under the Failure to Disclose Offence in the Crimes Act and allow survivors of institutional abuse to apply to the courts to have their unfair historical compensation payments overturned.

Why are WA kids sexually abused by peers forced to face them at school?

According to WA Today, children who have been the victims of sexual assault are being retraumatised and further abused by being forced by the WA government to attend school with their perpetrators, a leading mental health and psychology expert has warned. WA’s Australian of the Year for 2018, Adjunct Professor Tracy Westerman, who has extensive expertise in working with sex offenders and victims, said the government was harming child sexual assault victims by allowing the peers who offended against them to remain students at the same schools. “This is not about more abuse potentially taking place,” she said. “The presence of a perpetrator in the environment of the victim is abuse - and the systems that are there to protect are failing to do so.” It was revealed in WA Parliament after questions from opposition child protection spokesman Nick Goiran, that as of last Tuesday, there were six alleged offenders attending the same public school as their victims. In response to Mr Goiran's questions, Education Minister Sue Ellery said a “risk assessment and management plan” (RAMP) was in place at each school reflecting individual circumstances and arrangements.

Canberra schools updating asthma plans for kids after a smoky summer in the national capital

The ABC News reports that staying indoors to avoid bushfire smoke and dust has been a reality for many Canberrans this summer, particularly for those with asthma. Asthma Australia chief executive Michele Goldman said there has been a spike in inquiries from people wanting more information, particularly as school commences. Asthma Australia has been working with the ACT Government to develop guidelines for schools on managing air quality. "The guide provides a clear, standard way of thinking for every school to reference, rather than leaving the burden on each individual school to develop their own policy." The resources include an air quality impact and response guide, a smoke risk assessment and a checklist. Canberra's mountain surrounds and prevailing winds make it a perfect smoke trap, but a donation from Dyson of 400 purifying fans to public schools in Canberra has provided additional help.

Teacher complaints in “priority” limbo

According to The Australian, the Victorian Institute of Teaching is taking months to respond to complaints about teachers, blaming laws introduced in response to the child abuse royal commission for a workload of almost 900 “professional conduct matters”, compared with fewer than 150 two years ago. The Institute says it has been forced to triage complaints, meaning matters it doesn’t classify as “extreme” or “major” may “become prolonged”. Melbourne parent Alan Dormer made a complaint regarding the professionalism of the principal and deputy principal at his children’s south eastern suburban Catholic primary school on November 15, with the Institute yet to determine whether to conduct a formal investigation almost three months later. Mr Dormer and wife Narelle Ryan say they are among more than a dozen families who withdrew their children from the school last year, amid dissatisfaction with staff and leadership. Victorian Education Minister James Merlino said the state government was working with the VIT to determine what could be done “to ensure they have the support they need to investigate matters in a timely manner”.

National Plan for Child Wellbeing a core recommendation from Mitchell’s final report

According to The Sector, Australia’s first Children’s Commissioner, Megan Mitchell, launched her final report on Monday 10 February, one of the most comprehensive assessments of children’s rights ever produced in Australia. Ms Mitchell, who will cease in the role 24 March 2020, was clear in her reporting, noting that the mental health of children and young people in Australia is not being sufficiently cared for, and that governments must do more to ensure children’s wellbeing. Better access is only one piece of the puzzle, she noted, calling also for early intervention and higher quality care. One way to achieve this is through the development of a National Plan for Child Wellbeing, and the appointment of a Cabinet-level Minister with responsibility for children’s issues at the national level. One in seven children aged between four and 17 years of age were diagnosed with a mental health issue in a 12 month period, Ms Mitchell noted, expressing concern about increasing rates of suicide and self harm. Attorney General Christian Porter tabled the report in Parliament on Thursday 6 February.

Distressed principals are left to battle disrespectful and violent parents: APF president

According to Education HQ, the Australian Principals Federation (APF) president has made an alarming admission that principals are experiencing a sense of helplessness in the face of violent parents. Speaking on ABC Radio’s Mornings with Virginia Trioli program, APF president Julie Podbury told listeners there was “little tolerance, little understanding and little empathy” shown towards principals. Ms Podbury shared one case where a principal “spent her summer on edge”, fearful that she would be forced to deal with a parent who had a “record of violence”. Ms Podbury said whilst the Department of Education was doing its best to support principals, it could only do so much. “The Department does its best. But the Department is not there on the ground when things go wrong. Ms Podbury said the Department of Education’s Respectful Relationships program could help bring back mutual respect between educators and parents.

INTERNATIONAL

Student given $US183k over push-ups order (United States)

The Australian reports that a Louisiana appeals court has ruled that a former high school student who was ordered to perform 200 push-ups as a punishment was rightfully awarded more than $US180,000 in damages. Former McKinley High School student Tristen Rushing was late to band practice in 2014 and told to do 200 push-ups as punishment. He was later hospitalised with muscle and kidney issues. Tristen Rushing and his mother Melissa Rushing sued the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, McKinley High and the school's former volunteer assistant band director, Jason Jones, in 2015. The pair was originally rewarded $185,000 last September but an appeals court reduced the amount given for medical expenses last Tuesday. The appeals court awarded him $183,302 in total for damages, The Advocate reported. Medical testimony in the trial said Tristen Rushing's muscles were so damaged that an extremely high level of enzymes was released into his system, threatening his kidneys and his life if it had been left untreated.

Private supplementary tutoring: a global phenomenon with far-reaching implications (Global)

According to the World Education Blog, private supplementary tutoring is widely known as shadow education because much of it mimics mainstream schooling. The 2017/8 GEM [Global Education Monitoring] Report estimated that the size of the market would surpass US$227 billion by 2022. Globally, the Republic of Korea is best known for the scale of shadow education. But private supplementary tutoring is not just an East Asian phenomenon. It has also expanded remarkably in Europe, for example. A 2020 update of a 2011 report for the European Commission showed that shadow education is increasingly visible, including in Scandinavian countries where it had previously been negligible. England and Wales, for example, had little tradition of private supplementary tutoring in the past, at least for regular students in state schools; but a 2019 survey of students aged 11-16 by the Sutton Trust found that 27 per cent of respondents in the total sample had received private tutoring at some point in their careers.

Toilet project aims to flush out bullying in Hawke's Bay school (New Zealand)

According to Radio NZ, a Hawke's Bay school is believed to be the first in the country to join a global campaign to discourage bullying and improve the mental health of its students by doing up its loos. The once grey and drab toilets at Haumoana School are now brightly painted and plastered with inspirational slogans such as “Being different isn't a bad thing, it means you're brave enough to be yourself” and “It's cool to be kind”. The School Toilet Project was started in Australia by Enlighten Education founder Danielle Miller after research showed students often hide out in the bathrooms when they are upset and they were the places where they would self harm. More than 800 Australian schools have got now involved in the initiative, which had also spread globally. After seeing its success across the Tasman, Haumoana School parent Melanie Beynon, a local yoga and mindfulness teacher, approached the school with the idea of bringing it to theirs.