Louisa L.
(Above: NSW Teachers Federation members at Albury vote to continue action against devolution)
NSW teachers are seething about what Premier O'Farrell describes as the biggest change in public education in 100 years. And on Friday, 18th May, the biggest stopwork meetings in more than a decade voted overwhelmingly to stop him. Some of the 230 meetings across the state overflowed onto the streets.
Divide and conquer, blame those on the bottom for the bastardry of those on top – some things haven't changed in basic ruling classes tactics since ancient Rome. Following decades of disastrous examples from New Zealand to England, Sweden to the USA the disease of educational 'devolution' has been championed as a way of bashing unions, blaming teachers and cutting funds to public schools.
Part of the deception associated with this attack is the claim that devolving decision-making to the school level will improve school effectiveness and improve student learning outcomes. But there is no evidence base for such claims.
One of its strongest advocates in Australia is Prof. Brian Caldwell but even he is forced to admit that there is “no doubt that evidence of a direct cause-and-effect relationship between self-management and improved outcomes is minimal”.
And NSW teachers are having none of it.
On Saturday, 10th March, the 300 strong Teachers Federation Council, comprising teachers from across the state, had their regular meeting in Sydney. Fearless O'Farrell, hid downwind, waiting for them to disperse. Late that night he sprang a trap: “Local Schools, Local Decisions”.
His snare has a variety of predecessors, including R.Murdoch's via J. Gillard, whose “Empowering Local Schools” predates O'Farrell's show, but can't get a guernsey without states' cooperation. Murdoch's Telegraph (briefed well in advance) took editorial credit for the ambush, which they assured everyone will help students and give principals the power to sack “bad” teachers.
Teachers Federation President Maurie Mulheron refutes this, “If the government is genuine in its claims that this will improve NSW school education, I challenge the Premier to show the costings. No government embarks on such massive changes without having a fully costed proposal.
The result of devolution, he continued, “will be school principals making decisions based on budget bottom lines, rather than on the educational needs of their students.
“This is not about cutting red tape. It is no more than turning principals into an administrative arm of the government.”
In a leaked expenditure review, commissioned by the previous Labor government, the US multinational Boston Consulting Group (BCG) used the devolved Victorian system as the benchmark for cuts, where 12 per cent less is now spent per student than in NSW. This equates to a cut of 7500 teachers and 1500 support staff. BCG's suggested tactic is to first increase funding to get structures in place, before cost cutting. The Sydney Morning Herald revealed that another leaked report by multinational accountancy firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers confirms the cost cutting intent of devolution.
Teachers Federation analysis shows grave risks to teaching and ancillary staff numbers, permanency and promotions, pay scales, conditions, the statewide transfer system, to equity and specialist programs and to class sizes.
Teachers know this will be the toughest fight they've ever experienced. The government has worked hard to hive off a section of principals, but word is getting out and overcoming the lies. Teachers are mobilised, united and in every corner of the state. They are consolidating their alliances with parents and the community, by focussing on the needs of kids. O'Farrell and his backers, despite their well laid plans may well find themselves caught out.
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