Opinion

Views and analysis of the issues affecting our members, their students and the wider community, plus our regular columns and cultural reviews.

Schools

Don’t kill the magic: the perils of NAPLAN

Dear Parents & Caregivers, Thanks for all your emails asking me questions and reminding me that I need to be

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Calming movies for kids

Kids cooped up? We have unearthed a library of gentle but enthralling films that won’t leave young ones dizzy.

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Wine: bargain buys

As if drought and fire were not bad enough, problems in labour availability certainly haven’t helped Victoria’s 2020 vintage. Some

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Book review: Weather by Jenny Offill

Written amid the charged atmosphere of Trump’s election, Weather is a dark and witty book for our times.

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TV review: Normal People

Thanks to the faultless casting of its two leads, this adaptation of Sally Rooney’s much-lauded novel about first love may truly break your heart.

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Dropping the mask: an introvert’s guide to teaching

Teaching can be confronting for introverts. Remote learning might help us find a way to perform our roles while still remaining true to ourselves, writes LUCY TRELOAR.

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Theatre in lockdown

Fans of the stage have been able to enjoy a virtual night out thanks to free YouTube streams from a range of companies across the globe – many of them raising funds for theatres, companies or other worthy causes.

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The unsung heroes

We may be flattening the curve of the virus, but the learning curve for teachers has been vertiginously steep, writes A.J. BETTS.

The Australian Education Union is you, your colleagues and thousands of other people working in public education. Join us now to have a voice in your profession, and to enjoy the support and advice we offer our members.

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Keeping it together, remotely

Teachers are the professionals responsible for building communities, writes TRAVIS MCKENZIE.

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The real cost of reopening schools

Morrison has offered private schools billions in public funds to reopen early, but public schools only get a bucketload of guilt, writes JANE CARO.

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The art of conversation

In an age where communication is often via a screen, we’re seeing a boom in resources to help people talk face-to-face (even if they think they have nothing to talk about). We look at some recent bestsellers, and some all-time classics.

Schools

Starting over

Finding the true measurement of success allowed teacher and author AMRA PAJALIC to avoid burnout and stay in the job she loves.

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Film review: Onward

★★★★ The latest Pixar animation chews through every quest cliche in the book while serving up a rich and thoroughly enjoyable feast.

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TV review: Stateless

★★★★ New ABC drama Stateless offers an engrossing and excoriating picture of our inhumane mandatory detention policies.

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A better place for all

Esteemed social researcher HUGH MACKAY AO argues that public education remains central to an egalitarian society and a more compassionate and socially cohesive Australia.

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Starting afresh

LUCY TRELOAR: back to work after a break can be hard, there are things we can all do to make the adjustment easier.

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Wine: Italian style

Right now, it’s the Italians who are producing some of the most exciting varietal spins on some perennial favourites such as chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and pinot noir.

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Kicking goals

TRAVIS MCKENZIE: What if goal-setting is all meaningless and we are focusing on the wrong thing entirely?

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Book review: Difficult Women

★★★★★ This fantastic new feminist text from British journalist Helen Lewis reminds us how much the feminist movement owes to women who might appear difficult to love.

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Our best intentions

A.J. BETTS: Surely, this year will be the year you become the teacher you’ve always aspired to be. After all, nothing says ‘I’ve got this!’ like a carefully coloured-coded timetable.