Opinion

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

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True stories: the power of literature in teaching complex skills

TRAVIS MCKENZIE: Imagine if every class had a relevant short story to help students construct a deeper understanding of a given topic?

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Reckoning with truth

LUCY TRELOAR: Choosing to be aware of the current direction, instead of your immediate instincts, is crucial to making choices that are not only socially just, but also beneficial to all of us.

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The myth of days lost: remote learning is not home-schooling

ADAM VOIGT says politicians and media commentators should watch their language when it comes to describing the consistent education Australian students have received throughout the pandemic.

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TV review: The Newsreader (ABC TV)

The latest binge-worthy drama from the ABC centres on the machinations of a fictional commercial news station as it covers major moments that shook Australia in the ’80s.

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FUNdamentals

TRAVIS MCKENZIE: Teaching can be fun again when school leaders reduce the meaningless meetings, boring bureaucracy and prescriptive pedagogy that get in the way of sharing a love of learning.

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The Lowdown: Case to make us climate losers or leaders?

A group of teenagers (and a nun) has taken the federal government to court to prove it has a duty of care to protect children from harm caused by climate change. Here’s why the decision matters.

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My Favourite Things: middle grade and young adult fiction

Book sales have continued to grow despite, or perhaps because of, the pandemic, with a renewed demand for compelling fiction. As much as ever, kids need a good book to curl up with, so we’ve found a few worth putting under their noses.

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Playing Favourites

Years of observation have led A.J. BETTS to deduce there are several ways of increasing your chances of garnering the ‘F-word’ from students.

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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TV review: 1971 – The Year That Music Changed Everything (Apple TV)

A new docu-series delves into a year when political events were providing fertile ground for artists and activists determined to reshape society.

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Film review: Little Tornadoes (MIFF)

Set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing post-war Australia wary of immigration, a man struggles to look after his kids after his wife walks out.

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Book review: Small Acts of Defiance, Michelle Wright (A&U)

A debut novel set in 1940s Paris is an intimate and enthralling examination of the lengths people will go to in order to survive.

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The playgrounds are closed: the plight of children in Afghanistan

In the midst of the pandemic, primary teacher NICOLE JENVEY is finding ways to guide her students’ responses to world events, including the plight of Afghani civilians.

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Schools on screen

This year’s MIFF schools program contains diverse films to meet the curriculum and prompt weighty classroom discussions on topics from religion to friendship and everything in between.

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Film review: My Name is Gulpilil (ABCG Film 9)

★★★★ A new documentary offers a remarkable insight into the personal triumphs and regrets of national treasurer, actor David Gulpilil.

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Vale Kate Jennings

Kate Jennings, who died in May, was a woman of singular intellect, a writer who wielded her pen like a sword, and an activist who believed fiercely in human rights and women’s rights.

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TV review: The Split, Stan/ABC iView

Nicola Walker once again proves herself compulsively watchable leading a formidable cast in tightly written legal/family drama The Split.

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Book review: Love Objects by Emily Maguire

★★★★ In her latest novel, Love Objects, Maguire takes on the growing issue of hoarding, which can develop into a serious disorder with profound implications on families.

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How I learned to stop worrying and love parent–teacher interviews

A.J. BETTS: As a student, I would dread parent-teacher interviews. How easily that ‘Letter Home from School’ could accidentally slip into a rubbish bin. As a teacher, I’ve decided that honesty is (almost) always the best policy.

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Dreaming of better times

LUCY TRELOAR: As it is still largely the victims of workplace abuse, rather than the perpetrators, who are penalised for reporting, the empowering effects of collective action are vitally important.

For everyone

True stories: the power of literature in teaching complex skills

For everyone

Reckoning with truth

For everyone

The myth of days lost: remote learning is not home-schooling

For everyone

TV review: The Newsreader (ABC TV)

For everyone

FUNdamentals

For everyone

The Lowdown: Case to make us climate losers or leaders?

For everyone

My Favourite Things: middle grade and young adult fiction

For everyone

Playing Favourites

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.

For everyone

TV review: 1971 – The Year That Music Changed Everything (Apple TV)

For everyone

Film review: Little Tornadoes (MIFF)

For everyone

Book review: Small Acts of Defiance, Michelle Wright (A&U)

For everyone

The playgrounds are closed: the plight of children in Afghanistan

For everyone

Schools on screen

For everyone

Blowing open the boys club

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Film review: My Name is Gulpilil (ABCG Film 9)

For everyone

Vale Kate Jennings

For everyone

TV review: The Split, Stan/ABC iView

For everyone

Book review: Love Objects by Emily Maguire

For everyone

How I learned to stop worrying and love parent–teacher interviews

For everyone

Dreaming of better times