Teachers urged to help build 'an ethical community'

March 23, 2007

An eminent educationist has identified "the politicisation of education" and "the unbridled growth of affluence" as the two main sources of the challenges that face today's teachers.

Professor Trevor Parmenter (pictured here), Director of the Centre for Developmental Disability Studies at the University of Sydney, was speaking today during a ceremony for people graduating in Education and Professional Studies at the University of New England.

Under the heading of "politicisation", Professor Parmenter discussed current debates about the uniform testing of school students, and responses in the United States to the introduction of such a testing regime. "The net result of the testing movement has been that teachers are teaching to the tests, and schools are refusing to enroll students deemed to be a poor risk academically. Eighty Republican members of Congress recently railed against the testing movement, insisting that it was killing innovation in schools."

Returning to Australian schools, Professor Parmenter said that other examples of political interference were "calls for major curriculum reforms, and an insistence that schools teach 'Australian values'".

The "unbridled growth of affluence", he said, had not led to the betterment of all people's lives. "Consumerism has contributed in part to a breakdown in basic family life. The greatest challenges schools currently face – and, I predict, will increasingly face – are the sociological changes around the notion of what constitutes a family. Increasing numbers of children living in dysfunctional families place an enormous burden on schools that are trying to instill a value system that is often diametrically opposed to the life experiences of many of their students."

He emphasised the need for teachers, in the face of these challenges, to foster in their students "a desire to build an ethical community – a community where there is a recognition of each-other's needs".

Professor Parmenter, who graduated from Armidale Teachers' College in 1952 and UNE (with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education and Psychology) in 1972, concluded his address to the graduands by hoping that "the legacy of this wonderful university" would "continue to inspire" them.

During today's ceremony the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Pettigrew, presented two Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. One went to Dr David Paterson, a Lecturer in Education who, Professor Pettigrew said, "has shown a continuing commitment to his students – influencing, motivating and inspiring them to learn at a high level, while showing a genuine concern for their development as individuals".

The other award went to a teaching team from UNE's Oorala Centre for their delivery of the TRACKS tertiary preparation program. Professor Pettigrew explained that the TRACKS program provided "a student-friendly, flexible learning pathway to tertiary education for Indigenous people – particularly those from remote and regional areas, or from correctional centres". He said the team – Diane Mumbler (the Director of the Oorala Centre), Guido Posthausen and Michael Brogan – had "transformed the lives of many students previously unable to access the higher education system".

One of the award-winners – Michael Brogan – also graduated today with the degree of Master of Education with Honours.

Altogether, 282 people were handed their testamurs today by the Deputy Chancellor, Mr James Harris. At tomorrow's ceremony – for people graduating in the Sciences and Health – there will be about 300. About 2,300 people – including those unable to attend the ceremonies – are graduating from UNE this autumn.

THE PHOTOGRAPH of Professor Trevor Parmenter displayed here expands to include Dr David Paterson, who received a Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching at today's ceremony.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at March 23, 2007 06:03 PM