Contemporary Issues

Many issues impact on teachers in schools.  Access some of the contemporary issues that teachers face in Victorian schools from here.

Bullying & Cyber Bullying

A key issue in schools – and one of particular interest to parents.  The recent surge in the use of technologies such as mobile phones has contributed to more recent policy development about cyber bullying. 

Policies

Strategies for bullying intervention

Websites

Publications

  • Findley, I. (2006). Shared responsibility: beating bullying in Australian schools. Camberwell, Vic: ACER Press.
  • Noble, T,&McGrath, H. (2005). Bullying solutions: Evidence-based approaches to bullying in Australian schools. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Pearson Education.
  • Parada, R. H., Marsh, H. W.,&Craven, R. (2003). The Beyond Bullying Program: An innovative program empowering teachers to counteract bullying in schools. Retrieved 15 September, 2007, from http://www.aare.edu.au/03pap/par03784.pdf
  • Rigby, K. (2007). Bullying in Schools and what to do about it [electronic resource/ revised and updated]. Camberwell: Australian Council for Educational Research.         
  • Roxborogh, T. K. (2007). No, it’s not ok: How to stop the cycle of bullying. Rosedale, N.Z.: Penguin.
  • Video Education Australasia (2005). Not in my class: Managing classroom bullying behaviours [videorecording/ 1 videodisc (DVD) (26 min.): + notes. (5 p.)]: [Bendigo, Vic.].

Examples of strategic planning for addressing bullying in schools

Ethnicity & Multiculturalism

Students in Victoria’s schools come from many different ethnic backgrounds. As teachers we need to be able to cater for such ethnic diversity and celebrate difference.


Policies / Guidelines

Websites

Publications

  • Singh, Garbutcheon, (1998). “It’s not easy being an Australian”: Education in a multicultural and multi-racist society. In J. Smyth, R. Hattam&M. Lawson (Eds).
  • Schooling for a Fair Go (pp. 49-70). Annandale, NSW: Federation Press. (An e-reading text)\
  • White, R.,&Wyn, J. (2004). Race, ethnicity and the other. In Youth and Society: Exploring the Social Dynamics of Youth Experience (pp. 36-57). Melbourne: Oxford University Press. (an e-reading text)

Gender

The issue of gender has, until recent times, focused on the education of girls. Recent initiatives, it is noted, have shifted somewhat to focus on matters concerning boys: in particular, issues of retention and of literacy.


Policies

Strategies

Websites

Publications

  • Armstrong, E. (2007). Boys into books. Wanborough, Swindon: School Library Association. http://www.sla.org.uk/boys-into-books-overview.php
  • Connell, R. W. (2002). The question of gender. In Gender (pp. 1-13). Cambridge: Polity. (An e-reading book)
  • Fletcher, R. J. (2006). Boy writers: Reclaiming their voices. Portland, Me: Stenhouse Publishers; Markham, Ont.: Pembroke Publishers.
  • Godinho, S. (2004, 28 November- 2 December). The use of linguistic space by boys and girls in secondary small-group discussions: Whose talk dominates? (PDF 226 KB) Paper presented at the AARE Conference, Melbourne.
  • Teese, R. Davies, M., Charlton, M.&Polesel, J. (1997). Who wins at school: Which boys, which girls? In J.Kenway (Ed.) Will boys be boys? Boys education in the context of gender reform (pp. 8-12). Deakin West, ACT: Australian Curriculum Studies Association. (An e-reading book)
  • Unterhalter, E. (2007). Gender, schooling and global social justice. New York, N.Y.: Routledge, 2007.

    Examples of school practice

Gifted Learners

In the main, classrooms in Victorian state schools are made up of students with mixed-abilities. This means that as a teacher you will need to be able to cater for all learners – from those with learning difficulties to those who are gifted.


Program Information

Strategies



Websites

Publications

  • Davis, G. A.,&Colangelo, N. (2003).Handbook of gifted education. Gifted education (3rd ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
    Framework for Gifted Education (Queensland Government) (PDF 148 KB)
  • Maccagnano, A. (2007). Identifying and enhancing the strengths of gifted learners, K-8: Easy-to-use activities and lessons. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Corwin Press.

Examples of school practice

Indigenous Learners

In recognition of our past “poor record” regarding indigenous education, there are currently a range of initiatives designed to give greater voice to Indigenous culture and perspectives.


Policies / Guidelines

Indigenous Portal

Strategies

Websites

Indigenous Organizations

Teaching Approaches

Publications

  • Gray, B. N. (2007). Accelerating the literacy development of indigenous students: the National Accelerated Literacy Program (NALP). Darwin, N.T.: Charles Darwin University Press.
  • Harrison, N. (2008). Teaching and learning in indigenous education. Melbourne, Vic: Oxford University Press.
  • Howard, P.,&Perry, B. (2006). Issues in Teaching Mathematics to Aboriginal Students (PDF 107 KB). Retrieved 1 October, 2008

Examples of school practice

Socio-Economic Status

Research clearly suggests that there is a link between a student’s socio-economic status and her performance in school. As teachers we can aim to create a ‘more level playing field’.

Policies

Strategies

Websites

Publications

Special Needs

In our classrooms we need to be able to cater for the needs of all students, including those who have special needs.


Policies / Guidelines



Strategies

Websites

Publications

  • Cullinan, D. (2007). Students with emotional and behavioral disorders: An introduction for teachers and other helping professionals. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Merrill/Prentice Hall.
  • Elkins, J.&Ashman, A. F. (2005). Educating children with diverse abilities (2nd ed.) Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Education Australia.
  • Lewis, R. (2006). Teaching special students in general education classrooms (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson/Merrill/Prentice Hall. (also in audio format)

Particular Groups


Autism

ADHD

Students at Risk

Some of the students in our classrooms are ‘at risk’ – or engage in ‘risky behaviours such as self-harm, drugs and sexual activity.


Policies&Guidelines

Strategies

Websites

Publications

  • Dwyer, P. & Wyn, J. (2001). Outside the mainstream. In Youth. Education and risk: Facing the future (pp.35-56). London: Routledge Falmer. (available as an e-reading)
  • Vaughn, S. (2007). Teaching students who are exceptional, diverse, and at risk students in the general education classroom (4th ed.). Boston: Pearson Allyn & Bacon.

Values Education, Equal Opportunity & Human Rights

It is imperative that schools of today provide an education for all students. In the current climate, there is an increasing interest in ensuring that schools foster values such as: cooperation, tolerance and empathy.

Policies / Guidelines

Strategies

Websites

Publications

  • Dobozy, E. (2007). The learning of democratic values: How four ’out-of-the-ordinary’ schools do it. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Pearson Education Australia.
  • Freire, P. (2007). Daring to dream: Toward a pedagogy of the unfinished. Boulder, CO : Paradigm Publishers.
  • Halstead, J. (2006). Citizenship and moral education: Values in action. London; New York: Routledge,
  • Hicks, D. (2007). Teaching the global dimension: Key principles and effective practice. London; New York: Routledge.
  • MacBeath, J. & Moos, L. (2004). Democratic learning: The challenge to school effectiveness. London; New York: RoutledgeFalmer, 2004.
  • Russell, T. & Loughran, J. (Eds) (2007). Enacting a pedagogy of teacher education: Values, relationships, and practices. Abingdon, Oxon; New York : Routledge.

Examples of school practice