SSTUWA MEMBERS ARE DIRECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL MORATORIUM  AND NOT IMPLEMENT THE 2010 NAPLAN TESTING.

SSTUWA members will join with their colleagues across the country in this action. Such national action is unprecedented and reflects the serious nature of this issue.

Professional and ethical considerations underpin the AEU and its Associated Bodies’ decision to call a national moratorium.

Please Note-time is still available for Gillard to meet with the AEU.

At a recent SSTUWA Executive, the following motion was endorsed unanimously : 
That any action taken against a member in supporting this SSTUWA directive to engage in the national moratorium on NAPLAN 2010 will draw the full support of the Union and its members. 

[a] THE SITUATION

The AEU Federal Executive declared a national moratorium on the implementation of the 2010 NAPLAN  tests (12/4/2010).

The AEU is calling on Deputy Prime Minister & Federal Minister for Education Julia Gillard to meet.

Julia Gillard must listen to the concerns of the profession regarding misuse and abuse of NAPLAN data. Gillard must provide an opportunity for the AEU to address its concerns about the My School and League Tables Proposal.  A recent parent survey showed nearly 90% of parent respondent want Julia Gillard to talk to the AEU.

RE STOP LEAGUE TABLES  CAMPAIGN  - April 12, 2010  Resolutions.

• Despite the urging of the profession, the body of research and evidence and the repeated attempts by the AEU to negotiate a satisfactory outcome, the Federal Government has failed to introduce measures necessary to protect students, schools and school communities from the damaging effects of league tables and the incomplete, inaccurate and invalid representation of student data on the My School Website.
  
  Given the Ethical and professional responsibility we cannot sit by and watch our students, schools and school communities continue to be damaged due to the Government’s intransigence.
• Therefore, the AEU Federal Executive declares a national moratorium on the implementation and administration of NAPLAN 2010 until the profession’s concerns are addressed.
• Branches and Associated Bodies are to take action to immediately implement the national moratorium. The action will include:
  
  1. Notification of the decision of the Federal Executive to members in all schools
  2. Support for school union reps to distribute relevant information to the school parent body.
  3. Seeking workplace support from relevant state unions e.g. CPSU, LHMU

[b] SSTUWA SPECIAL EXECUTIVE  MEETING 15/4/10

The SSTUWA Executive met on Thursday 15/4/10 so consider this matter.  Executive ratified the AEU Federal Executive decision of 12/4/10 and have DIRECTED members to participate in the National Moratorium on implementation of NAPLAN in 2010.

DISCIPLINARY THREAT FROM THE Director General of Education

• The following motion was also endorsed unanimously :
  That any action taken against a member in supporting this SSTUWA directive to engage in the national moratorium on NAPLAN 2010 will draw the full support of the Union and its members.

MEMBER UPDATES

• Keeping members informed of developments was seen as essential by Executive.
• The Union will support members through ongoing and regular communication and the holding of ‘Hub Meetings’ in metro and country areas.
• A special Bulletin to provide advice and support for Administrator members will be sent out regularly.

[c]  UNION REPS  - ADVICE FOR MANAGING MEMBER PARTICIPATION IN THE NATIONAL MORATORIUM ON NAPLAN.

To support members at worksites understand and implement the National Moratorium on administering the 2010 NAPLAN tests  Union Reps are requested to undertake the following action:

BRANCH / WORKSITE ACTION

• [1] Convene an urgent  branch/ worksite meeting
• [2] Distribute copies of STOP LEAGUE TABLES Campaign Bulletin 19 April 2010   + Bulletin 15 March 2010
• [3] Report back from Hub Meeting if attended
• [4] Advise members of the SSTUWA Directive 15/4/10
• [5] Outline the member action to be taken in compliance with the national moratorium on implementing NAPLAN 2010  [see sections [d]In supporting the national moratorium members are directed to do the following]
• [6] Formally advise your Principal that the members of the branch will be acting in accordance with the SSTUWA Directive of 15/4/10 to engage in the national moratorium on implementation of NAPLAN 2010
• [7] Make arrangements to distribute to copies of the Parent Brochure [arriving in the Term 2  Union Rep pack and available on the website]
• [8] Union Reps please contact the Union Office if there is ‘interference’ with members implementing the national moratorium Directive

[d] IN SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL MORATORIUM MEMBERS ARE DIRECTED TO DO THE FOLLOWING:

Pre-Test Period

• No distribution of or use of test administration booklet
• No distribution of official notification letters to parents
• No physical preparation of test rooms
• No creation of supervision rosters for the test
• No booking of additional casual teachers, aides, volunteers or outside supervisors to administer the tests
• No practice tests in preparation for the tests
• No explicit class preparation concerning the actual formal/ process of 2010 test
• No staff meeting to plan and discuss the implementation of the tests
• LEAVE BOXES UNOPENED AND ALL TEST MATERIAL UNTOUCHED

Scheduled Days

• Leave boxes unopened and all test material untouched
• No class teacher to supervise or administer the tests
• No support teachers, administrators, non-timetables teachers are to implement the tests
• No taking of ‘in-lieu-of’ or extra periods in order to supervise tests or assist in the supervision of tests
• No split classes (or taking additional students) to free up others to administer tests
• No employing of additional casual teachers, aides or outside supervisors to administer the tests
• No use of volunteers to administer test

Post Test Days

• Leave boxes unopened
• No paperwork or administrative tasks relating to the tests should be completed
• No ‘catch up’ days for absent students
• No return of test materials, documents or administrative paper work

[e] NATIONAL MORITORIUM - BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Go to http://www.aeufederal.org.au/ to view AEU President Angelo Gavrielatos’ press conference post the AEU Federal Executive  -   Teachers take action on league tables.

Note, there is a three week window of opportunity for Ms Gillard to engage in genuine conversation with the AEU, the representative of the significant body of teachers and administrators in government schools across Australia.

The professional and ethical concerns behind this decision are significant and deserve the full understanding, attention and support of members.

THE KEY CONCERNS:

• NAPLAN DATA IS INCREASINGLY BECOMING THE SOLE MEASURE FOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL PERFORMANCE. NAPLAN IS MOST DEFINITELY A “HIGH STAKES TESTING SCHEME”.
• THE AEU HAS DRAWN TO GILLARD’S ATTENTION CONCERNS WITH THE INTEGRITY OF THE DATA ITSELF. ISSUES BEING:

• THE MY SCHOOL WEBSITE IS INCOMPLETE . THERE IS NO DETAIL WITH REGARD TO TOTAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS DISPLAYED I.E. THE FACILITIES, CLASS SIZE, SUPPORT SERVICES ETC  ... THE NOTION OF THE LEVEL OF THE PLAYING FIELD, OR LACK THERE OF, IS NOT BEING REVEALED
• NAPLAN DATA IS INACCURATE. THERE ARE FLAWS INHERENT IN THE ICSEA [INDEX OF COMMUNITY & SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGE] WHICH SEE ‘LIKE SCHOOL COMPARISONS’ WHICH BEGGAR BELIEF ... E.G. A HUGE WESTERN SYDNEY SUBURB SCHOOLS SAID TO BE LIKE WITH HOME SCHOOLED STATION CHILDREN, TOUGH PERTH METRO PRIMARY SCHOOLS COMPARED WITH COCOS ISLAND, SPRINGS SYDNEY BLACKSTOWN BOYS SCHOOL A LIKE SCHOOL WITH ALICE SCHOOL OF THE AIR, AND THE STORY GOES ON.
• THERE IS NO CONSISTENT NATIONAL LANDSCAPE FOR CURRICULUM, STARTING AGE, AGE TO YEAR LEVEL PLACEMENT, SECTOR PLACEMENT OF YEAR SEVENS, PREPATORY WORK FOR THE TESTING
• USE OF THE NAPLAN DATA IS THIS WAY IS INVALID.  THE TESTS WERE NEVER DESIGNED FOR THIS USE. AGGREGATING INDIVIDUAL NAPALN SCORES IS NOT AN ACCURATE MEASURE OF SO CALLED PERFORMANCE

Did you know?

• GILLARD HAS SAID SHE IS OPPOSED TO THE CREATION OF SIMPLISTIC LEAGUE TABLES. SHE WAS PREPARED TO LOOK AT CLOSING DOWN THE CAPACITY OF A ‘COMMERCIAL ORGANISATION’ WHICH CREATED LEAGUE TABLES AND YET CONTINUES TO RESIST PUTTING IN PLACE MEASURES TO PROTECT THE DATA FROM MEDIA EXPLOITATION
• A recent AEU survey found that over 50% of parents support the action of the AEU to prevent the creation of the league tables.
• A Recent AEU survey found that nearly 90% of parents believe that Education Minister Julia Gillard should meet with the AEU on this matter.

What is the AEU’s solution other than saying NO!

The AEU knows that the Minister can protect the data. The question is does the Minister have the political will?

The AEU has prepared a proposal – My School and League Tables An AEU Proposal [also available at www.aeufederal.org.au  ] to address the concerns held. The AEU simply requests that Julia enter into genuine discussion with the AEU, giving due consideration to our genuine concerns and works with the AEU towards an appropriate solution.

Join in the Campaign Today
http://www.aeufederal.org.au/LT/index2.html

• Fill out our online protest letter calling for urgent action from Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard
• Check out the latest news on the issue
• Read the background information and research to make up your own mind
• See what the AEU is saying
• Download campaign resources