LET’S IGNORE THE PUBLIC DEBATE – A FACTOR OF BEMUSEMENT

Over the years I have on many occasions been told by principals and other educators that they do not read the paper or follow the popular news. They consider media, particularly it seems print media, to be biased against them and interested only in reporting negatives and downsides. That being the case, their predisposition is to shy away from reading or understanding what is being said and written about education.

Regardless of personal preference, it is to the detriment of school leaders and teachers if they do not know how education is being reported in the media. Without knowledge and awareness, repudiation and the expression of counterviewpoints is impossible.

I’m giving a shout out for the Aust Education Union (NT) but not the other representative associations.

Along with principals and teachers, it is important that their representative professional associations are in the business of knowing what is being written and said about members. Through their executives, they need to speak up in a representative context, participating in conversations and debates about issues. To shy away from this responsibility and cocoon against what is being raised in the public domain, is anathema.

Be bold, be representative and speak up!