Gonski review The following media release provides some background information on the recent review into education funding in Australia: The release of the Gonski Review into Funding for Schooling on 20th February represents the first step in the Australian Government’s plan to introduce a new funding system for all Australian schools from 2014. There is no doubt that the review is significant and comprehensive, but it provides only a theoretical framework for a new funding model—key questions remain unanswered. Substantial analysis needs to be done to test the model and recommendations before a sound assessment can be made of what this means for our schools. The government has announced a consultation phase, including analysis and testing of the proposed model, to commence immediately. This work will be used to help define a concrete funding model. The government also acknowledged in their response to the review that families face financial pressures and do not wish to see school fees rise beyond their reach. The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) will be working hard during the consultation phase to ensure we do not end up with a model that has the potential to put pressure on school fees. School funding reform of the magnitude suggested by the Gonski review cannot occur without adequate funding. The NCEC strongly backs the review’s call for an additional $5 billion in funding for all schools—this represents less than one half of 1% of Australia’s gross domestic product (GDP)— and has called on governments to commit to increased funding sooner rather than later. There’s a lot of work to be done over the coming months. The NCEC will be actively working for the interests of our school communities and will keep communities updated throughout the consultation phase. Further information: • A full copy of the Gonski Report can be accessed from the Your School Our Future website www.schoolfunding.gov.au • We also invite you to visit www.fundinginfo. catholic.edu.au
From The Deputy Principal MINDING OUR DIGITAL MANNERS As a young child I remember my parents teaching me etiquette what was appropriate behaviour in relating to others. This included not interrupting conversations, not fidgeting when others are talking and paying attention. These were simply rules that respected the dignity of others. However, we now live in a digital world where we can be contacted by various forms of communication such as e-mails, mobile phones and iPads. Would you interrupt a meeting or conversation to check your email or take a call? The digitisation of our world and the growing dominance of smart phones are raising a whole load of new etiquette issues surrounding the use of technology. The internet, for example, has changed the way we work and interact with friends and family. Not only has it changed the way we get information, but there are many who also have “second” lives on line where they build virtual communities and even go shopping. As a College community our mobile phone policy is clear for our students that they are not permitted to use their mobile phones in class, otherwise they are confiscated. Likewise, we expect all students not to open their laptops unless instructed by the teacher, as some students believe it is fine to use the computer while the teacher is speaking. David Carr stated in the New York Times recently, one of the big achievements of the digital revolution has been to make it fashionable to be rude. Of course, many people would say they are just multitasking. Even so, according to one survey, an astonishing 91 per cent of people have seen people misusing mobile phones, texting during dinner, talking on a mobile in a public toilet or using a laptop while driving.
can easily get caught up in their technical world and forget that others are present. Students often get caught in class with their mobile phone because they need to check the time, despite a large clock sitting on the wall at the front of the class. The problem we have today is that these devices are now an inextricable part of our lives. A Stanford University study found that the use of Apple’s iPhone is addictive. According to the study, 44 per cent of students said they were addicted to the smart phone, 41 per cent said losing it would be a tragedy, 75 percent admitted to falling asleep with the iPhone in bed with them, and 69 percent said they were more likely to forget their wallet than their iPhone when leaving in the morning. This is scary. Much of that is because the smart phone carries so much personal information about us, from contacts and emails to choice of apps, that it becomes part of our identity. People download hundreds of apps to customise it around their personality, filling it with personal data, daily calendars, to-do lists, detailed e-mail trails, games and vast libraries of books, movies and music, all part of our identity. All this raises a whole lot of new questions. Is it okay to interrupt a class/meeting to check your e-mail on your iPhone or Blackberry? Would you do it in front of everyone? Just check during the boring bits? Update your Facebook status under the table, hoping that no one will notice? As a College community of parents and educators we need to be clear about our expectations of the students at Christian Brothers College. We expect all students not to use their mobile phones during class time, irrespective of missed calls or telling the time. Any breach of this policy results in mobile phones confiscated for twenty four hours for the first offence, one week for the second and a term for the third offence. Students need to be aware that our focus in the classroom is learning and not to be distracted other forms of communication. As a College community we have made our expectations clear to students of the use of both mobile phones and laptops. However, we live in this new digital age where there is no clear etiquette of correct manners in the use of technology. We need to constantly remember that human relationships are so important with family, friends and teachers and that we need to respect the dignity of each person and not live entirely in a digital world.
The question to ask is when should you just put your phone down and pay attention to the people standing in front of you? And should you return a missed call when the caller doesn’t leave a message? We need to remember that life did exist before mobile phones and we survived as a society. Even though technology is an important part of our society, students
Mr Shaun Clarke Deputy Principal
Br. Damien Price cfc visited the College on Wednesday to work with the Year 12 Student Representative Leadership Team who are working on a Leadership Charter. He also met with members of staff working on a Staff Charter. This coincides with the work of the College Leadership Team and I who are also are currently working on a similar document which charts our guiding principles, purpose, values, roles and objectives as leaders in the College.
Mr Noel Mifsud Principal Mr Hilary Flynn and student SRCs cooking pancakes for Shrove Tuesday. INSIGHT
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