Your editorial commenting on the new system of performance reviews for state school teachers extols the achievement of Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek (“Performance reviews key to quality teaching”, 27/8).
But presumably the initial proposals for this scheme would have been approved by the Minister. If they had been more sensible, it would not have taken months of negotiations to reach agreement with the Queensland Teachers’ Union.
Properly managed, feedback can be very useful. Poorly conducted, it can be quite destructive.
You are correct to point out that performance review systems are common in many organisations. But it is also true that a chunk of the management literature suggests that such systems do more harm than good.
It is to be hoped that the system implemented in Education Queensland will indeed produce a net benefit and not become a bureaucratic compliance exercise that takes valuable time and effort away from the core business of teaching and learning.
Properly informed feedback would also help principals improve.
To this end, it would be wise to expand the system to include panels of experienced, senior teachers in schools providing formal evaluation and feedback on the job performance of principals.
Senior officers who spend their working days in regional or head offices can’t really know what is going on in schools until things have badly gone off the rails.
In a cooperative enterprise like education, feedback should not only be top down.
Garry Collins
Tags: General news |
Literature SpectacularGraham Joseph from Ryan Catholic College will present a workshop designed for teachers who are thinking about introducing Literature, delivering Literature for the first time or looking to review their Literature course in the near future. In the first part of the workshop, we will explore a framework for delivering a Literature course that c... |
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March Seminar 2021: Challenge and Change: Doing things differentlyWe are delighted to announce that we will be back with face to face professional learing events in 2021 - usual format but wtih some important changes: the March Seminar will be a full day event; the AATE-ALEA National Conference will be held in Brisbane in July and consequently there will not be a state conference. Other events for the year ... |
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Grammar at Hervey BayA grammar workshop will be held at Hervey Bay State High School to assist attendees to develop their understandings of grammar in order to fully comprehend and to effectively teach the Australia Curriculum: English (AC:E). Also highly relevant to Years 11 & 12. This will be an updated re-run of the activity conducted in both 2018 and ... |
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JCU SpectacularJoin Dr Claire Hansen for a two-hour session on teaching Macbeth. We'll dive into an exploration of the language of Macbeth and teaching strategies to engage students with Shakespeare's Scottish play. The workshop will also explore learning activities for Macbeth created by the Shakespeare Reloaded project. This session will... |
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Grammar DayETAQ will be conducting another of the very successful grammar days on Saturday 29 May 2021. If your school would like to host this event, please contact Admin Officer. |
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This is the first time I have been to an ETAQ conference and it was really sensational to get so much at all of the sessions.
ETAQ conferences always have sessions that make me excited to be a teacher.
I know that ETAQ conferences in the past have never disappointed - valuable, relevant, practical, inspiring so I came again.
Read AllConnect to a great range of people who are passionate about English and have their finger on the pulse.