Education Department horror stories?

Question

Tell me your Education Department horror stories, especially the SA, Department of Education and Childrens Services.

Answer 1

After 30 years with the NSW Dept of Ed my poor mum had just had enough. She'd settle into a school and they'd transfer her every few years wherever they needed to fill a gap because she could teach so many high school subjects. After finally getting a permanent position at a school she loved, teaching her specialist subject they did it again - expecting her to move to a regional area away from her at-home uni age daughters in the city. She was forced to voluntarily resign. Then a year of fighting to get back-paid five years worth of a high % of her wages because she'd been underpaid as a lower level teacher and had struggled in debt for years because of it (and they didn't even pay her interest or apologise). And they never recognised and rewarded her post graduate education achievements. It was such a bitter end to so many years of faithful and dedicated service.

She has always vehemently supported public education and still does but had no choice but to approach the private sector. Now she has been with the Catholics for a few years and feels appreciated and respected for the first time in her career. They have even paid for her to do a grad dip and promoted her to Head of Science. And - how's this for loyalty? - the principal made it clear to her that they want her to stay at the school until she retires.

Such a pitiful and unecessary loss for the public education system - but I'm relieved that she finally has some job security.

Answer 2

Read the No Child Left Behind Act. Well meaning horribly written, excuted and underfunded. Many believe it is there to undermine the education system and make it private. Look at the rules surrounding special education students and needs. Look at the paperwork that is mandated for special ed teachers which give them less time for the students. Management in Education is covering their butts in paperwork which has become the teacher's responsibility, unfortunately all that paperwork etc. is taking every teacher away from their primary task, to teach, in order to report to micromanaging administrators who are not in the classroom but are protecting their jobs.