[Design and Technology] election promise

Wed Apr 18 08:20:52 EST 2007

Hi all

Sharing our experiences is very important at this stage especially when they
are as well expressed as Gary, John and others. I think if we can get enough
information together the next letter to the Minister should come from the
TEAV. I am sure David Fletcher and others are listening.

I put forward the following example that was helpful in carrying out the
maintenance schedule that I have had difficulty in completing.

In 2006 the school was willing to employ an ex trade teacher with
engineering skills for one day. He carried out most of the maintenance on
the machinery in that one day. This was excellent value and a number of bugs
in the machinery were fixed. He was payed for a days CRT work. Costs for
repairs, parts etc came out of woodwork budget.

It would be good to hear of other solutions that teachers have used that
work and could help solve problems in the short term.

Richard Bazeley

  _____  

From: destech-bounces at edulists.com.au
[mailto:destech-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Wragg, Gary G
Sent: Tuesday, 17 April 2007 9:30 AM
To: Design and Technology Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: RE: [Design and Technology] election promise

Sorry to continue the 'Forum' as such, but it is good to hear tech teachers
finally speaking out and a few points are worth elaborating upon.

1. Teaching conditions

In the 1970's, class sizes in workshops were capped at 20. Rooms were set up
for 20 with a max of 24. Staff were allocated 'machining time' in lieu of a
technical assistant. Over the last 30 years our conditions have deteriorated
and programs have been compromised. The transition from trade-based to
design-based learning increases workloads and has dramatically altered the
function of technology teachers. Students' work requires individual
machining - different from the old 'industrial model' where all did the same
thing. Teachers are now forced to spend more time in the machining rooms
leaving up to 28 students unsupervised in a workshop full of sharp things!
Huge problems with responsibility!!

2. Technology Assistants

Trade teachers in the past maintained their own equipment, repaired and
built furniture, etc. With the current paucity of tradespeople, this now
needs to be either outsourced - or more likely - facilities just fall into
disrepair. When I asked for a Tech assistant (a la Food Tech, Science and
languages, etc!) to assist with maintenance and machining VCE work, and
despite a recognition of the need, the standard response was that there 'was
no budget allocation available - nor likely to be unless government provides
it'. Budgets are documents that reflect the priorities of a school and
government. The implications are obvious.

3. Provision of Resources.

Capital equipment costs are a huge impost on school budgets. Much of the
valuable machinery was disposed of with the demise of the Techs and little
has been replaced. Yet, the demands on a growing Technology curriculum have
increased exponentially. Out-dated, unsafe equipment and resources impact
heavily on the classroom and confidence of teachers.

On a final note, I recently contacted Lorraine Tran and the TEAV about
supply of technology software for schools being provided by the government
in a similar manner to the Laptop and Microsoft programs. The responses from
both were heartening, particularly given the political restraints operating
around them. I guess we should now support them in supporting us.

I applaud those who have taken up these important issues.

Regards,

Gary Wragg

Rosebud Secondary College

  _____  

From: destech-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of Hallsworth, John J
Sent: Mon 16/04/2007 8:59 PM
To: Design and Technology Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: RE: [Design and Technology] election promise

Well it's really interesting to hear a few colleagues speaking out over the
conditions we face and our lack of "real" support and resourcing.  Of
course, we have all been thinking those same thoughts but haven't had an
oopportunity to voice them.  The biggest problem is, I believe, isolation.
Technology teachers - "tradies" if you like, have dropped off the top of the
pile through retirements disillusionment and frustration.  There are so many
of us who are working in schools where the technology staff has been cut
back significantly and is being propped up by teachers who are not really
qualified to teach the resistant materials and technology subjects, God love
'em.  Blind Freddy could see that it is near impossible to do justice to the
running of a technology facility, when you have to teach a full load.  It is
akin to being a shop foreman in industry, and also having to work full time
on the bench.  I think there has been a view over recent years that
technology or trade subjects would just go away and die if you starved them
of resources,  However, that doesn't appear to be about to happen because
the popular view is now that technology subjects are vital to the future of
our students.  So, if that's the case, then the Government, Principals and
College councils need to put their hands in their pockets and provide us
with the same support that Literacy, Numeracy, Science, Food tech,
Integration and ICT (to name but a few) receive. Back to the subject of
Isolation - there needs to be a body (possibly TEAV) that will act as a
voice for technology teachers on the hard issues.  A voice that will gather
together the facts (we know the government loves to measure data) and
present them in a rational, but forceful way, not for my sake or your sake,
but for the sake of our students who are, I believe, getting a raw deal
through the unrealistic demands on us all.

John Hallsworth

Montmorency Secondary College

Para Rd, Montmorency, 3094

Ph: 9435 6399 Fax: 9434 6259

visit www.vcedesigntech.com <http://www.vcedesigntech.com/>   - you just
might find it useful !

  _____  

From: destech-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of fbu at brightp12.vic.edu.au
Sent: Mon 16/04/07 4:32 PM
To: destech at edulists.com.au
Subject: RE: [Design and Technology] election promise

John Hallsworth

Montmorency Secondary College

Para Rd, Montmorency, 3094

Ph: 9435 6399 Fax: 9434 6259

visit www.vcedesigntech.com <http://www.vcedesigntech.com/>   - you just
might find it useful !

Yeah, I can relate to that. No time allowance or recognition (unless it is
convenient for admin) for ordering materials, sharpening, maintenance,
fixing, getting quotes etc for repairs, adjusting equipment , record and
accounts keeping, etc. There is only me here in Bright, and I run both wood
and metal tech from year 8 to 12. With a full teaching load it is now
impossible to keep up with the maintenance. Some band aid sollutions
included  an attempt to get Rotary Club to send volunteers. This took a fair
bit of time to set up and only lasted  one session. I now have a retired
gent to do some for cash - he is good so far but tends to go for holidays
during the winter. I have had 7 years of negotiations with the principals
and the powers that be. The bottom line is always that, according to
principals of other like schools, their tech staff seem to cope well without
additional assistance and do all this work within their class-room
preparation time. Apart from that there is no
  funding.

So my question is, are the tech areas well maintained, and who does the
work? (and are these people fairly reimbursed for that work?). Because sure
as hell I cannot do that part of the job effectively on a full teaching
load.

Fran Burgers

  "Ripley, Robert R" <ripley.robert.r at edumail.vic.gov.au> on Sun, 15 Apr
2007 10:43:10 +1000 wrote:
> After 2 days at school during the term break, doing jobs that could not be
done during school days because of teaching committments, (General machine
maintenence, changing cutters, repairing/sharpening tools,
unloading/stacking material deliveries), all the while observing that
Science, Food, IT etc have assistant teaching personel, I'd suggest an
addition to your note to the Minister -
>
> Staffing the 'Technical' areas with suitably skilled teachers and
appropriate servicing personel is as important as funding for equipment and
building replacement/upgrade.
>
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---
fbu at brightp12.vic.edu.au
http://www.brightp12.vic.edu.au/
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http://www.edulists.com.au <http://www.edulists.com.au/>  - FAQ, resources,
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Design and Technology Mailing List kindly supported by
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Curriculum and Assessment Authority and
TEAV - Technology Education Association of Victoria

Important - This email and any attachments may be confidential. If received
in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or using
attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss,
damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or
not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any attached files our
liability is limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any
representations or opinions expressed are those of the individual sender,
and not necessarily those of the Department of Education.
_______________________________________________
http://www.edulists.com.au - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe
Design and Technology Mailing List kindly supported by
http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
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