Great new book - What Makes a Great School? by Chris Bonnor

Excerpt:

"We also discuss the schools we like and the ones we reject. We all create narratives to reinforce our choices; our school conversations are about reputation, teaching, results, student care, appearance and discipline. We also adopt and recycle common labels: from top or high-performing schools, to the ordinary, to the under-performing or failing.

In the process we equate the achievement of students with the achievement of their school. Yet over two-thirds of “school” achievement is created, not by the school but in the homes and neighbourhoods of the enrolled students. The schools which snare the most engaged and advantaged students can bathe in the reflected glory that their results create – for the school.

This means that finding out the real difference which is actually made by the school is a much harder task: small wonder that many parents play it safe by opting for a school with an established reputation', regardless of how, or even if, it is earned..."

Full Text of Article: http://newsouthpublishing.com/articles/what-makes-good-school/

Book Available online: http://www.newsouthbooks.com.au/isbn/9781742233291.htm

Education Policies that neglect the elephant in the classroom

Are we forgetting that the teaching is the super-important activity in getting our children educated? Maybe.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/editorial/policies-neglect-elephant-in-the-classroom-20120617-20i2h.html

LAST MINUTE - TRAINING DAY TOMORROW

The Genr8 group (interdenominational) is running a resources/Training day
TOMORROW (MONDAY 16th July) on pastoral care ministry in state high schools.

It's called "Being a Bridge to Care."
There is training talks, electives, and an expert panel to workshop
Pastoral Care issues and ministry topics.

AT: Morling College, Center for Evangelism - 120 Herring Rd. Marsfield
TIME: 9am til 3:00pm

COST: $20.

State School Chaplaincy Gets into the Sun-Herald

When I least expected it today, I was phoned by an official within the
Federal Dept. of Ed, Science & Training (DEST for short), with what I
thought was simple confirmation of our federal funding grant of $20,000 per year.
The call was for that reason, but also for another more urgent one: was I able
to meet with a Sun-Herald journalist, in an hour, to talk about Chaplaincy services
in our school?

Well, I guess if I shyed away from publicity, I wouldn't be posting blog entries.
So, the interview & photography was done today at 2pm, in a somewhat 'staged' photo
shoot... where 4 of my Christian leaders posed in an attempt at natural conversation with
me, sat on a wall. Don't know if there will be on anything significant on value of
pastoral ministry; probably just a short one about how National funding will
improve work that's already going on.

Feel free to look it up in this Sunday's Sun-Herald (Sun. 1st July). If the article
is worth re-publishing, I'll post it up here on Sunday night.
Al Hewy

Get "Chaplains Chatting" delivered to you

This blog page - "Chaplains Chatting" - has been updated a bit. Here's how:

'Chaplains Chatting' can now be subscribed to as a feed (RSS) with a click - either from my myspace page, or from the blog itself - use the blog front page, or in case you need it
for later, the Address is now http://feeds.feedburner.com/ChaplainsChatting


If you want to do even LESS work, you can sign up to receive posts by email
(by filling in box on the front page)

Al

"State School Chaplains: What do they do?" Part II

Ok, I'm back with part two of an info series- filling in the 'blanks' that many people
have about what STATE SCHOOL chaplains do, seeing as their role is somewhat
emerging, and has been modelled differently to suit the 'secular' philosophical environment
of state schools (N.S.W.)



Below, I publish some General Guidelines which Scripture Union Queensland have provided. With a large state school chaplaincy programme (albeit with very different accountabilities & structure than the variable pattern in our state system)- these guidelines are useful.

The series of 'example' roles are grouped under FOUR broad areas of activity:
(1) General (2) Pastoral care (3) Networking with Providers (4) Maintaining Qualifications.

These generic guidelines would form a good starting point for a job description, as particular items can be deleted, or expanded, in line with the employing groups philosophy of ministry, and limitations of the host school community & culture.

Schools Worker/ Advocacy /Chaplain

GENERAL ACTIVITIES IN LIFE OF THE SCHOOL:
Ø Participate in school camps, excursions, sports days, speech nights, form meetings, assemblies, and school committees.
Ø Facilitate groups, events activities with voluntary student participation lunchtime groups, breakfast clubs etc.
Ø Visit students who are absent from school (including school refusals, hospital visitation, bereavement).
Ø Public prayer formal school functions.
Ø Coach sport teams.
Ø Assist with special needs and behaviour management programmes.
Ø Participate in and develop adventure – based learning/outdoor education programme.
Ø Provide resources support for teachers.
Ø Facilitate parenting programmes.

PASTORAL CARE:
Ø Pastoral care and personal support for students, staff and parents of school community, within a Christian framework with School Guidance Officer (Councilor) and other support staff.
Ø Support following Critical Incidents
Ø Assist in the development and support of the schools care programme.

NETWORK WITH SUPPORT SERVICES:
Ø Local Christian churches and other agencies and organizations in local community to provide broad range of support services to school community.
Ø Co-ordinate involvement in the school by external programs eg. Auslife seminars. Also liaise with the SRE teacher.

QUALIFICATIONS:
[Social work, counseling, education, social services, youth work, Bible College, theological training.]
Ø Have proven experience in the qualities listed below
Ø Committed Christian active in their local church.
Ø Relational – as this is people helping role.
Ø Good communicator – applies the teachings of the Bible to real – life situations and communicates this in a relevant way.
Ø Express faith and beliefs appropriately sensitive to the religious and cultural beliefs of others.
Ø Work with all church denominations and have an understanding of theological issues.
Ø Able to work both independently and as a member of a team.

"State School Chaplains: What do they do?" Part I

Hi there.
This little Blog'o'mine is (like all journals) mostly concerned with my work context and the aspects of work and issues that arise within that context (excluding OTHER contexts for
school ministry, I realise.) Several phone conversations I've had lately, to assist others in building a ministry model in the "chaplaincy" style. I'm finding that the term "Chaplain" is a very confused one - having both a traditional 'church school' teacher meaning; and increasingly
an emerging meaning of values-based religious pastoral carer. No WONDER people I've met are asking for DETAIL on what the 'newer' chaplains are actually doing with their time!

I include this TWO-PART series of posts to fill in some of the void of concrete detail on
what state school chaplains are usually doing with our time. This first part has a 'breakdown' of my time into categories, over a monthly period. It's only an average, but may help you. The NEXT part will include a generic document prepared by S.U. Queensland - for school ministry groups to build chaplaincy planning on.

Epping Boys High School
Ministry Worker: Time Usage
[Prepared May, 2007]

Teach SRE. 4%
Pastoral Care. 49%
Welfare programs (needs based). 2%
Involved in School camps/fixtures/excursions/admin. 9%
Work in STLA – Teacher’s Aide. 14%
Academic/Life Mentoring. 3%
General Spiritual guidance Students/Staff. 11%
Specialised Care – Special Issues. 8%

Worker use of time across selected period: MONTHLY (160 hours)
WORK TYPE: HOURS:
Teach SRE 6 [1.5/week]
Pastoral Care 80 [20]
Welfare programs (needs based) 3 [0.75]
Involved in School camps/fixtures/
excursions/admin 15 [3.75]
Work in STLA – Teacher’s Aide 22 [5.5]
Academic/Life Mentoring 4 [1]
General Spiritual guidance Students
/Staff 18 [4.5]
Specialised Care – Special Issues 12 [3]

Notes:
· that “Pastoral Care” encompasses day-to-day availability to students and staff as required, Response to critical incidents & crisis – variety of contexts (Home, School, Hospital.)
· that “Special Issues” encompasses depression & anxiety sufferers, Grief issues, estrangement from parents, & is frequently by referral from year advisors.
· That “STLA” means Support Teacher Learning Area: within which Teacher's Aides
provide support in-class (& out) for student's with learning & behavioural difficulties.


STAY TUNED FOR PART TWO.
Al H.