Throughout Australia, schools are creating ‘Queer Clubs’ to push LGBTQA ideas. One school in Victoria has a ‘Queer Club’ for 8-12 year olds. While cult-infected State Departments of Education seemingly don’t care what the majority of parents think, the pushback has well and truly begun. Phil talks to Celine Against the Machine and Maya Tesa about e…

Not everyone has time for a long listen. Here are the four ‘Let it Rip’ rants from Episode 39 condensed to a total of less than 15 minutes. 1. Gender Education and Respectful Relationship sessions in Australian schools 2. The failure of Inclusive education 3. Time for teacher gender balance 4. The limits of Welcome to Country. (00:07) Introduction …

As Australia’s education ranking tanks, a change in the school funding system is well overdue. If Australia is ever going to be the smart country, equal per-child funding, together with greater parental choice must be top of mind. A fair and equal funding model, in addition to UK style ‘Free Schools’, would give parents, teachers and students a pla…

Teacher training spends a great deal of time on diversity, inclusion and equity, yet omits probably the most important component of education: The neuroscience of learning. This episode takes you through the basic science of learning and retention. It looks at a school exercise program called ‘SPARK’ started in 2008 by Dr John Ratey that continues …

Australia’s National Curriculum, designed by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), has been described as “shockingly poor” by one media outlet and “a problem” by education consultants. Yet is it as bad as it seems? We ask three experts on curriculum matters if there’s any hope at all for the document that is suppose…

The neuroscience of learning has been ignored by teacher training courses in Australia yet is a lynchpin of effective education. One component is Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) that while basic in definition, is harder for teachers to use in practice. We talk with CLT practitioner Sam Sterrett from Scotch College in Western Australia about what CLT me…

Generation Alpha are those born between 2010 and 2024. Most students in Australia under year 10 are Generation Alpha. They’ve lived through covid, become addicted to devices and seen two big international conflicts. Yet what defines them and how easy are they to teach? We ask Mark McCrindle from McCrindle Research to outline the do’s and don’ts of …

Old style teacher unions are losing members in Australia. While they might represent their members on salary and rights, unions are now telling their members how to vote and what to think on social issues - an overreach not taken well by many teachers. We talk to Edward Schuller from the Teachers Professional Association of Australia about the stat…

The first in our MINI series. Everything you need to know from Episode 33 in 10 minutes! Gender ideology is in Australia’s school system and is now taught by classroom teachers or 3rd party providers. Children are learning that they can be born into the wrong body, or that they can transition to the other gender or no gender at all. How can parents…

Gender ideology has infiltrated Australia’s school system and is now part of accredited programs taught by classroom teachers or 3rd party providers. Children are learning that they can be born into the wrong body, or that they can transition to the other gender or no gender at all, alongside topics like consent, respect, dating and resilience. How…

Australia’s universities have dropped again in world rankings. Students are unhappy and the Federal Government is looking to overhaul the whole system. Will this be easy and what are the hurdles? Will teacher training improve or continue to decline? We look at not just the content of courses, but who is teaching them. (00:00) Introduction from host…

The gradual creep of gender ideology into schools is seeing more and more students consider themselves ‘transgender’. While most teachers will hopefully never confront this, others are scared of losing their job if they utter the wrong pronouns or air their personal views. A teacher in New Zealand has already been sacked for refusing to use preferr…

Most older teachers learned explicit and direct instruction (EDI) during teacher training in the 70’s and 80’s. However, many younger teachers have never heard of it. As policymakers grapple with the knowledge decline in Australia’s youth, it’s groundhog day for EDI in the ‘lucky’ country. (00:00) Host introduction (05:36) First part of interview w…

Teachers are constantly doing battle with what’s expected of them and what they know is right or what works. Season Six looks at three sensitive but important issues over four episodes. Here’s an outline. (00:00) Host Introduction (01.38) Topic for Episode 30: Direct Instruction Teaching including voice of Paul McDermott courtesy of the Centre for …

Direct instruction teaching hasn’t been popular with education departments or teacher training institutions in Australia, but the tide is turning. The Michaela School in the UK is a leading example of how setting clear expectations, strong boundaries and solid principles of teaching can be of enormous benefit. The results are happy students, dedica…

Australian classrooms, and classrooms around the world are becoming places where politics, ideologies and special interest viewpoints are trumping quality education. We ask Colleen Harkin, Research Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs about the current state of unfair play and what can be done to restore balance. (00:00) Host Introduction (04:…

Violence towards school principals and teachers has risen dramatically over the past 10 years. 54% of principals have experienced violence by a student or parent. Why is this happening and how do we make schools a safe place for learning? We speak to Craig Petersen, the President of the NSW Secondary Principals’ Council. (00:00) Host Introduction (…

To Subscribe - Click HERE. For comments, news tips or stories, message us via the Substack App. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markingtherole.substack.comBy Phil Dye

The Australian state of NSW goes to the polls at the end of March. A new straight-talking political party clearly understands quality education far more than mainstream parties. The rest of Australia is watching and listening. (00:00) Host Introduction (06:35) Interview with Cheryl McBride OAM, Candidate for the Public Education Party in NSW (23:09…

A University Degree: Yes or No? We ask students, lecturers, and others if the Australian tertiary education system is letting students down or building them up. (00:00) Introduction (05:20) First comment from The Daily Insight (07.44) Interview with Sarah Taylor, a student who’s completed undergraduate and now completing a post graduate degree. (16…

Home schooling is on the rise in Australia and the world. Some parents just want to meet their children's individual needs. Others want their children out of a classroom where teachers struggle to give their best to every student due to the vast range of student abilities in the one room. Whatever the reason, the sector provides opportunities for b…

Home schooling is on the rise in Australia and the world. Some parents just want to meet their children's individual needs. Others want their children out of a classroom where teachers struggle to give their best to every student due to the vast range of student abilities in the one room. Whatever the reason, the sector provides opportunities for b…

To start Season 4, we talk to Daniela Falecki from Teacher Wellbeing who takes us through some ideas on how to deal with the stress of teaching. (00:00) Introduction (02:08) Part 1 of the interview with Daniela Falecki from Teacher Wellbeing. (18:25) Brain Break with We Mavericks - Lonesome Valley (22:28) Part 2 of the interview with Daniela Faleck…

A short introduction to the topics we'll cover in season 4 starting February 2023. To leave a text or voice message for Marking the Role, click HERE To contact the host, click HERE 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 - 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1373366026482060 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 & 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 https://ma…

2022 has been a dark year for Australian education and student health. School behaviour is poor. The future of traumatized youth is being threatened by 'gender specialists'. The impact on education is huge and a difficult nuance for jaded teachers. Even the LGBTQIA+ community are split and seeking answers. We finish the year with a look at dark tim…

2022 has been the toughest year in history for Australian teachers and teachers globally. We revisit and update our top episodes. Behaviour / inclusion, leaving the profession and trauma informed teaching all get an update. We finish with more on our most popular episode for 2022 - the rise of gender dysphoria among Australian school students. (00:…

Gender Dysphoria is increasingly prevalent in Australian schools with one Sydney school having 50% of students openly 'transitioning'. Yet is this a legitimate health problem to be treated with puberty blockers, hormones and surgery, or the result of childhood trauma, and parents who can't say no. (00:00) Introduction (03:15) Words from 'Bunny', a …

In this 2nd part of our series, we complete our interview with Beck Thomson. We then interview Tom Brunzell from the Berry Street Education model. Your host also gives his trauma history and the neuro-scientific explanation of self harm. Important listening for just about everyone. (00:00) Introduction (02.19) Part 2 of interview with Rebekah Thoms…

Trauma Informed Teaching is an important education initiative in Australia. Yet with teachers so overloaded with impossible expectations, many see it as just another thing to make their life hell. Rebekah Thompson, author of 'Chasing Normal', takes us through her trauma as a child and gives us the understanding that childhood trauma is probably THE…

A short introduction to the content we'll cover in Season 3. (00:00) Introduction (08:44) Voice of Lauren Walters, 2022 Australian Schools Plus Early Career Teacher Award recipient speking from the Inaugural debate to focus on the crisis in our schools (October 11, 2022) (15:39) Wind-up and date of Episode 18. 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗶…

Daphne Gomez is the Founder and CEO of Teacher Career Coach based in California. She shares some insights on what to include in your CV and where ex-teachers fit in the world of non-school employment. (00:00) Introduction (02:30) Interview with Daphne Gomez from the 'Teacher Career Coach' (29.05) Wind-up and date of Episode 18. 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗰…

Australian teachers are leaving the profession in droves. Yet leaving isn't easy when there's bills to pay and families to support. We interview teachers who are leaving or left about their fears, joys and a life after teaching. (00:00) Introduction (04:46) Notice of bonus episode with Daphne Gomez from the 'Teacher Career Coach' (08:02) Interview …

New behaviour policies are being introduced into Australian schools by their different state governments. These policies are tightly linked with 'Inclusion' policies. Yet do either of these policies pass the 'social validity' test? We find education bureaucracy sadly lacking. 0:00) Introduction (04.39) Social validity explained (06:15) Interview wi…

Teacher Professional Development (PD) is a necessary part of the education profession. Has teacher PD swung from 'development' to 'compliance' in an industry where teachers are burnt-out, frustrated and soul-destroyed? A hard discussion. 0:00) Introduction and emails (07.50) Start of panel discussion with Josh O'Brien (Independent School teacher) a…

The rights of students including safety, privacy and inclusion may be fine in theory, but do they work in practice? This panel discussion looks at the difficult realities facing teachers in an ideologically driven system. 0:00) Recap of Episode 12 (03:50) Intro to Episode 13 (05.30) Panel discussion Part A with: Mark Smith, Principal of Lomandra Sc…

The Year 12 exam in Australia has been around for over 50 years. In that time, the format hasn't changed and students still write extended answers with a pen. Teachers, students and parents say it's time for a change. (0:00) Recap of Episode 11 (03:50) Intro to Episode 12 (05.49) Interview with John Martiniello from M-Logic IT in Wollongong (09:37)…

Teachers are leaving their permanent positions to take temporary contracts or become part of the casual army. What are the benefits and is the concept of a 'casual career' here to stay? We ask the experts. (0:00) Recap of Episode 10 (03:56) Intro to Episode 11 (07:12) Interview with Dr Alexis Vassiley, Research Associate in the Centre for Work and …

Educational technology is no longer about iPads, laptops and Smartboards. Learning platforms that assist teachers deliver content are all the rage. Yet other platforms are emerging - platforms that deliver data that some listeners will find disturbing. It's a brave new world out there. (0:00) Recap of Episode 9 (03:56) Intro to Episode 10 (04:43) I…

The feedback regarding teacher training in Australia and in most developed countries hasn't been pretty. With 50% of new teachers leaving the profession within the first five years, there's something wrong with either the training or the job. We know the job has big problems, yet perhaps teacher training also needs an upgrade. (0:00) Intro into Ep …

A preview of the topics for Season 2. We pushed some education buttons last season and we'll do the same in Season 2. 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 - 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1373366026482060 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 & 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 https://markingtherole.com.au/ 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗨𝘀 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ma…

We wind up the difficult topic of inclusive education at a time when Catholic and Public School teachers are linking arms for a better world. The New South Wales (Australia) 'uprising' is being repeated globally as the crisis in education starts to impact students, families and the greater community. (0:00) Intro into Ep 8 Marking The Role Podcast …

Teachers accept inclusive education when it comes to race, religion, gender, sexual identity or belief. Disability inclusion is also fine as most students with a disability can be taught in mainstream schools. However, when a student's disability disrupts the education of others, generates behavior problems or creates an unsafe environment for othe…

Australia and indeed the world is suffering from a shortage of teachers. Thankfully the army of casuals is keeping things going yet that can't last forever. This episode we talk with Mark Grant, CEO of The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership about the problem. We also speak to teachers and a particular Education Minister about t…

In Episode 4 we heard about the increase in abuse and disrespect that teachers suffer. Here we interview Ian Luscombe from Behaveability about a firm but successful strategy. We then hear from School Principal Leah Thomas about how it works in her school. This episode is vital for teachers, but also for parents. (0:00) Intro into Ep 5 Marking The R…

For teachers to stay in the job, the abuse and disrespect they suffer from students and parents needs to stop. Yet education policies continue to endanger teachers in favor of inflexible inclusion ideology. Teachers talk, and it's not always comfortable. (0:00) Intro into Ep 4 Marking The Role Podcast + quick Ep 3 recap (5:09) Interview with anonym…

We interview Paul Martin, CEO of NESA about the enormous administrative load now put on teachers in NSW and everywhere. Why has it happened and what can be done to minimize it. (0:00) Intro into Ep 3 Marking The Role Podcast + quick Ep 2 recap (3:00) Interview with Paul Martin, CEO of NESA (NSW Education Standards Authority), why the additional adm…

Teachers in Australia are leaving the profession in droves. There's much to drive them away, yet this episode looks at ways of making the career path more attractive. There's some uncomfortable opinions in this episode so be warned. 0:00) Intro into Ep 2 Marking The Role Podcast + quick Ep 1 recap (3:00) Interview with Retired Principal Peter Colli…

Episode 1 looks at the changes that have occurred in the Australian teaching profession. Rather than look at the obvious things like technology or Zoom classes, the episode looks at the deeper shifts in the education landscape. Interviews with teachers tell the story and it's not necessarily a happy one. (0:00) Intro into Ep 1 Marking The Role Podc…

A short primer on what's in store. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markingtherole.substack.comBy Phil Dye