From the VP: Dealing with the crisis: work, communication and goodwill
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 123 No 4, 5 June 2020, page no. 9
From late March through to the end of May, I and other Senior Officers of the QTU met with many stakeholders of education in Queensland. We met more than 40 times in this period, advocating the position of state school teachers and school leaders in Queensland. And if there’s one thing that this time has made clear to everyone, it’s that teaching and the operation of schools does not just happen. A lot of work, communication and goodwill is required.
The stakeholder meetings began in an effort to discuss teaching and learning at the end of term one and term two, and to problem-solve solutions. It has been interesting to reflect on the many topics that have been raised throughout these meetings.
The declaration of a global pandemic has brought with it a new metalanguage. Terms such as “social” or “physical distancing”, “National Cabinet”; “AHPPC”; “health directives”; “biosecurity zones”; “BAU or not business as usual”; “remote and flexible learning”; “essential services”; “vulnerable workers” and “members of community”; “drop and go zones” and “frontline workers”. This is, of course, not a restrictive list. And some of these terms, while already existing, have now become supercharged, reinforcing the importance of the work you do in your communities on a daily basis.
The range of topics covered was vast and all encompassing, with all stakeholders having the ability to provide feedback and follow up with officers of the department as required. At one stage, everyone was a quasi, though time limited, expert in the IT needs of the state. The NBN was already under national strain, and the return to remote and flexible learning certainly had its challenges. At one stage, Queensland schools were the world’s largest users of the Microsoft platform. The DOE infrastructure received numerous upgrades. Then came the provision of SIM cards that did not require the internet to run them. Learning@Home materials were then supported by lessons on television.
Supply chains, graphs and calculators were created and embedded in messages to schools to ensure the adequate provision of soaps, sanitisers and cleaning products. This goes for the ordering and provision of paper, photocopy toners and other cleaning provisions too. A cleaning gang of cleaners and the maximisation of cleaning hours were all topics of conversation.
The topic of travel west of the Great Divide and in our biosecurity zones was covered in many of the 41 meetings, and continues now. This extends to teachers being essential workers in our communities and having the right to travel to see family and take a break during the Easter and now mid-year breaks. It also encompassed the topics of self-isolation, temperature checks, public health directives and quarantine, both in and out of community. The issue remains complicated by the fact that, at this point in time, plane travel is limited and extremely costly for our members to access. Of course, many members now need a break to protect their mental health and wellbeing due to the high rate of change expected and delivered in the past months.
As usual, curriculum took a great deal of time to discuss and determine. An altered response on assessment and reporting for semester one, school sport return guideline documents; FAQs and Q&As have all occurred in response to COVID. Then there was liaison with QCAA stakeholders and decisions around the new QCE and the decision to drop from three to two internal assessments; clear information around VETis and the development of a national picture for year 12s to ensure equity for our students.
Other major efforts on behalf of our members included casual and temporary teacher support, professional experience requirements for associate members, support of school leaders with the implementation of back to school guidelines and the work they have done communicating with school communities.
This outlines some of the additional responsibilities our members have taken on and responded to within very short timeframes.
And the challenge is still not over. Information and requirements continue to change, sometimes on a daily basis. We continue to advocate with all stakeholders for our teacher and school leader members. Thank you for all you have done in the past weeks and months.