“Twelve girls sit in class about to test their communication skills in a five minute oral presentation of a viewpoint on a current Australian issue. They are visibly nervous and their sense of anxiety is palpable. As each student moves to the front of the classroom to speak, they are met with rapturous applause and are awarded not only undivided attention but also frequent nods of encouragement. At the end of each speech there are smiles and high fives. There is a visceral sense of connection between these girls, an unconscious force at work that sustains them throughout this confronting public speaking exercise. I sit at the back of the room and tick boxes, marvelling at the individual grit of each girl, considering it a privilege to be in their presence”.

St Catherine’s Teacher, 2018

Australia’s celebration of World Teachers’ Day occurs on the last Friday of October each year. World Teachers’ Day was started by UNESCO and is celebrated in more than 100 countries around the world. On its 40th anniversary this year, it represents a significant token of the awareness, understanding and appreciation displayed for the contribution that teachers make to education. The idea of celebrating Teachers’ Day took root in many countries during the 19th century; in most cases, they celebrate a local educator or an important milestone in education.

Teachers are instrumental in shaping people; some teachers play vastly under-recognised roles in setting high achievers on their paths. As one example, computer revolutionary Bill Gates, known for dropping out of Harvard, claims of his school maths and drama teachers: “There’s no way there would have been a Microsoft without what they did”.

The role of a teacher is compelling with educators often energised by their mission. The classroom experience reflected above, received from a St Catherine’s staff member this week, define the rewarding and fulfilling experience of a teaching career. Teachers do more than teach, and their impact extends far beyond the classroom.

I have always thought great schools are a reflection of great teaching and in my many conversations with St Catherine’s Old Girls and past parents, I have been delighted to learn of the teachers that have been instrumental in shaping St Catherine’s girls over the past 122 years.

As we celebrate Teachers’ Day in Australia this year, we take this occasion to remind the global community that “The right to education means the right to a qualified teacher.” This theme was chosen to mark the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), where education is recognised as a key fundamental right. A right that cannot be fulfilled without qualified teachers.

One of the main challenges to this right worldwide is the continued shortage of teachers. There are an estimated 264 million children and youth still out of school globally, and according to the UNESCO Institute of Statistics, the world needs to recruit almost 69 million new teachers to reach the 2030 education goal of universal primary and secondary education. This ‘teacher gap’ is more pronounced among vulnerable populations – girls, children with disabilities, refugee and migrant children, and poor children living in rural or remote areas.

Trained and qualified teachers are fundamental to the right to education.

At St Catherine’s today, we have teachers who are great activators of change for girls and who enhance their students’ learning immensely. I watch teachers who frequently tell girls to be fearless, teach them how to harness the storm of adolescence and encourage girls to question and to believe in themselves and their abilities. The qualities in those teachers are always the same: an acute interest and belief in students, a desire to challenge them and the power to inspire and uplift.

Alliance of Girls School Event at St Catherine’s

Parents and community members are warmly invited to attend an Alliance of Girls School Event hosted by St Catherine’s School. Guest speaker for the afternoon is Dr Susan Wade speaking on Perfectionism, its positive and negative definitions, possible causes, how to identify perfectionistic tendencies and the educational implications of perfectionism.

Dr Wade will highlight the important role of teachers in assisting students to manage perfectionistic tendencies.

As an education consultant, Dr Wade and has given seminars, conference presentations and staff professional development sessions relating to education, giftedness, talent development and the autism spectrum. Additionally, she has worked with schools to provide parent information sessions addressing parental support of gifted and twice-exceptional students. She has been awarded the Monash University / Herald Sun Victorian Graduate Teacher of the Year, a Creative Innovation Asia Pacific Innovation Leader scholarship, an ASfAR / APEX Autism Trust Award, the ASfAR Margot Prior Prize and an Australian Postgraduate Award.

Perfectionism with Dr Susan Wade, PhD, MEd(Gifted Ed), GradDipEd(Sec) Monash, BA(Hons) Melbourne

Thursday, 8 November 5.30-7.30pm

Selina Yao Auditorium, St Catherine’s Junior School

Registration of the event is required through the link below. Refreshments will be provided on the night.

https://www.agsa.org.au/event/perfectionism-with-dr-susan-wade-melbourne-networking-event/?fbclid=IwAR1HOqiEdU8o6KnuMHcmPKNXNxwn2adYrUWzI3eum98AFeVVIM1zdAqDBhw

 

 

Mrs Michelle Carroll