Fix this text
Education
Fix this textJournal of the N.S.W. Teachers’ Federation
Fix this textRegistered at the General Post Office, Sydney, for transmission by post as a newspaper.
Fix this textVol. 41. No. 11.
Fix this textAUGUST 47, 1960
Fix this textPrice: Threepence.
Fix this textFEDERAL AID AND
Fix this textINQUIRY PETITION
Fix this textLAUNCHED RY LORD
Fix this textMAYOR OF SYDNEY
Fix this textThe nation-wide petition
Fix this textseeking Federal aid for and a
Fix this textnational inquiry into education
Fix this textwas officially launched by the
Fix this textLord Mayor of Sydney, Aider-
Fix this textman H. F. Jensen, on August 4.
Fix this textThe National Education Con-
Fix this textference on May 21 asked the
Fix this texttwo sponsoring bodies the
Fix this textAustralian Council of School
Fix this textOrganisations and the Australian
Fix this textTeachers’ Federation to launch
Fix this textthe petition, which was to be
Fix this textaddressed to the Commonwealth
Fix this textParliament and distributed
Fix this textnation-wide, and which would
Fix this textask for adoption of the two
Fix this textproposals put forward by the
Fix this textconference.
Fix this textThe two proposals were:
Fix this text• That the Commonwealth make
Fix this textan immediate emergency grant to the
Fix this textStates for education;
Fix this text• That a nation-wide inquiry be
Fix this textheld into the needs of primary, secon-
Fix this textdary and technical education.
Fix this textCopies of the petition are being
Fix this textdistributed throughout the Common-
Fix this textwealth. All State teachers’ unions
Fix this textand parents and citizens’ federations
Fix this textare co-operating with the object of
Fix this textsecuring a maximum number of
Fix this textsignatures.
Fix this textMessages; Visitors
Fix this textThe ceremony was held in the
Fix this textdining room of the Teachers’ Club
Fix this textat 3 p.m. Mr. S. F. E. Liebert,
Fix this textPresident of the Federation of Par-
Fix this textents and Citizens’ Associations, pre-
Fix this textsided.
Fix this textMr. Liebert read a letter from the Minis-
Fix this textter for Education, Mr. Wetherell, who ex-
Fix this textpressed his regret that, owing to a previous
Fix this textengagement, he would not be able to be
Fix this textpresent.
Fix this textAn apology for non-attendance was also
Fix this textreceived from Mr. D. H. Drummond, a
Fix this textformer Minister for Education.
Fix this textMr. Liebert announced, amid applause,
Fix this textthat Mr. R. W. Askin, Leader of the Op-
Fix this textposition in the State Parliament, had signed
Fix this textthe petition.
Fix this textMr. Askin wrote: “I am glad to sign the
Fix this textpetition in my capacity as M.L.A. for Col-
Fix this textlaroy. I hold the view that any grant made
Fix this textby the Commonwealth should be free of
Fix this textconditions which impinge on the sovereignty
Fix this textof the States.”
Fix this textMembers of the Federal Parliament pre-
Fix this textsent at the ceremony were Messrs. E. G.
Fix this textWhitlam, L. R. Johnson and L. J. Reynolds,
Fix this textmembers of the State Parliament Messrs.
Fix this textW. M. Rigby, L. J. Ferguson and T. W.
Fix this textDalton.
Fix this text"Petition Important Event":
Fix this textPresident
Fix this textThe Federation President, Mr. Taylor,
Fix this textsaid the petition was an important event
Fix this textfor education in New South Wales. It
Fix this textcovered all things that should happen in
Fix this textprimary, secondary and technical educa-
Fix this texttion.
Fix this textChildren of today were launching out
Fix this textinto a new world, Mr. Taylor said. Life
Fix this textwould change, and the type of education
Fix this textneeded would be totally different from what
Fix this textit was two or three decades ago. There was
Fix this textno field of human endeavour where scien-
Fix this texttific training was not essential. Schools
Fix this texttoday were not equipped adequately to train
Fix this textscientists, and there were not enough science
Fix this textteachers.
Fix this text“If we are to use the discoveries of science
Fix this textfor man’s good, our young people should
Fix this textknow something of the humanities. No citi-
Fix this textzen of today should go to the ballot box
Fix this textwithout a knowledge of history and the
Fix this texthumanising influence a knowledge of his-
Fix this texttory gives,” Mr. Taylor said.
Fix this textThe school could play an important part
Fix this textin developing in young people interests
Fix this textand attitudes which would divert them away
Fix this textfrom what was called “delinquency.”
Fix this text“The public will have to wake up to the
Fix this textfact that you cannot have education with-
Fix this textout teachers,” Mr. Taylor continued. “There
Fix this textis an appalling shortage of teachers in this
Fix this textState.
Fix this text“Despite this position, the State Govern-
Fix this textment was not in a position this year to
Fix this textallocate £1 towards any addition to the
Fix this textteacher training accommodation. Nothing
Fix this texthas been done to provide additional accom-
Fix this textmodation for the further group of students
Fix this textwho will be eager and anxious to become
Fix this textteachers next year. Our classes are too large,
Fix this textand large classes are the greatest single
Fix this textcause of neglect in education.”
Fix this textThere were a million toddlers in the
Fix this textfour-and-under group in Australia today.
Fix this textAt least one-third were in this State. Dur-
Fix this texting the 1960’s 600,000 more children would
Fix this textturn 15 than in the 1950’5. These were wait-
Fix this texting at the feet of the educator, and the
Fix this texteducator was waiting for the Government
Fix this textof Australia to do something about it.
Fix this text“On behalf of the many thousands of par-
Fix this textents Mr. Liebert and Mrs. Brown represent,
Fix this textthe 600,000 children in our schools, and the
Fix this text22,000 teachers I ask you to sign this peti-
Fix this texttion,” Mr. Taylor said, addressing the Lord
Fix this textMayor.
Fix this text"Delighted at Having
Fix this textBeen Asked": L.M.
Fix this textThe Lord Mayor said he was delighted at
Fix this texthaving been asked to launch the petition.
Fix this text“There has been a great change in the
Fix this textAfter the signing, left to right: Dr. B. A. Cook, President of the 8.M.A.; Mr.. I. G.
Fix this textLancaster, Secretary, Parent-teacher Education Council; Mr. Taylor; Mr. E. G. Hoy,
Fix this textPresident of the Farmers and Settlers’ Association of N.S.W.; Mr. Liebert; Mrs, Brown.
Fix this textpattern of life,” Alderman Jensen said. “The
Fix this textmost effective people of the world are not
Fix this textthose with the greatest numbers, but those
Fix this textwho have developed the highest skills. There
Fix this textare communities which provide greater num-
Fix this textbers of people but are less important than
Fix this textsome with much smaller numbers, and which
Fix this textare advanced in terms of the fitness for
Fix this textresponsibility provided by education.
Fix this text“The great changes occurring in the world
Fix this texttoday are related to new knowledge for big
Fix this textmasses of people to whom previously know-
Fix this textledge was denied.
Fix this text“And so it is the responsibility of all of
Fix this textus to equip those who will inherit from us,
Fix this textso that they will be fully competent to
Fix this textdischarge the responsibilities that will be
Fix this texttheirs.
Fix this textCommonwealth Should Give
Fix this textWeighty Consideration
Fix this text“I think the Commonwealth Government
Fix this textmay very well give weighty consideration
Fix this textto this petition. Many petitions are ad-
Fix this textvanced which try to obtain changes which
Fix this textcannot be secured. That cannot be said
Fix this textof this petition.”
Fix this textAlderman Jensen said he thought there
Fix this textwas an awareness of the problem through-
Fix this textout Australia. If signatures could be secured
Fix this textfrom all over Australia it might well be
Fix this textthat the Commonwealth Government would
Fix this textapproach the matter as a question of how
Fix this textmuch could be done to assist, rather than
Fix this texttaking the negative attitude of how to find
Fix this textmeans of avoiding the responsibility.
Fix this textThe Parent-Teacher Education
Fix this textCouncil
Fix this textMrs. L. J. Brown, President of the N.S.W.
Fix this textFederation of Infants’ and Nursery School
Fix this textClubs, said it was a great pleasure to be a
Fix this textmember of an organisation whose aims and
Fix this textobjects were so far-reaching as those of the
Fix this textParent-teacher Education Council.
Fix this text“So many people say to me: ‘But why can
Fix this textyou interest yourself in technical educa-
Fix this texttion. Your concern must be with the five-
Fix this textyear-olds.’ We have noticed that children
Fix this texthave a habit of passing the age of five,
Fix this textand it is not very long before they become
Fix this texteligible for secondary education. As par-
Fix this textents we want them to have available this
Fix this textsecondary and tertiary education when they
Fix this textneed it. That is why we are so extremely
Fix this textactive in this movement.”
Fix this textMr. E. G. Hoy, President of the Farmers
Fix this textand Settlers’ Association of N.S.W.: “We are
Fix this textconcerned just as much as any other organ-
Fix this textisation in the community. I offer you our
Fix this textfull organisational support. We have tried
Fix this textthrough our national conference to obtain
Fix this textmoney from the Federal Government to
Fix this textbring about what you are trying to do
Fix this texttoday.”
Fix this textBad Results of Overcrowding
Fix this textin Schools
Fix this textDr. B. A. Cook, President of the N.S.W.
Fix this textBranch of the British Medical Association:
Fix this text“We are seeing from time to time the bad
Fix this textresults of overcrowding in the schools and
Fix this textoverworking of the teachers, and this has
Fix this textextended to university level; the University
Fix this textitself is hopelessly understaffed. I hope and
Fix this textpray that your results will equal the re-
Fix this textsults that seem to be about to flow from
Fix this textthe recommendations of the Murray Com-
Fix this textmission.”
Fix this textMr. E. L„ Wheelwright. Secretary of the
Fix this textFederal Council of University Staff Associa-
Fix this texttions of Australia: “The university teachers
Fix this texthave not had sufficient resources in the past
Fix this textto do the job, and we know the teachers
Fix this textin the schools have not had sufficient re-
Fix this textsources either. This means that the students
Fix this textwe get are not as well prepared as they
Fix this textmight be.”
Fix this textMr. Donald McLean, representing the New
Fix this textEducation Fellowship: “There will be no new
Fix this texteducation unless more money is spent on
Fix this texteducation, and unless there is new educa-
Fix this texttion Australia will slip back a decade in
Fix this textthe next year or two.”
Fix this textThe Lord Mayor signs the petition. Stand-
Fix this texting behind the Lord Mayor, left to right:
Fix this textMr. S. F. E. Liebert, President, Federation
Fix this textof Parents and Citizens’ Associations; Mr.
Fix this textD. A. Taylor, President, N.S.W. Teachers’
Fix this textFederation; Mrs. L. J. Brown, President,
Fix this textFederation of Infants’ and Nursery School
Fix this textClubs.
Fix this textSalaries Case
Fix this textBegins
Fix this textHearing of the application
Fix this textby Mr. J. J. Maloney, Minister
Fix this textfor Labour and Industry, for
Fix this textan examination by the Indus-
Fix this texttrial Commission of teachers'
Fix this textsalaries commenced on Aug-
Fix this textust 11.
Fix this textMr. J. B. Sweeney appeared for
Fix this textthe Federation.
Fix this textAs reported in the previous issue the
Fix this textPremier, Mr. Heffron, following a discus-
Fix this textsion with representatives of the Labour
Fix this textCouncil, the Federation and the Public Ser-
Fix this textvice Association, said he would discuss with
Fix this textthe Chairman of the Public Service Board
Fix this textopening of negotiations with the Public Ser-
Fix this textvice unions on the question of salary in-
Fix this textcreases.
Fix this textReporting to the Council on August 6 the
Fix this textDeputy General Secretary, Mr. Nicholls. said
Fix this textat the interview the Premier did seem con-
Fix this textcerned about the position and undertook
Fix this textto see the Chairman of the Board and Mr.
Fix this textMaloney. “We do know that he had dis-
Fix this textcussions with the Chairman and we under-
Fix this textstand he did see Mr. Maloney,” Mr. Nicholls
Fix this textsaid.
Fix this textA negative reply had been received from
Fix this textthe Public Service Board to the Federation’s
Fix this textrequest for negotiations for a new Agree-
Fix this textment.
Fix this textThe Federation had written again and the
Fix this textBoard's further reply appeared to suggest
Fix this textthat there was a possibility of negotiations
Fix this textbeinsr onened.
Fix this textThe Federation had been arranging for
Fix this textwitnesses and it was proposed to commence
Fix this textwith headmasters and headmistresses of h ; gh
Fix this textschools if the Federation had to appear
Fix this textbefore the Court.
Fix this textWhen the rasp opened Mr. Sweeney chal-
Fix this textlenged the valid : ty of the Minister’s refer-
Fix this textence.
Fix this textIn a recent press statement the leader of
Fix this textthe Opposition in the State Parliament, Mr.
Fix this textA skin, said he had "persistently urged the
Fix this textPremier to have the negotiations reopened
Fix this texton the ground that the Federation and the
Fix this textPublic Service Association had new evidence
Fix this textto present to the Board in support of their
Fix this textclaims.
Fix this text“The Government’s answer was peremp-
Fix this texttorilv to announce that the question of
Fix this textteachers’ salaries generally had been refer-
Fix this textred to the Industrial Commission for inves-
Fix this texttigation and report.”
Fix this textMr. Askin said the Government’s high-
Fix this texthanded action in referring the matter to the
Fix this textIndustrial Commission without reference to
Fix this textthe Federat ; on was untenable and uncalled
Fix this textfor while there was anv possibility of settl-
Fix this texting the dispute by conciliation.
Fix this text“My colleagues are sympathetic to the
Fix this textasoirat’ons of white-collar workers gener-
Fix this textally.” Mr. Askin said. “We believe thev
Fix this texthave un’ustifiahlv lost ground in the post-
Fix this textwar wages spiral.”
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-680977808
N.S.W. Teachers' Federation & New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation. (1919). Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation Retrieved July 24, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-680977808
N.S.W. Teachers' Federation and New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation. Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation Sydney: The Federation, 1919. Web. 24 July 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-680977808>
N.S.W. Teachers' Federation & New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation. 1919, Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation The Federation, Sydney viewed 24 July 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-680977808
{{Citation
| author1=N.S.W. Teachers' Federation.
| author2=New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation.
| title=Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation.
| year=1919
| section=volumes.
| issn=0013-1156
| issue=Vol. 41 No. 11 (17 Aug 1960)
| location=Sydney
| publisher=The Federation
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-680977808
| id=nla.obj-680977808
| access-date=24 July 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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