By NICOLE WILLIAMS and BRIDGET SCOTT
PARENTS of a Berwick Secondary College student are concerned for his future as they prepare to receive a report with no detailed comments.
New industrial action by the Australian Education Union’s Victorian Branch will see reports sent home with only a grade, after teachers escalated their fight for better pay.
Steve, who did not want to publish his surname, said one of his children might not complete the VCE and would be at a disadvantage without a comprehensive report.
“It is all good to say they got A, B or C but comments say whether they are interested in working in a team, it forms a picture of a person,” he said.
“They say they are trying to get the best for everyone but by not putting comments, it doesn’t give the full value.”
Steve fears that potential employers will dismiss his son without the detailed comments.
“When I was younger, employers read those comments about what sort of kids they had in front of them,” he said.
“They (the teachers) say they have kids’ best interests at heart but are using the kids to benefit themselves.”
Kerri Bolch, principal of Berwick Secondary College said the decision to write comments was up to the individual teacher.
As a result, some students will have thorough comments while other students are left with none.
“Effective reporting practices have always been a priority for Berwick Secondary College. Reports provide important information to students and parents about current progress and future development needs,” she said.
“While all students will receive reports indicating their progress, there will not be the comprehensive information usually provided in reports by those staff involved in protected industrial action.”
Mary Bluett, AEU Victorian Branch President, said any student who was transitioning out of school could request a written referral.
“Those students who rely on the report for employment, or access to a TAFE course, or primary school students transitioning to secondary school will be provided with a statement from the school with that they have done and tailored to the needs of what they’re seeking,” she said.
“Parents value the written comments but we’re not required to do the comments.”
Steve said he was only aware of the action when his child came home distressed about his future prospects, but he received no official word from the school.
“We’re not getting any documentation from the school to say what they are and aren’t doing,” he said.
“Nobody has anything in writing.”
Ms Bolch said parents would be informed of the industrial action.
“Our current newsletter informs parents briefly of the industrial action and the impact on reports, and a letter will also come out with reports,” Ms Bolch said.
“Parents are most welcome to seek further information by contacting the teacher directly.”
Ms Bluett said the union had provided a draft letter to school to distribute to parents.
“We had a draft letter to parents explain reasons for the ban and many schools have sent that out, in addition the union is publicising an open letter to parents,” she said.
“Many schools are advising parents that written comments won’t be provided.”
Ms Bluett said the ban would highlight the amount of out of hours that the reports took which, depending on the number of students, could be up to 70 hours of out of hours work.
