More teachers walk over US-style lessons
THE head of a Cape York school who did not embrace controversial "American-style" teaching has been asked to move to another school.
The acting head of campus at Coen was offered an alternative position at another school on Thursday, sources told The Weekend Post yesterday.
The State Government confirmed the acting head at Aurukun State School accepted a similar transfer to Cooktown about a fortnight ago.
Education Queensland assistant director-general of indigenous education Ian Mackie said "professional differences" over the American-developed Direction Instruction teaching method were to blame for the teachers moving on.
"It's a different method of delivery and if people are uncomfortable with that we don't want reluctant conscripts," Mr Mackie said.
Five teachers have left Aurukun since January and a principal and teacher left Coen at the end of last year because of the controversial teaching method, the teachers' union said.
Other teachers have also left for personal reasons.
Star spangled screw-up in Cape York schools
The three-year, $7.72 million trial, paid for by the Federal and State governments, started at Coen and Aurukun state schools in January.
The trial followed indigenous leader Noel Pearson’s push to create a Cape York Aboriginal Academy to improve the educational outcomes of indigenous students.
The schools, which are managed by Western Cape College, are implementing a Class, Culture and Club curriculum, which includes a strong focus on literacy and numeracy.
Queensland Teachers' Union peninsula organiser Maureen Duffy said the heads of campus at Aurukun and Coen were encouraged to transfer.
"It wasn't their free choice," she said.
Nearly 30 Coen parents, guardians and carers handed a petition to the State Government this week threatening to take their children out of the school unless the "mainstream education system" was reimplemented.
Ms Duffy said teachers were being asked to modify American-made curriculum materials that had US measurements, US spellings and content.
Some parents also claimed children were singing the American national anthem - something Education Queensland and the school denied.
Mr Mackie yesterday said community confusion came from a separate kindergarten, where children were learning the Australian national anthem and reference had been made to the American anthem.
Mr Mackie defended the Direct Instruction teaching method, saying it was common for teachers to modify materials.
Mr Pearson yesterday strenuously denied Coen and Aurukun schools were singing the American national anthem or learning an American-style curriculum.
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Controversial: Teachers have walked away from Aurukun and Coen state schools because of the US-style curriculum at the schools.
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Star spangled screw-up in Cape York schools
ABORIGINAL students are singing the US national anthem and learning from worksheets with imperial measurements and American spelling as part of a $7.72 million taxpayer-funded program.
