Vol. 17, No. 4, May 2008
State schools play a vital role in Queensland communities. With State Education Week (May 26 to 30) fast approaching, it's an opportune time to reflect on what makes our state schools, individually and collectively, so special.
State schooling in Queensland has a long and proud history. It dates back to 1850 when the state's first partially government-funded school, now known as Warwick East State School, was established.
Today, teachers and staff in our 1250 schools are responsible for the education and development of about 480,000 students each year, about 70 per cent of all Queensland school students.
Our state schools help shape the Smart State and, with it, Queensland's future. As our teacher recruitment slogan identifies, everything we do in our schools makes a difference.
State schools recognise that every young Queenslander has a right to achieve his or her potential and pursue dreams as clever, skilled and creative people. As the recent Year 12 Outcomes Report reaffirms, many of our students pursue and achieve academic excellence while others excel in vocational education. The report also underscores the value of education and training coming together.
Every student has his or her own talents, ambitions and interests. Similarly, each of our state schools is different and special in its own way. This State Education Week I encourage you to open your doors and classrooms and show your community what makes your school special.
Show time
As our front cover illustrates, state school students know how to put on a good show. After spending a week working with professional artists, 60 of our most talented senior dance, drama and contemporary music students performed at the Brisbane Powerhouse Theatre on April 5 - the finale of the Creative Generation Excellence Awards in the Arts 2008.
The performance was of the highest standard. It was hard to believe the students met each other for the first time only five days earlier. I was also pleased to see event management students from Brisbane North Institute of TAFE working behind the scenes with the department's events staff.
The talent and commitment to excellence in our state schools will again be on show this State Education Week, at local events and activities and at Creative Generation - State Schools Onstage, one of the highlights of our week.
A multicultural Queensland
The Department of Education, Training and the Arts is committed to developing and supporting a culturally diverse Queensland, as outlined by the State Government's Multicultural Queensland - making a world of difference policy.
The department's Multicultural Action Plan 2007-2011 articulates that commitment by promoting equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities for all Queenslanders regardless of their culture, ethnicity, religious background or gender.
I encourage all staff to familiarise themselves with the plan and adopt it in their workplaces. It is available from the Education website
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© The State of Queensland (Department of Education, Training and the Arts) 2008.