As the Federal Minister understands only too well, information technology is the go and by attaching a lower-case “i” to a thing — anything — it acquires instant cred, writes Trevor Diogenes.
Education
Lowbottom High Diaries: How to spot a dud teacher
The news that the Department is considering offering teachers past their use-by date a cash incentive to leave the profession has the common room all a-twitter, writes Trevor.
Part-time work and poverty are killing campus life
There is little wonder why we don’t hang around on campus. No-one has the time or the money to be students anymore, writes Dara Conduit.
Lowbottom High Diaries: See how they grow
After two weeks on holiday, it becomes plain that a change has been wrought in our charges in the interim. Trevor Diogenes grows wistful.
Computers for kids are useless without backup
Unless additional money is spent on the peripheral costs of implementing and operating new computers in schools they’re pretty useless, write Elissa Baxter and Simon Sharwood.
The great international student rort
Among modern-day business rorts, the privately-owned colleges selling education courses to overseas students are in a category of their own, writes Alex Mitchell. Crikey has the inside word from a former Sydney college executive.
Buyer Beware: How not to run a Grants Writing Course
Grant writing courses offers free lessons in how not to host a grant writing course. By inconvenienced attendee Kathy Flitcroft.
Is Monash Uni introducing the “Melbourne Model” by stealth?
Recently, Monash University announced that it will be relocating its law school from the main Clayton Campus to its smaller Caulfield Campus. But there’s more to the story than moving desks. Adam Schwab reports.
Lowbottom High diaries: Teaching Types #2
There are fresh additions to the Lowbottom High staff room. Trevor Diogenes watches their progress.
How The Oz proved Rupert Murdoch’s al-Qaida link
Writing in The Australian today, Dicky Kerbaj claims to have revealed “for the first time” the identity of six imams paid by Saudi Arabia. That’s right. Six, writes Irfan Yusuf.
Who gains from the kiss of the phonics fairy?
I couldn’t bear the divine Julia Gillard to turn into an education frog, writes Mem Fox.
Lowbottom diaries: An excursion in prose
Graffiti, an excursion, all in prose. From one average school high school teacher to you. By Trevor Diogenes.
It’s time the University of Queensland came clean. Properly.
It already tried to gag one of its academics after pressure from big pharma, and now the Uni of Queensland is considering making it policy, writes Melissa Sweet.
Budget boredom for schools but watch this space
The budget may have held only boring news for schools, but the new quadrennial funding agreement due later this year will have a far greater impact, writes Jennifer Buckingham.
Thornton: What education revolution?
What happened the the ‘public’ in ‘public university’, asks Margaret Thornton?
Lowbottom diaries: a pay deal sealed with a kiss
News came through that we were to become the highest paid teachers in the land. Trevor Diogenes surveys the staffroom.
Give the Baby Bonus to teachers instead?
There are approximately a quarter of a million babies born in Australia each year, and approximately a quarter of a million teachers. Is there something we can do with this? wonders Andrew Leigh.
Lowbottom High diaries: All’s VEL that ends VEL
Pupil-free days can be the path to valuable insight, writes Trevor Diogenes.
Drawing a line – Islam and money in Australian Universities
Begging for Saudi funding. Bankrolled by intolerant Wahhabism. With these messages, The Australian confirms itself as the London Sun in journalist drag, writes Binoy Kampmark.
Lowbottom High diaries: Teacher types #1 – the untouchable relief teachers
Spare a thought for the relief teacher because very few of us full-timers do, writes Trevor Diogenes.
Lowbottom High diaries: Like Oberon, teachers are invisible
That teachers feature not at all on the list of professions that Australians trust is most deflating, writes Trevor Diogenes.
Crikey Says: Crikey Says
Jon Altman makes a resounding point in his piece on indigenous disadvantage in this Crikey edition.
Lowbottom High diaries: Boredom in the Common Room
Is boredom prevalent in the teaching profession? Trevor Diogenes investigates.
Lowbottom High diaries: 12 weeks without parole
A long term looms, for Lowbottom High’s Trevor Diogenes
Lowbottom High diaries: End of term, the crow caws
The crows are gathered in the Tyburn tree outside the general office so it must be the end of term, writes Trevor Diogenes.






