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Daily Mail
24-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
'Epic humans' and 'future leaders': The ridiculously woke terms teachers are being told to use in classrooms instead of 'boys and girls'
Teachers have hit back at ' woke ' advice urging educators to call their students 'future leaders' and 'epic humans' instead of 'boys and girls'. The NSW Teachers Federation called on educators to move away from gendered terms in classrooms in an article for the quarterly journal. Teachers were provided with some suggestions to 'be more inclusive' in a double-page spread in the magazine. 'Have you ever stood in front of a class and said, "Okay, guys, eyes to the front" or something similar?' the article read. 'While most teachers have moved away from saying phrases like, "Okay boys and girls", there are times when we may, accidentally, be addressing whole classes or groups using gendered language.' The article suggests using terms such as class, people, grade level, students and everyone in the place of gendered phrases. Teachers were also advised to use 'empowering terms' including change-makers intellectuals, epic humans, awesome humans, future leaders and superstars. The Teachers Federation also provided subject-specific terminology designed to help students feel valued and 'view themselves as professionals'. Terms such as artists, historians, scientists and mathematicians, explorers, athletes, scholars and playwrights are also advised. Teachers contacted radio station 2GB with concerns over the article and the new terminology they're expected to adopt. 'When are we going to move away from this woke rubbish in our schools?' one said. 'Words such as experts and intellectuals have a clear definition and meaning in society, and we're now expected to categories students in the year nine woodworking class with the ranks of intellectuals,' another wrote. 'As a primary school teacher in a support unit, this offends me,' a third agreed.
CBC
03-06-2025
- Health
- CBC
1 year in, teachers' union says phone ban boosts students' focus, but more action needed
Social Sharing It's been nearly a full school year since Prince Edward Island introduced restrictions on cellphone use for students, and teachers say they're seeing positive results. Andy Doran, president of the P.E.I. Teachers' Federation, said the changes have helped students focus better in class. "They were more engaged. There was better work being done. Students were asking more questions, and [there was] an overall improvement in the engagement of the students," Doran told CBC's Island Morning. But he believes the policy is just the beginning when it comes to addressing the larger issue of screen time. Under the policy, students in grades K-6 must have their phones silenced and out of sight while they are at school unless they are given specific permission from a teacher. Students in grades 7-12 are allowed to use their phones during lunch and other breaks but must follow restrictions during class time. While there have been some rule violations, Doran said that's expected. He added that younger students, in particular, have adapted well. "The pressure was off to have to constantly respond to social media and constantly respond to friend groups and [what] helped with the implementation of the whole thing is that the students bought into it, and their parents certainly did too," he said. Addressing broader screen time habits Doran said school cellphone policies are only one piece of a bigger puzzle. "When I say screen time, I'm talking about not just school. I'm talking about 24 hours a day, the issue that our young people and younger adults are spending way too much time on screens, and not enough time in conversation or social interaction with others," he said. He said teachers are seeing the effects of excessive screen use outside of school, particularly when it comes to attendance. Some students who stay up late playing video games or using social media can struggle to attend or fully participate in school the next day. "We're seeing a lot of our attendance is attached to screen time," he said. That's why Doran believes education around responsible screen use should become part of the school curriculum in the coming years. While schools and teachers play a role, families must also take responsibility, he said. "We only have the students for six hours… But what I'm talking about is the other 18 hours a day, the other 150 days a year when the students aren't in school," he said. "Those guidelines have to come into play at home. The parents have to take the initiative to make sure screen time is limited outside school." They were more engaged. There was better work being done. Students were asking more questions. — Andy Doran, president of the P.E.I. Teachers' Federation As summer approaches, Doran is encouraging families to plan ahead and help children spend more time outdoors to avoid slipping back into unhealthy habits. "At our teachers convention last fall, a speaker got up and said that in the past, 'We'd think nothing of letting our kids walk down the street. Now, we don't let [our] kids walk down the street, but we allow them to go into their rooms with a cellphone and close the door,'" Doran said. "That got me thinking. That's so true, how much danger there is in a cellphone when it's unsupervised. So if I was advising parents: Continue to supervise their cellphone use, continue to limit their screen time use, and have a great summer."
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Disgraceful': Fury over controversial cuts
Workers have rallied outside NSW parliament and in regional centres across the state, warning that the Minns government's proposed changes to workers compensation laws would leave injured employees without adequate support. The protest, led by Unions NSW on Monday, drew supporters from the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, the Teachers Federation, and a broad coalition of workers furious over what they say is a betrayal by the Labor government. Protests were also held in Tweed Heads, Wagga Wagga, and Newcastle as part of a co-ordinated campaign against the Exposure Workers Compensation Bill, which unions claim will gut access to compensation for psychological injuries. Among the proposed changes is a plan to lift the permanent impairment threshold for psychological injury to 31 per cent – a move Unions NSW and the Teachers Federation say would prevent up to 95 per cent of workers from receiving damages. There is also outrage over a proposal requiring workers alleging psychological injury caused by bullying, racial abuse, or sexual harassment to obtain a court determination before being eligible for compensation. Sue Walton, an aged care assistant-in-nursing with more than 20 years' experience and a history of workplace injuries, attended the rally, arguing the changes would prevent people like her from accessing workers compensation. 'You'll be sitting at home without any support or any medical help through workers compensation if this Bill goes through,' she said. 'You get penalised when you're on workers comp anyway because you don't get your full wage, but now they want to take that away from every single worker. It's disgraceful.' Retired union worker Kenneth, who spent 20 years in the manufacturing industry, said the proposed changes would undo hard-fought gains. 'To have governments breaking their pledge is not a good thing and this is a big issue for everybody,' he said. 'You have to assist workers, not cut their rights.' He said anyone injured at work, either physically or mentally, knew how difficult it could be to access compensation. 'I've had lots of injuries in my time and it's always been a hard battle,' Kenneth said. 'We made some progress over the years and we don't need them to be stripped back; if anything, you need more help.' Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey said frustration among workers was turning to anger. 'There is a growing anger around why (the NSW government) are doing this,' he said. Mr Morey acknowledged the Minns government had made progress in other areas but said these proposed reforms were undermining its credibility. 'These sorts of fights detract from them being seen as a positive Labor government to a government that's fighting with all its workforce,' he said. 'I think they're getting a name for themselves of always fighting with their workforce.'
West Australian
26-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
‘Disgraceful': Workers slam Labor's compensation plan
Workers have rallied outside NSW parliament and in regional centres across the state, warning that the Minns government's proposed changes to workers compensation laws would leave injured employees without adequate support. The protest, led by Unions NSW on Monday, drew supporters from the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, the Teachers Federation, and a broad coalition of workers furious over what they say is a betrayal by the Labor government. Protests were also held in Tweed Heads, Wagga Wagga, and Newcastle as part of a co-ordinated campaign against the Exposure Workers Compensation Bill, which unions claim will gut access to compensation for psychological injuries. Among the proposed changes is a plan to lift the permanent impairment threshold for psychological injury to 31 per cent – a move Unions NSW and the Teachers Federation say would prevent up to 95 per cent of workers from receiving damages. There is also outrage over a proposal requiring workers alleging psychological injury caused by bullying, racial abuse, or sexual harassment to obtain a court determination before being eligible for compensation. Sue Walton, an aged care assistant-in-nursing with more than 20 years' experience and a history of workplace injuries, attended the rally, arguing the changes would prevent people like her from accessing workers compensation. 'You'll be sitting at home without any support or any medical help through workers compensation if this Bill goes through,' she said. 'You get penalised when you're on workers comp anyway because you don't get your full wage, but now they want to take that away from every single worker. It's disgraceful.' Retired union worker Kenneth, who spent 20 years in the manufacturing industry, said the proposed changes would undo hard-fought gains. 'To have governments breaking their pledge is not a good thing and this is a big issue for everybody,' he said. 'You have to assist workers, not cut their rights.' He said anyone injured at work, either physically or mentally, knew how difficult it could be to access compensation. 'I've had lots of injuries in my time and it's always been a hard battle,' Kenneth said. 'We made some progress over the years and we don't need them to be stripped back; if anything, you need more help.' Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey said frustration among workers was turning to anger. 'There is a growing anger around why (the NSW government) are doing this,' he said. Mr Morey acknowledged the Minns government had made progress in other areas but said these proposed reforms were undermining its credibility. 'These sorts of fights detract from them being seen as a positive Labor government to a government that's fighting with all its workforce,' he said. 'I think they're getting a name for themselves of always fighting with their workforce.'
News.com.au
26-05-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
‘Disgraceful': Workers slam Labor's compensation plan
Workers have rallied outside NSW parliament and in regional centres across the state, warning that the Minns government's proposed changes to workers compensation laws would leave injured employees without adequate support. The protest, led by Unions NSW on Monday, drew supporters from the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, the Teachers Federation, and a broad coalition of workers furious over what they say is a betrayal by the Labor government. Protests were also held in Tweed Heads, Wagga Wagga, and Newcastle as part of a co-ordinated campaign against the Exposure Workers Compensation Bill, which unions claim will gut access to compensation for psychological injuries. Among the proposed changes is a plan to lift the permanent impairment threshold for psychological injury to 31 per cent – a move Unions NSW and the Teachers Federation say would prevent up to 95 per cent of workers from receiving damages. There is also outrage over a proposal requiring workers alleging psychological injury caused by bullying, racial abuse, or sexual harassment to obtain a court determination before being eligible for compensation. Sue Walton, an aged care assistant-in-nursing with more than 20 years' experience and a history of workplace injuries, attended the rally, arguing the changes would prevent people like her from accessing workers compensation. 'You'll be sitting at home without any support or any medical help through workers compensation if this Bill goes through,' she said. 'You get penalised when you're on workers comp anyway because you don't get your full wage, but now they want to take that away from every single worker. It's disgraceful.' Retired union worker Kenneth, who spent 20 years in the manufacturing industry, said the proposed changes would undo hard-fought gains. 'To have governments breaking their pledge is not a good thing and this is a big issue for everybody,' he said. 'You have to assist workers, not cut their rights.' He said anyone injured at work, either physically or mentally, knew how difficult it could be to access compensation. 'I've had lots of injuries in my time and it's always been a hard battle,' Kenneth said. 'We made some progress over the years and we don't need them to be stripped back; if anything, you need more help.' Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey said frustration among workers was turning to anger. 'There is a growing anger around why (the NSW government) are doing this,' he said. Mr Morey acknowledged the Minns government had made progress in other areas but said these proposed reforms were undermining its credibility. 'These sorts of fights detract from them being seen as a positive Labor government to a government that's fighting with all its workforce,' he said. 'I think they're getting a name for themselves of always fighting with their workforce.'
