John Marsden's 23 'fixes' to revolutionise Aussie schools

Margaret Ryan

By Margaret Ryan
Published November 5, 2021

Innovative educator, award-winning author and controversial school principal John Marsden lists 23 ‘fixes’ for schools in one chapter of his latest book, 'Take Risks: raising kids who love the adventure of life'.

Teachers should demonstrate a spirit of adventure, be energetic, creative – and able to prove it, principal John Marsden argues.

Marsden has a strict criteria for those he deems worthy of entering the teaching profession, but disagrees that his standards ...

Nursery Assistant

Teaching - Early childhood / Aug 31, 2026

Business Manager - Sandgate State School

Department of Education and Training (Queensland) Brisbane

Sandgate State School is seeking a capable, organised and people-focused Business Manager to support the effective day-to-day operation of our school. Work closely wit...

Teaching - Secondary / Aug 31, 2026

EOI - Head of Department (Curriculum) - Richmond State School

Department of Education and Training (Queensland)

We are seeking an experienced, innovative and highly motivated Head of Department (Curriculum) to provide strategic leadership in the development, implementation and c...

Teaching - Secondary / Aug 31, 2026

School news / Hurdles finally cleared: date set for start of jumping castle tragedy inquest

Almost five years after six children died in a primary school jumping castle tragedy, a start date has been set for an inquest examining safety standards and oversight.

School news / Social media opt-out being mulled to stem harmful content, minister says

Australians could have the ability to opt out of social media algorithms under new digital laws as leaders try to limit the spread of violent, misogynistic content online.

School news / How storytelling is helping shape boys into healthy men

“Now’s the time for accountability,” Ben Vasiliou says after several harrowing weeks of allegations about men’s violence against women.

Community / Continuing explicit spelling instruction through middle and upper primary improves literacy outcomes

As schools review literacy practice ahead of the 2027 school year, renewed attention is turning to how spelling should be taught beyond the early years.

School news / Restrictive participation barriers: study shows how expensive kids’ sport is

Grace O’Brien knows what it’s like to come face-to-face with parents who are desperate to get their kids off screens and into sport.

School news / Accessible, efficient, and personalised: new program could transform autism support for kids

With around two in three autistic children experiencing major communication challenges a game-changing new approach to autism support is aiming to assist all autistic kids in Western Australia to communicate effectively by school entry.

Opinion / Once-in-a-decade opportunity: bolstered Professional Standards will attract and retain more teachers

There has been much made of the teacher retention challenges facing Australian schools.

School news / ‘It’s fun to just press a button and remove their clothes,’ says man who created sexual AI schoolgirl pics

A software developer accused of creating “deepfake” nude or sexualised images of schoolgirls told police “every woman should be afraid” of the technology, a jury has heard.

School news / ‘Better cheats – but poorer learners’: push to halt imports of ‘covert recording’ tech glasses

A move to impose a 12-month ban on the import of big tech’s camera-enabled glasses will be introduced in parliament, in a bid to protect privacy against “covert recording”.

School news / ‘Rallying the troops online’: principals document every move amid intense parental scrutiny

Australian principals are now so wary of parents mobilising online and carrying out targeted campaigns that they have developed painstaking routines of ‘constant documentation’ in order to fend off legal consequences and other serious harms, a rev...

Comments