Comments for Mathematics in Australia http://austmaths.wordpress.com Discussions of issues facing mathematics research and education in Australia today Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:02:00 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Positions at Australian National University by teachers melbourne http://austmaths.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/positions-at-australian-national-university/#comment-786 teachers melbourne Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:02:00 +0000 http://austmaths.wordpress.com/?p=331#comment-786 You may want to get the help of teacher recruitment agencies who can understand your requirements. There is greater possibility of getting the right math teacher for the job there. You may want to get the help of teacher recruitment agencies who can understand your requirements. There is greater possibility of getting the right math teacher for the job there.

]]> Comment on Mathematics skills out for the count by Phil Harmsworth http://austmaths.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/mathematics-skills-out-for-the-count/#comment-767 Phil Harmsworth Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:06:46 +0000 http://austmaths.wordpress.com/?p=329#comment-767 On the other hand, a letter from David Burford in 'The Age' 28/10, states that: 'Two weeks ago, I was one of three maths and science teachers on contracts who were told they would not be required next year. The principal would be re-advertising our jobs as ''graduate positions'' (for newly qualified teachers), for which none of us would be eligible. We have all been avidly searching for work for the past four months. Between us we have only been able to obtain one job interview.' He goes on to state that he's seen few ads this year for anything other than graduate positions in his subjects [physics, mathematics and chemistry]. Hardly an incentive for anyone who wishes to become a secondary mathematics teacher. On the other hand, a letter from David Burford in ‘The Age’ 28/10, states that:
‘Two weeks ago, I was one of three maths and science teachers on contracts who were told they would not be required next year. The principal would be re-advertising our jobs as ”graduate positions” (for newly qualified teachers), for which none of us would be eligible.
We have all been avidly searching for work for the past four months. Between us we have only been able to obtain one job interview.’

He goes on to state that he’s seen few ads this year for anything other than graduate positions in his subjects [physics, mathematics and chemistry].

Hardly an incentive for anyone who wishes to become a secondary mathematics teacher.

]]> Comment on Message from AMSI regarding proposed cuts at Victoria University by Message from AMSI regarding proposed cuts at Victoria University … Victoria University VU China http://austmaths.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/message-from-amsi-regarding-proposed-cuts-at-victoria-university/#comment-735 Message from AMSI regarding proposed cuts at Victoria University … Victoria University VU China Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:22:17 +0000 http://austmaths.wordpress.com/?p=314#comment-735 [...] original here:  Message from AMSI regarding proposed cuts at Victoria University … By admin | category: victoria university | tags: elizabeth-harman, geoff-prince, hit-out, [...] [...] original here:  Message from AMSI regarding proposed cuts at Victoria University … By admin | category: victoria university | tags: elizabeth-harman, geoff-prince, hit-out, [...]

]]> Comment on USQ, the supply of mathematics skills, and mathematics teacher training by Richard Marschall http://austmaths.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/usq-the-supply-of-mathematics-skills-and-mathematics-teacher-training/#comment-685 Richard Marschall Sat, 24 Oct 2009 06:12:18 +0000 http://austmaths.wordpress.com/?p=16#comment-685 I don't think there is any shortage of mathematically trained people in Australia. I have served on several faculty search committees and we always received around 150 applications for just one open position. At least 50 of those people were well qualified for that position. Likewise in my company, we have no trouble finding suitably skilled people (mostly programmers) even on a short term contract basis. At the primary education and high school level, I note that two of the people who do tree trimming and gardening for me used to teach mathematics in NSW schools. They are knowledgeable in Logic, Set Theory, and Algebraic Topology, qualified and experienced in education, yet they work as gardeners. It is a cruel, Dilbert/Dogbert like joke to encourage more students to enroll and seek jobs in this area. I don’t think there is any shortage of mathematically trained people in Australia. I have served on several faculty search committees and we always received around 150 applications for just one open position. At least 50 of those people were well qualified for that position.

Likewise in my company, we have no trouble finding suitably skilled people (mostly programmers) even on a short term contract basis.

At the primary education and high school level, I note that two of the people who do tree trimming and gardening for me used to teach mathematics in NSW schools. They are knowledgeable in Logic, Set Theory, and Algebraic Topology, qualified and experienced in education, yet they work as gardeners.

It is a cruel, Dilbert/Dogbert like joke to encourage more students to enroll and seek jobs in this area.

]]> Comment on Jurassic Quark by Terence Tao http://austmaths.wordpress.com/2009/10/08/jurassic-quark/#comment-603 Terence Tao Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:48:46 +0000 http://austmaths.wordpress.com/?p=311#comment-603 Yes, you're right... I changed the description accordingly. (It would have been great if they could actually round up some CSIRO scientists to perform, though.) Yes, you’re right… I changed the description accordingly. (It would have been great if they could actually round up some CSIRO scientists to perform, though.)

]]> Comment on Jurassic Quark by Megan http://austmaths.wordpress.com/2009/10/08/jurassic-quark/#comment-602 Megan Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:03:54 +0000 http://austmaths.wordpress.com/?p=311#comment-602 Uh, I don't think the CSIRO made this. I think it was probably the science revue... Uh, I don’t think the CSIRO made this. I think it was probably the science revue…

]]> Comment on Federal government awards $2 million for Improving Mathematics Education in Schools project by Peter Gould http://austmaths.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/federal-government-awards-2-million-for-improving-mathematics-education-in-schools-project/#comment-597 Peter Gould Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:04:25 +0000 http://austmaths.wordpress.com/?p=323#comment-597 Unfortunately, the link to AMSI in the article headed 'Federal government awards $2 million ...' takes you to the Association of Marine Scientific Industries rather than the intended destination. <I>[Oops! Corrected, thanks - T.]</I> Unfortunately, the link to AMSI in the article headed ‘Federal government awards $2 million …’ takes you to the Association of Marine Scientific Industries rather than the intended destination. [Oops! Corrected, thanks - T.]

]]> Comment on Access to mathematics is vital for equity by Federal government awards $2 million for Improving Mathematics Education in Schools project « Mathematics in Australia http://austmaths.wordpress.com/2009/09/29/access-to-mathematics-is-vital-for-equity/#comment-594 Federal government awards $2 million for Improving Mathematics Education in Schools project « Mathematics in Australia Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:57:34 +0000 http://austmaths.wordpress.com/?p=306#comment-594 [...] also the recent opinion piece by Jan Thomas of AMSI on a related [...] [...] also the recent opinion piece by Jan Thomas of AMSI on a related [...]

]]> Comment on USQ now hiring in mathematics and statistics by Message from AMSI regarding proposed cuts at Victoria University « Mathematics in Australia http://austmaths.wordpress.com/2008/12/12/usq-now-hiring-in-mathematics-and-statistics/#comment-510 Message from AMSI regarding proposed cuts at Victoria University « Mathematics in Australia Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:06:03 +0000 http://austmaths.wordpress.com/?p=140#comment-510 [...] by the University of Southern Queensland resulted in a significant reduction in the staff cuts, and USQ afterwards hired several maths and stats faculty (including one who had they made redundant!) after they realised that the cuts that they did enact [...] [...] by the University of Southern Queensland resulted in a significant reduction in the staff cuts, and USQ afterwards hired several maths and stats faculty (including one who had they made redundant!) after they realised that the cuts that they did enact [...]

]]> Comment on The mathematics change plan at VU by Message from AMSI regarding proposed cuts at Victoria University « Mathematics in Australia http://austmaths.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/the-mathematics-change-plan-at-vu/#comment-509 Message from AMSI regarding proposed cuts at Victoria University « Mathematics in Australia Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:52:15 +0000 http://austmaths.wordpress.com/?p=278#comment-509 [...] Message from AMSI regarding proposed cuts at Victoria University Posted on 9 October, 2009 by Terence Tao The new director of the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute, Geoff Prince, has written an open letter to the Vice Chancellor and President of Victoria University, Elizabeth Harman, regarding the proposed severe cuts in the mathematics and statistics departments (from 8.5 FTE to 4.5 FTE) through targeted. (We posted about this cuts in a previous post.) [...] [...] Message from AMSI regarding proposed cuts at Victoria University Posted on 9 October, 2009 by Terence Tao The new director of the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute, Geoff Prince, has written an open letter to the Vice Chancellor and President of Victoria University, Elizabeth Harman, regarding the proposed severe cuts in the mathematics and statistics departments (from 8.5 FTE to 4.5 FTE) through targeted. (We posted about this cuts in a previous post.) [...]

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