For a long time, the retirement age was 65 years of age. If public servants retired before this, they sacrificed many superannuation benefits.For Primary School Principals, the 1970s was a stressful time. Rona Joyner and her allies called them to account for their supervision of moral issues; and a number of middlemen [those who have only a slight acquaintance with schooling per se] criticised the standards of achievement of pupils.
One was a Canadian Professor of Physics from the University of Sydney, for instance, who was more than a little vocal about the teaching of mathematics and science in schools. He, Harry Messel, was a regular feature on TV shows. He was regarded by teachers as a nuisance who didn’t know what he was talking about, but his North American accent influenced some opinions.
The period was also a time of heavy auditing procedures both professional and financial. A parliamentary committee of enquiry into education was established on 4 April 1978, on the day after SEMP was banned, headed by the future Premier, Mike Ahern. It looked into aspects of schooling in Queensland and issued a number of reports for the two years of its close survey. To the distress of the moral campaigners, middlemen and publicity-seeking critics, the report was positive and encouraging.
Without any connection to the Ahern Inquiry, bean-counters introduced an unwelcomed ‘Internal Account’ which required rigorous financial monitoring. Referred to as the ‘Infernal Account’, it was excessively demanding. Principals were being forced further away from curriculum leadership. When the retirement age was reduced from 65 years to 60 years, many were pleased to exit asap.
EXIT, LAUGHING
[Tune : "Get Me to the Church on Time"]
Come nine o’clock on Monday mornin’
DING! DONG! The school bell’s gonna chime;
Honour the flag, boy!
I’ll play the wag, boys -
Me Super’s got me out in time!
You’ve gotta be there in the mornin’
Spruced up and lookin’ in your prime;
Snug in me haven,
I’ll be unshaven -
Me Super’s got me out in time!
A Mrs Joyner is on the ‘phone;
You take the call, mate – AND you’re on your own!
[Oh] Bring in the new account “Internal” -
Have fun with each infernal dime!
For where will I be?
Fishin’ at Bribie!
Me Super’s got me out,
Super’s got me out.
That super Super’s got me out in time!
Shrill blow the Ronas and the Jonahs -
Chill is the current teaching clime -
Let Harry Messel
Scuttle the vessel,
Me Super’s got me out in time!
When that committee of inquiry
Finds you are guilty of a crime,
Jobless and aimless,
I will be blameless -
Me Super’s got me out in time!
Though I’m not backward at knocking Joh,
I don’t knock handshakes with a golden glow!
[Oh] How fares the school without a schoolie
So indispensable as I’m?
Hear me confess now
I can’t care less, now
Me Super’s got me out,
Super’s got me out -
Thank Gawd me Super’s got me out in time.
