In 1968, Jack Pizzey, Minister for Education, was about to be become Premier. There was a severe shortage of teachers, and Pizzey, before he quit the Education portfolio, introduced the Emergency Teacher Scheme without consulting the Queensland Teachers Union. Applicants who possessed a University degree of any kind could undergo 8 weeks intensive training and would then be allowed to become High School teachers. Principals of High Schools and of Primary Schools with secondary departments were expected to undertake further on-the-job training for appointees to their school.
The QTU, led by High School Principal Gavin Semple, clashed with the Government. A Compulsory Conference of Departmental and Union representatives was called. G.K.D. Murphy was Director General. Presided over by Industrial Commissioner Self, the conference failed to reach a settlement. The Government got its knickers in a twist and removed the arrangement that it had with the Union not to grant any salary increases to non-union members. It figured that this would deplete the numbers in the Union ranks.
Angered, the Union decided that for the first time in its history it should ask its members if they were prepared to strike over the ‘Emergency’ issue. President Gavin Semple was wary of the result, but before the ballot was counted, Ted Baldwin, Secondary School Teacher, became President. 6287 members voted in favour of strike action, 1335 against and 62 informal. The Union called on all Principals, Deputy Principals and other staff members not to timetable the trainees or take part in any training.
An Extraordinary Education Office Gazette notice put Secondary Inspectors in charge of schools where appointments were made. Each was expected to arrange for practice teaching experience for the ‘pressure-cooker’ teachers as they were called.
Finally, a compromise was reached. The training period of eight weeks lasted to the end of 1968. However, upon appointment to a country school, the trainees were to teach for four days and engage in professional studies for one day. Those in city schools were required to teach for three days and attend College for two days.
AFTER THE BALD
[Tune: "After the Bald"]
After THE BALD ONE won, boys,
After THE BALD ONE won,
See all the teachers arming,
Each with a great big gun -
Fighting to get the system
Thoroughly overhauled,
Unionists marching together
After the BALD!
Before the end of the year, Ted Baldwin entered Parliament as the ALP Member for Logan. In 1969, Gavin Semple returned as the Union’s first full-time President. The times were interesting…
SONG OF THE TRAINEE SUPERVISORS
[Tune: "Gendarmes' Duet"]
In our new Holden or Toyota
When first we take her for a spin,
We never overload the motor -
There is a time for running-in:
And when recruits face classroom battle,
To help them overcome their qualms,
We run them in, we run them in,
We run them in, we run them in,
We are the crash-trainees’ school-marms;
We run them in, we run them in,
We run them in, we run them in
We show them how to be school-marms.
They had their eight weeks at the College,
A full eight weeks to learn their stuff;
And they emerged with lots of knowledge,
Though some would say – not – QUITE – enough
But now they’re with us in the high schools,
We welcome all with open arms -
We run them in, etc.
At first the Union told us not to do
A thing to help these eight-week folk;
So then Inspectors had a lot to do
They didn’t look on as a joke;
But since they left to us their charges
When Ted and Spud had come to terms,
We run them in, etc.
We mean to nurture them like babies
And be a model Mum and Dad;
We know they haven’t got the rabies,
As once we made believe they had;
We hold their hands and wipe their noses,
Protect them from all hurts and harms -
We run them in, etc.
While some who train are full of promise
And they are learning what we know,
To be their dutiful school-mommas
Deserves a little quid pro quo:
So when a grateful meek Department
Consents to grease our chalky palms,
We run them in, etc.
