AISNT decided to run its own Territory Teaching Awards to acknowledge the great work undertaken by its teachers in the NT Independent schools. With these awards Schools were able to nominate teachers in specified categories and in making a nomination write a positive paragraph or two about the teacher. Though there was only one person from the Territory chosen in each category, all those who were nominated were fully acknowledged.

A ceremony was held each year at Parliament House and was indeed a very fine occasion. The special feature in the Ceremony was a speech given by the Patron of the AISNT, The Hon Austin Asche AC. QC. FACE. BA. LL.M. Sometime Chief Justice and later Administrator of the Northern Territory. The Hon Austin had a remarkable way of relating to the award recipients and indeed engaged so meaningfully with AISNT in general. A gifted and thorough orator, his addresses were of world standard and a number of them have been collected in a booklet titled “Teachers on Top”.

The forward notes that the following about his enormous passion for education: “His interest in education was fuelled by being Chairman of the Victorian Enquiry into Teacher Education. President of the Council of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Chancellor of Deakin University and Chancellor of the Northern Territory University (now Charles Darwin University). The following are some wonderful, memorable quotes from his speeches.

2008

“You will I am sure, be gratified to know that I am an expert on education. Fortunately, there are a great many experts on education in Australia, and the latest accurate statistical summary puts the number at about 10 million”. “The point is that we, as citizens owe a duty to our teachers to encourage excitement and love of learning in children we send to them, so that they are ready for the great gifts a great teacher can give them.”

2009

“Teaching must be the only profession where the necessity to communicate means that one can’t indulge in the luxury of becoming a bore. Certainly, there are some nominally enrolled in the profession who have become bores, but, under my definition, they have ceased to be teachers.”

2010

“Teachers of excellence will meet and triumph over new challenges, as they always have, because they are dedicated and heroic. The vast responsibility is cast upon them to deliver to our great nation citizens who will keep it great. It is only fitting that we should recognise that excellence in the awards today.”

2011

“When considering the subject of excellence in teaching it might be useful to remember one of the best teachers ever portrayed in literature. He was a gentleman called Fagin, and he appears in Oliver Twist. Fagin had, very clearly many of the best characteristics of a teacher. He knew intimately the subject he was teaching, he knew how to make the subject interesting and enjoyable, and he knew how to instill enthusiasm and encourage talent. He did not rebuke or scold, but rather, by giving generous praise to the top students, such as the Artful Dodger, he inspired the others to emulate him. And he made learning fun.”

2012

In 2012 Hon Austin observed how so often in the nineteenth century teachers were principally observers, viewing their pupils from afar, not really engaging with them and when they did it was only to inflict punishment justly or unjustly.” They are part of the scene, but a very small part. Readers today find that strange. Such stories, without reference to the teacher seem to us unreal.” He goes on to emphasise the importance of teachers relating to and engaging with students. “The best of today’s school stories is Harry Potter, and it illustrates the point, because the teachers there play very important roles; as we would expect. We expect teachers to be active agents of learning and to use their expertise to encourage individual talents. They are specialists and we respect them as such.” His final statement in the booklet is: “The value of teachers is emphasised by the simple fact that if we fall behind in education, we fall behind in the world.”

Societies who back their teachers definitely benefit. The Press has a great opportunity to promote teachers and this should not simply be on World Teachers Day but also throughout the year. As we know, the Press is capable of leaning on the side of the negative, but it is of benefit if they search for and present the positive. Teaching is such an important profession and should be promoted as such.

The above presentations of support by such a high-profile community leader as Austin Asche does wonders for the profession and raises morale amongst all those teachers who are fortunate enough to hear them. Teaching, after all, is the oldest profession in the world.

Chris Tudor,

Principal Liaison & AISNT Historian