By 194 Australian educational researchers

To The Hon Christopher Pyne

Monday 21 July, 2014

CC: Shadow Minster, The Hon Kate Ellis

Dear Minister,

In a recent interview to 2UE on 15th July Kevin Donnelly, Director of the Education Standards Institute, stated:

“If the school community is in favour of it [corporal punishment] then I have not got a problem if it’s done properly”

There is no doubt, given this interview, that Kevin Donnelly has no objection to the use of corporal punishment in schools.

This statement is a reckless and inappropriate endorsement of archaic attitudes and practices in relation to the discipline of children both in schools and society.

In a community where neglect and violence against children has been on the increase, corporal punishment must be seen as a totally inappropriate and ineffective behaviour management strategy for schools.

A National Summit, Behaviour in Australian Schools: Current trends and possibilities, was held in South Australia last week with the clear aim of raising the profile of children and their rights as students in schools.

The Summit brought together significant research on the complexity of behaviour in schools.

This research provides new insights into the ways schools can engage students in their learning and schooling while respecting their dignity, treating them fairly, and allowing and encouraging them to continue their education. It critiqued punitive responses to misbehaviour and offered alternatives.

It is upon this kind of evidence-based research that a senior educational advisor to the government should base his comments.

Harking back to community standards of more than 30 years ago has no relevance to the realities of today or 21st century community expectations.

The educational researchers and other participants involved in the Summit were disconcerted by the comments made by Kevin Donnelly, especially as he is a senior educational advisor to the Federal Education Minister. In this role, the Australian public has a right to expect informed commentary and advice based on sound research.

We call on the government to remove Mr Donnelly from his position as advisor on any matters related to the education of children in Australia.

We call on the government to amend legislation to ensure that the children of Australia are protected from all forms of corporal punishment in schools.

For communication on this matter please phone: Dr Anna Sullivan 0402 965 844

Signed:

1. Dr Anna Sullivan

Senior Lecturer

School of Education

University of South Australia

2. Professor Bruce Johnson

Adjunct Research Professor

School of Education

University of South Australia

3. Professor Susan Groundwater-Smith

Honorary Professor

Faculty of Education and Social Work

University of Sydney

4. Professor Jill Blackmore

Alfred Deakin Professor

School of Education

Deakin University

5. Professor Jane Kenway

Australian Professorial Fellow – Australian Research Council

Education Faculty

Monash University

6. Professor Parlo Singh

Professor of Education

Griffith Institute for Educational Research

Griffith University

7. Professor Donna Cross

Winthrop Professor

Telethon Kids Institute

The University of Western Australia

8. Professor Emeritus Alan Reid

Professor Emeritus

School of Education

University of South Australia

9. Professor Marie Brennan

Professor

College of Education

Victoria University

10. Professor John Smyth

Professor

Faculty of Education & Arts

Federation University Australia

11. Professor Barry Down

City of Rockingham Chair in Education

School of Education

Murdoch University

12. Professor Bob Lingard

Professorial Research Fellow

School of Education

The University of Queensland

13. Professor Bronwyn Davies

Professorial Fellow

University of Melbourne

14. Professor Michele Simons

Dean of Education

School of Education

University of Western Sydney

15. Professor Marilyn Campbell

Professor

Faculty of Education

Queensland University of Technology

16. Professor Margaret Somerville

Director Centre for Educational Research

School of Education

University of Western Sydney

17. Professor Marilyn Fleer

Professor

Faculty of Education

Monash University

18. Professor Jo-Anne Reid

Professor of Education

Faculty of Education

Charles Sturt University

19. Professor Martin Mills

Professor

School of Education

The University of Queensland

20. Professor Pat Drake

Dean

College of Education

Victoria University

21. Professor Sue Walker

Professor

Faculty of Education, Early Childhood

Queensland University of Technology

22. Professor Caroline Barratt-Pugh

Director of Centre for Research in Early Childhood

Edith Cowan University

23. Professor Lyn Yates

Professor

Melbourne Graduate School of Education

University of Melbourne

24. Professor Suzanne Carrington

Head of School

School of Cultural and Professional Learning, Faculty of Education

Queensland University of Technology

25. Professor Kay Whitehead

Deputy Dean

School of Education

Flinders University

26. Professor Rosalyn Shute

Adjunct Professor of Psychology

Flinders University and Federation University Australia

27. Professor Helen Nixon

Adjunct Professor

Faculty of Education

Queensland University of Technology

28. Professor Stephen Dobson

Interim Dean and Head of School of Education

School of Education

University of South Australia

29. Professor Sandy Schuck

Professor of Education, Director of Research Training, FASS

School of Education, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

University of Technology Sydney

30. Professor Beverly Derewianka

Professorial Fellow

Faculty of Education

University of Wollongong

31. Emeritus Professor Robert Crotty

Emeritus Professor of Religion and Education

School of Education

University of South Australia

32. Associate Professor Robert Hattam

Director Centre of Research in Education

School of Education

University of South Australia

33. Associate Professor Debra Bateman

Deputy Dean – Learning & Teaching

Global Urban and Social Studies

RMIT University

34. Associate Professor Catherine Doherty

Senior Research Fellow

Faculty of Education

Queensland University of Technology

35. Associate Professor Bill Eckersley

Director of Learning and Teaching

College of Education

Victoria University

36. Associate Professor Leanne Lester

Associate Professor

The University of Western Australia

37. Associate Professor Annette Woods

Associate Professor

School of Early Childhood

Queensland University of Technology

38. Associate Professor Susanne Gannon

Associate Professor

School of Education/ Centre for Educational Research

University of Western Sydney

39. Associate Professor Rosie Le Cornu

Adjunct Associate Professor

School of Education

University of South Australia

40. Associate Professor Kerry Bissaker

Associate Dean (International)

School of Education

Flinders University

41. Associate Professor Dr Leonie Rowan

Associate Professor

School of Education and Professional Studies

Griffith University

42. Associate Professor Beryl Exley

Associate Professor

Faculty of Education

Queensland University of Technology

43. Associate Professor Helen Askell-Williams

Associate Dean Research, Director Flinders Educational Futures Research Institute

School of Education

Flinders University

44. Associate Professor Tarquam McKenna

Associate Professor of Education

College of Education

Victoria University

45. Associate Professor Judith MacCallum

Associate Professor

School of Education

Murdoch University

46. Associate Professor Gloria Dall’Alba

Associate Professor

The University of Queensland

47. Associate Professor Susan Hill

Adjunct

School of Education

University of South Australia

48. Associate Professor Anne Power

Academic Course Advisor

School of Education

University of Western Sydney

49. Associate Professor Robyn Henderson

Associate Professor

University of Southern Queensland

50. Associate Professor Peter Hudson

Associate Professor

Queensland University of Technology

51. Associate Professor Robbie Collins

Head of Campus

Shoalhaven Campus

University of Wollongong

52. Associate Professor Dr Brian Cambourne A.M.

Principal Fellow

School of Education

University of Wollongong

53. Associate Professor Andrea Reupert

Associate Professor and psychologist

Krongold Centre

Faculty of Education

Monash University

54. Associate Professor Phillip Payne

Associate Professor

Faculty of Education

Monash University

55. Associate Professor Jo Lampert

Associate Professor

Faculty of Education

Queensland University of Technology

56. Associate Professor Mary Keeffe

Associate Professor Inclusive Education

Faculty of Education

La Trobe University

57. Associate Professor Philip Riley

Associate Professor of Educational Leadership

Australian Catholic University

58. Associate Professor Jorge Srabstein

Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry, MD, DLFAPA, DLFAACAP

School of Medicine

George Washington University, USA

59. Dr Jan Turbill

Honorary Senior Fellow

School of Education

University of Wollongong

60. Dr Katina Zammit

Senior Lecturer

School of Education

University of Western Sydney

61. Dr Janet Dyment

Senior Lecturer

Faculty of Education

University of Tasmania

62. Dr David Zyngier

Senior Lecturer Curriculum and Pedagogy

Faculty of Education

Monash University

63. Dr Noelene Weatherby-Fell

Senior Lecturer

Faculty of Education

University of Wollongong

64. Dr Jennifer Angwin

Senior Lecturer

Faculty of Art and Education

Deakin University

65. Dr Sue Nichols

Senior Lecturer

School of Education

University of South Australia

66. Dr Julianne Lynch

Senior Lecturer

School of Education

Deakin University

67. Dr Andrea Gallant

Senior Lecturer

Faculty Arts and Education

Deakin University

68. Dr Muriel Wells

Senior Lecturer

School of Education

Deakin University

69. Dr Julie White

Senior Research Fellow

The Victoria Institute

Victoria University

70. Dr Barbara Spears

Senior Lecturer

School of Education

University of South Australia

71. Dr Victoria Whitington

Associate Head of School: Teaching & Learning

School of Education

University of South Australia

72. Dr Mark Selkrig

Senior lecturer

College of Education

Victoria University

73. Dr Caroline Mansfield

Senior Lecturer

School of Education

Murdoch University

74. Dr Nado Aveling

Senior Lecturer

School of Education

Murdoch University

75. Dr Annabelle Leve

Lecturer

Arts and Education

Deakin University

76. Dr Natasha Pearce

Senior Research Fellow

Edith Cowan University

77. Dr Kevin Runions

Senior Research Fellow

Telethon Kids Institute

The University of Western Australia

78. Dr Eva Dobozy

Senior Lecturer

School of Education

Curtin University

79. Dr Mark Vicars

Senior Lecturer

College of Education

Victoria University

80. Dr Laura Perry

Senior Lecturer

Murdoch University

81. Dr Jo Ailwood

Senior Lecturer

School of Education

The University of Newcastle

82. Dr Dorothy Bottrell

Senior Lecturer, Social Pedagogy & Honorary Senior Lecturer

Victoria University

University of Sydney

83. Dr Anne Cloonan

Senior Lecturer

School of Education

Deakin University

84. Dr Martin Andrew

Senior Lecturer, Education/TESOL

College of Education

Victoria University

85. Dr Lyndal O’Gorman

Senior Lecturer

School of Early Childhood, Faculty of Education

Queensland University of Technology

86. Dr Jorge Knijnik

Senior Lecturer

School of Education

University of Western Sydney

87. Dr Susanne Owen

Academic Developer/Adjunct Senior Research Fellow

Learning and Teaching Unit/School of Education

University of South Australia

88. Dr Elizabeth Hirst

formerly Senior Lecturer

School of Education

Griffith University

89. Dr Sally Knipe

Course Director (Secondary Programs)

School of Education

Charles Sturt University

90. Dr Janean Robinson

Research Associate

School of Education

Murdoch University

91. Dr Neil Hooley

Lecturer

College of Education

Victoria University

92. Dr Jenni Carter

Lecturer

School of Education

University of South Australia

93. Dr Jamie Sisson

Lecturer

School of Education

University of South Australia

94. Dr Ngoc Doan

Research Assistant

School of Education

University of South Australia

95. Dr Judith Peters

Adjunct Lecturer in Education

School of Education

University of South Australia

96. Dr Yarrow Andrew

Lecturer

School of Education

Flinders University

97. Dr Clare McCarty

Lecturer

School of Education

Flinders University

98. Dr Margaret Scrimgeour

Lecturer (adjunct)

School of Education

University of South Australia

99. Dr Jane Hunter

Lecturer

School of Education

University of Western Sydney

100. Dr Robyne Garrett

Lecturer

School of Education

University of South Australia

101. Dr Jo Raphael

Lecturer in Drama Education

Faculty of Arts and Education

Deakin University

102. Dr Kate Johnstone

Lecturer in Education (Pedagogy and Curriculum)

School of Education

Deakin University

103. Dr Catharine Simmons

Research Associate

Centre for Children and Young People

Southern Cross University

104. Dr Bev Rogers

Lecturer/researcher

School of Education

Flinders University

105. Dr Grant Banfield

Lecturer

School of Education

Flinders University

106. Dr Kerry Renwick

Lecturer

College of Education

Victoria University

107. Dr Efrat Eilam

Lecturer

College of Education

Victoria University

108. Dr Ahmad Samarji

Lecturer

College of Education

Victoria University

109. Dr Louise Phillips

Lecturer

The University of Queensland

110. Dr Peter Arnold

Research Associate

School of Education

University of South Australia

111. Dr Tony Daly

Research Associate

School of Education

University of South Australia

112. Dr Garth Stahl

Lecturer

School of Education

University of South Australia

113. Dr David Caldwell

Lecturer

School of Education

University of South Australia

114. Dr Donnah Anderson

Research Associate

Centre for Children and Young People

Southern Cross University

115. Dr Christina Gowlett

Lecturer in Curriculum Studies

School of Education

The University of Queensland

116. Dr Melanie Baak

Research Associate

School of Education

University of South Australia

117. Dr Jana Visnovska

Lecturer in Mathematics Education

The University of Queensland

118. Dr Stewart Riddle

Lecturer

School of Teacher Education and Early Childhood

University of Southern Queensland

119. Dr Lisa Davies

Adjunct Lecturer

School of Education

University of South Australia

120. Dr Kimberley McMahon-Coleman

Learning Development Lecturer

University of Wollongong

121. Dr Barbara Garrick

Lecturer

School of Education and Professional Studies

Griffith University

122. Dr Sarah Tartakover

Lecturer

College of Education

Victoria University

123. Dr Sam Schulz

Lecturer

School of Education

Flinders University

124. Dr Rachel Buchanan

Lecturer in Educational Foundations

University of Newcastle

125. Dr Steven Hodge

Lecturer

School of Education and Professional Studies

Griffith University

126. Dr Nicholas Hookway

Sociology lecturer

School of Social Sciences

University of Tasmania

127. Dr Annabelle Leve

Deakin University

128. Dr Michelle Morgan

recent PhD graduate

School of Education

University of Queensland

129. Dr Mirella Wyra

Lecturer

School of Education

Flinders University

130. Dr Paul Unsworth

Tutor

School of Education

University of South Australia

131. Dr Gudrun Colbow

School of Education

The University of Queensland

132. Dr Roslyn (Rose) Carnes

Lecturer

University of Notre Dame

133. Mr Bill Lucas

Senior Lecturer

School of Education

University of South Australia

134. Ms Wendy Piltz

Senior Lecturer

School of Education

University of South Australia

135. Mr Peter Walker

Lecturer Special Education

School of Education

Flinders University

136. Ms Lisa Langdon

Teacher Children’s Services

College of Education

Victoria University

137. Ms Rose Ashton

Literacy Consultant

South Australia

138. Ms Marie Crotty

Retired Senior Lecturer

School of Education

University of South Australia

139. Ms Anna Rogers

Lecturer Mathematics Education

School of Education

University of South Australia

140. Mrs Donna Carr

Project Leader

Murdoch University

141. Ms Deborah Green

Lecturer

School of Education

University of South Australia

142. Ms Terri Redpath

Lecturer

Deakin University

143. Ms Kerry Bennetto

Professional Experience Officer

School of Education

Deakin University

144. Ms Christine Schulz

Teacher Educator

School of Education

Deakin University

145. Mr Roland Wilson

Associate Lecturer/Academic Advisor

Yunggorendi First Nation Centre for Higher Education and Research

Flinders University

146. Ms Roz Anderson

Manager

Office of Indigenous Academic Support

Charles Darwin University

147. Ms Sue Bennett

Lecturer

School of Education

Deakin University

148. Mr Tony Edwards

Lecturer

College of Education

Victoria University

149. Ms Deb Moulton

Teaching and Learning Consultant

School of Natural and Built Environments

University of South Australia

150. Mr Lawry Mahon

Lecturer

College of Education

Victoria University

151. Ms Mata Kalyvas

Tutor

School of Education

University of South Australia

152. Mr Bruce Underwood

Coordinator Anangu Tertiary Education Program

School of Education

University of South Australia

153. Ms Therese Lovett

Tutor

School of Education

University of South Australia

154. Ms Robyne Lesley

Tutor

School of Education

University of South Australia

155. Ms Rosemary Arnold

former classroom teacher & school principal

156. Ms Lisa Mahoney

Tutor/Teacher

School of Education

University of South Australia

157. Ms Janine Roberts

Learning Designer

The University of Queensland

158. Ms Geraldine Ditchburn

Lecturer

Murdoch University

159. Mr Ryan Spencer

Clinical Teaching Specialist

University of Canberra

160. Ms Sonja Kuzich

Lecturer, Curriculum and Pedagogy

School of Education

Curtin University of Technology

161. Ms Piper Rodd

Academic

Deakin University

162. Mr Jamie Harvey

Lecturer, Middle schooling

School of Education

Flinders university

163. Ms Rebecca Stephenson

Professional Experience Officer

& Primary School Teacher

School of Education

Deakin University

164. Ms Helen Earl

Lecturer

Faculty of Social Sciences, Teacher Education

University of Technology Sydney

165. Ms Kate Hadwen

Head of Senior School &

Adjunct Senior Research Fellow

The Peninsula School, VIC

Edith Cowan University

166. Miss Patricia Cardoso

Public Health Lecturer

School of Exercise and Health Sciences

Edith Cowan University

167. Ms Narelle Alderman

Project Advisor

Child Health Promotion Research Centre

Edith Cowan University

POSTSCRIPT

These researchers have also added their names to the list.

168. Professor Roger Slee Director, The Victoria Institute for Education, Diversity and Lifelong Learning, , Victoria University

169. Professor Emeritus Merv Hyde AM PhD, Acting Head of School of Education, Academic , Director: International Projects Group, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast

170. Associate Professor Jenny Jay, Associate Professor for Early Childhood Studies, School of Education, Curtin University

171. Associate Professor Sue Thomas, Associate Professor, School of Education and Professional Studies, Griffith University

172. Dr Nicole Mockler Senior Lecturer, School of Education, University of Newcastle

173. Dr Stephen Hay Senior Lecturer, School of Education and Professional Studies, Griffith University

174. Dr Sharn Donnison Portfolio Leader for Initial Teacher Education, School of Education, University of the Sunshine Coast

175. Dr Lennie Barblett, Senior Lecturer, School of Education, Edith Cowan University

176. Dr Kumara Ward, Lecturer, Early Childhood, School of Education, University Of Western Sydney

177. Dr Robyn Johnston, Research Fellow Child Health Promotion Research Centre, School of Exercise and Health Science, Edith Cowan University

178. Ms Tommy Cordin, Senior Research Fellow, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia

179. Mr Kenneth Young, Lecturer, School of Education, University of the Sunshine Coast

180. Ms Jane Merewether, Lecturer Early Childhood Education, School of Education, Curtin University

181. Mr David Hornsby, Literacy Consultant, Author

182. Ms Heather McKee, Research Assistant, Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia

183. Ms Wendy Goff, Lecturer, Faculty of Education, Monash University

184. Dr Lisa McKay-Brown, Lecturer, Special Education, Inclusion and Early Intervention, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne

185.Ms Lisa Burmann, Pedagogical Consultant, Adelaide SA

186. Bruce White, School of Education, UniSA

187. Huong Nguyen, PhD student, School of Education, University of Queensland

188. Professor Margaret Sims, Professor of Early Childhood, University of New England

189. Dr Margaret Kettle, Senior Lecturer, Queensland University of Technology

190. Dr Alison Wrench, Lecturer, School of Education, University of South Australia

191. Mr Jeff Meiners, Lecturer, School of Education, University of South Australia

192. Ms Sally Windsor, Lecturer, Melbourne Graduate School of Education (MGSE), Melbourne University

193. Dr Frank Davies, Head of the School of Education, Tabor Adelaide.

194. Dr Mark Sorrell, Senior Lecturer, School of Education, Tabor Adelaide

195. Professor Blaya Catherine, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Education, Chair of the International Observatory of Violence in Schools, University Nice Sophia Antipolis, France

196. Vee Mignone, teacher, Mount Barker Primary School, Mount Barker, SA

197. Sherridan Emery, PhD Candidate & Teacher Educator, Faculty of Education, University of Tasmania

198. Dr Christine Gardner, University Associate, Faculty of Education, University of Tasmania

199. Joy Murray, Senior Research Fellow, University of Sydney

If you are an educational researcher and would like to add your name to this list please post your name and title in the comments section below.