Schools are livelier and more humane places than they
were a generation or two ago. But many things are going
badly in the basics of school life — in behaviour,
discipline, school refusal, bullying, engagement, mental
health, wellbeing — as well as in learning. Too many start
behind, stay behind, and then leave early, unhappy and
ill-equipped. The standing and morale of teachers are at a
low ebb.

Repeated attempts at reform large and small, local and
national, haven’t worked. The “education revolution” of
the Rudd–Gillard years failed. And yet thinking and policy
continue to be dominated by its language of
“performance” and “accountability,” its tests, MySchool,
“national approach” and “school reform agreements” and
its stunted view of what schools can be.

Unbeaching the Whale offers a more generous way of
thinking about schools. It insists that they can and should
deliver twelve safe, happy and worthwhile years for
everyone. It argues compellingly for a di!erent kind of
reform — of governance, of the sector system, and above
all of the daily work of students and teachers.

Dean Ashenden has worked in and around schools as a teacher, academic and consultant, and in journalism. He has
contributed to all major print outlets and to many professional, academic and social affairs journals. His previous book, Telling Tennant’s Story, was inaugural winner of the Australian Political Book of the Year Award. He is a Senior Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne.