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Emily Kowal

Emily Kowal

Emily Kowal is an education reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.

Barker College students in robotics class.

We gave kids endless tech. Their digital skills are at a 20-year low

A Sydney college is creating a specialist team to examine how students use AI and how AI literacy can best be taught.

  • Emily Kowal

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Long-running tensions within the Darlinghurst Public School gates have ignited into civil war.

The inner Sydney school, the warring parents and a missing principal

Long-running tensions at Darlinghurst Public School have flared into civil war as highly invested parents demand answers from the Education Department.

  • Alexandra Smith and Emily Kowal
At St Charles Catholic Primary School, weeks 5 and 10 of each term are designated ‘no homework’ weeks, instead kids have are encouraged to instead spend time with their family.

Why parents are calling for the return of primary school homework

One principal says for every parent who opposes homework, “there are probably three who very much insist they want it”.

  • Emily Kowal
In a multiple exposure image, a 10-year-old Sydney boy looks at a game hosted on the Roblox platform.

‘Nearly every kid had been scammed’: Inside Roblox’s predatory economy for children

Experts warn Australian children are flushing their pocket money “down the toilet” on Roblox, navigating a deceptive digital world of predatory practices that normalise gambling.

  • Emily Kowal
Warrawee Public School.

North shore school on alert after child reports abduction attempt

A public school is urging parents to reconsider letting children walk to school after an attempted abduction on Monday.

  • Emily Kowal
Jody Scarcella allegedly made antisemitic comments during a children’s netball match at Maroubra.

Bystanders praised as woman behind alleged antisemitic netball slur named

The 42-year-old mother allegedly hurled abuse at an under 12s Jewish netball team in Sydney. One community leader said “such incidents occur all the time”.

  • Perry Duffin, Emily Kowal and Alexandra Smith
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Mother and daughter Ingrid and Nicola Padovano in their flower fields.

Ingrid gets the most precious gift of all on Mother’s Day

On their flower farm, Ingrid Padovano and her family have been preparing for one of the biggest days of the year.

  • Emily Kowal
Police were called to an incident at an eastern suburbs netball court

Mother charged after police called to netball game over antisemitic incident

The sport’s state body has banned a 42-year-old from any courts or games after she allegedly made “offensive comments” towards an under 12s team.

  • Emily Kowal and Alexandra Smith
Matraville Soldiers Settlement Public preschool assistant principal Elizabeth Wulff with Florence Mah. Thousands more children will receive free health and development checks this year.

Why NSW is moving the doctor’s office into the preschool playground

Health checks, done by nurses and specialists such as occupational therapists where youngsters feel more comfortable, ease the stress on children and parents.

  • Emily Kowal
New rules requiring early learning services to undertake strict screening checks of workers are now in force.

Sydney childcare centres caught employing banned workers in national safety blitz

New rules requiring early learning services to undertake strict screening checks of workers are now in force.

  • Emily Kowal