Education Revolution = Verbal Pollution

[doogie_goes_off]

Well here's the start of my first political thread. KRUDD has forced me to comment. WTF is revolutionary about state bashing, it's like listening to Howard, although the Kruddster does it with a smarmy smile. We may as well have got Costello as a leader.

No doubt the public agree that everyone should be able to read/write by 13/14 yrs and have a basic handle on Maths, Simple Physics/Chemistry and Biology by around 16yrs, but why aren't we aiming to have everyone computer literate too, that would be a revolution.

Why don't we offer free education for oldies on computer to let them catch up, that would be a revolution.

Why don't we forget about performance of schools and provide vocational support from an early age and engage all children in work environments from an early age? That would be a revolution.

Why don't we cut funding to religious based learning? ie: give them 10% less while they're teaching their own values, not practical skills and knowlege for life, that would be a revolution.

Why not increase the number of IT literate staff from people outside education by offering free teaching diploma courses to engage them with the opportunities in education? That would be a revolution.

Why not randomise the benchmarks of learning so that "rigid tests" of literacy are not a burden on the public purse, eg: can a child figure out how much change the need if the go to the shop?, can the child measure the length of a piece of timber or weigh themselves and read the scale? can the child write their own address and look up a postcode? Simple stuff, essential for living - Not even difficult to implement but seldom taught early enough, and hardly a blink needed to start a revolution.

 

[nioka]

Well here's the start of my first political thread. KRUDD has forced me to comment. WTF is revolutionary about state bashing, it's like listening to Howard, although the Kruddster does it with a smarmy smile. We may as well have got Costello as a leader.

No doubt the public agree that everyone should be able to read/write by 13/14 yrs and have a basic handle on Maths, Simple Physics/Chemistry and Biology by around 16yrs, but why aren't we aiming to have everyone computer literate too, that would be a revolution.

Why don't we offer free education for oldies on computer to let them catch up, that would be a revolution.

Why don't we forget about performance of schools and provide vocational support from an early age and engage all children in work environments from an early age? That would be a revolution.

Why don't we cut funding to religious based learning? ie: give them 10% less while they're teaching their own values, not practical skills and knowlege for life, that would be a revolution.

Why not increase the number of IT literate staff from people outside education by offering free teaching diploma courses to engage them with the opportunities in education? That would be a revolution.

Why not randomise the benchmarks of learning so that "rigid tests" of literacy are not a burden on the public purse, eg: can a child figure out how much change the need if the go to the shop?, can the child measure the length of a piece of timber or weigh themselves and read the scale? can the child write their own address and look up a postcode? Simple stuff, essential for living - Not even difficult to implement but seldom taught early enough, and hardly a blink needed to start a revolution.

I agree with most of what you say. Why bring in a Rudd bash with it though. I think Rudd will be more likely to have these things happen than a Howard type government, especially one led by the comedy pair of Abbott and Costello or "Horatio" Nelson aboard a sinking ship.
Some of the things you mention should be taught at home more often.

 

[white_goodman]

my main problem with krudd is that he has a red headed dike as his offsider...

im pretty sure they already do computer literacy in schools these days, i know i had to do it in yr 10 in 2003, and im pretty sure that was a state based initiative

 

[nioka]

my main problem with krudd is that he has a red headed dike as his offsi

I shuddered at her at first but she is earning my respect more and more as she seems to be performing well in her job.

 

[doogie_goes_off]

Why bash KRUDD over this issue as well, he's doing a **** job, he's backhanding the states when there is an opportunity to start cooperating. He is no better than his predecessor. KRUDD by name...

 

[nioka]

Why bash KRUDD over this issue as well, he's doing a **** job, he's backhanding the states when there is an opportunity to start cooperating. He is no better than his predecessor. KRUDD by name...

I don't know about some of the states but our NSW government needs a good backhand or two as far as I can see. They can't even cooperate with each other, much less cooperate with a federal government.

 

[doogie_goes_off]

That may be true but what is needed is leadership, this guy is a nerd with "catch phrase" politics, we need someone who is going to stop the verbal diorreah and get a practical plans happening on the ground. Standover tactics on the states and teachers = resentment and an exit from workforce by those who actually care about learning outcomes however trivial. Atleast we have an active Senate, the only saving grace for this country.

In the area of education... KRUDD is a DUD.

 

[It's Snake Pliskin]

With respect to the teaching profesion I think he is doing a good thing with wanting to bring teaching back to being a respected profession, which it should be. We need basic skills and knowledge that school can give us. But I would change the curiculum which is another topic. There would be classes on good parenting and discipline.

Why do people look up to professions that have a materialistic success and wringing every cent out of people type agenda? Where is the satisfaction in carrying out a rather pointless job? At least with teaching you can help people.

 

[Whiskers]

Why don't we cut funding to religious based learning? ie: give them 10% less while they're teaching their own values, not practical skills and knowlege for life, that would be a revolution.

Yeah, I'm inclined to agree there.

With respect to the teaching profesion I think he is doing a good thing with wanting to bring teaching back to being a respected profession, which it should be.

I think that's the point Snake.

My daughter is a teacher. She is brilliant, scored High Distinctions and loves her work. But she is so snowed under with after hours prep work and assignment marking etc that it just about takes over her life, but she insists on taking the time to do the job properly. Similarly, for my brothers partner who is a teacher and an uncle now retired.

If they don't reduce class sizes, then I reckon they will have to substantially increase teacher salaries on some sort of performance basis to retain good teachers, because I know of quite a few that utalised their qualifications in changing professions for much better pay and or hours.

As I understand the current salary system (in Qld) it's more experience based in that the more service you have the higher pay. That really knocks the enthusiasm out of many really good young teachers after a couple of years.

The bottom line is you get what you pay for and I think that is unfortunately reflecting in lower moral and waning enthusiasm for the job among many teachers.

The old chrony experience, length of service type awards have got to go or at least be modified by a performance standard.

 

[doogie_goes_off]

I think I am in agreement, although it is early and the vision is blurred. Teaching is a noble and worthwhile profession with no less value than any other profession, however how do we revolutionise teachers to further teaching? Do we offer more money or just more recognition for those who work hard, maybe a pay scale determined by peer review?? Lets face it there are many in the profession who are the opposite of the workaholics described who never got out of Uni and wanted the easy path to a career with good holidays. Sorry to be synical, I've had plenty of brilliant hard working teachers.

On the political implications of this topic I rest my case with the Clarke + Dawe(<-spelling?) version from the 7:30 report last night. The states never saw this coming...