Loading ...- Category:
- Soap Box
- Author:
- Phil Scott
- Posted:
- Tuesday, 2 June 2009
School has been on my mind lately, due to a couple of stories in the Herald last week.
Julia Gillard announced that the results of national literacy and numeracy tests would be published online, as of this year.
That means parents can compare school results, get an idea how their kids’ institution stacks up against others, and then complain -” which is pretty much the only upside of paying in excess of $10,000 school fees per term. For that money you get to raise hell.
The test results are linked to funding levels as well. Howard set up the model and fiddled the system so no Liberal voter’s nose would be out of joint.
The Rudd Government would like to cut back on funding, especially to private schools, but they’re not great at saying no. A set of online figures, though: who can argue with that?
They’re only testing important subjects at this stage: maths and science, the twin towers of education, and English, which nowadays involves the comparative study of apples and oranges. Geography and languages may come later. As for art, drama or music -” hell, who cares?
Mind you, Gillard was quick to point out that a school’s ranking would not be based solely on the test results. That would give a one-sided view, since it only reflects the-¦ well, the standard of learning.
What else could schools be ranked on, if test results are a relative side issue? The number of degrees their teachers have attained?
Not according to Jenny Allum, principal of SCEGGS Darlinghurst.
Ms Allum complained that private schools had to conform to too many government regulations -” like employing accredited teaching staff -” and were in danger of losing their autonomy. It has been suggested SCEGGS could regain its autonomy in a flash by forgoing taxpayer funding.
Or perhaps there’s a way of ranking students’ wellbeing? In that area, Knox Grammar would rank alongside a finishing school run by the Comancheros.
The school of hard Knox went into meltdown over reports of a Fight Club on the premises. KFC is an alleged underground movement that takes place in the school’s basement inside a wire cage. Knox boys have been bashing the hormones out of each other there for seven years, according to a Herald report.
The paper also alleged that students who didn’t wish to take part were punched -” which kind of defeats the purpose of not taking part. A participant purportedly explained it as students exercising their masculinity and toughness. A national toughness test! Why not? It works for tampons in TV ads.
Or maybe schools could be ranked on their gay-friendliness: a sliding scale associated with the number of out gay teachers and pupils, the standard of counselling, and the amount of gay-related abuse.
Funding could be correlated, so gay-friendly institutions would receive a windfall and others (you know who you are!) would get zilch. The Government could save itself millions.
Tags: Julia Gillard, SCEGGS Darlinghurst.
February 15th, 2010 @ 11:26 pm
I think they should host a website, with students and parents voicing their own comments about each school (the one they go to), ask about past experiences as students may have lots to tell.