Wearing the uniform of a British officer, George Orwell returned to Paris in February 1945 as a war correspondent for The Observer and Manchester Evening News. He had resigned as […]
There’s been a good variety of books completed this month including graphic novels, historical fiction, essays, memoirs, biographies, contemporary fiction, revolutionary pamphlets and plenty of history. Christopher Hitchens and Thomas […]
George Orwell aka Eric Blair (1903-1950) died seventy years ago today, on the 21st January 1950. His favourite aunt, Nellie Limouzin (1870-1950), passed away five months later in tragically sad […]
“Our big mistake was teaching them to read. We won’t do that again.” The Handmaid’s Tale p. 307 I suspected re-reading The Handmaid’s Tale (1985) by Margaret Atwood prior to viewing the Tribeca film festival […]
7 Comments
Well said, Darcy. Love the comment near the end re in inordinate amount of money being spent getting prepared for 1990. So true! We are past that “future” and must radically change our approach if our current and future students are to receive the education they deserve (and narrow standardised testing isn’t part of it).
I admire your commitment to writing such a detailed submission, Darcy. While the issue of funding would need a seismic event to shift policy for the duopoly that our government is and probably will always be, the other issues you mention are very achievable by educational bureaucracies that are future focused (sorry for using that hackneyed term). Recognition that the end point of leaving secondary education isn’t just about a uni place is key to that. Replacing pen and paper exams as indicators of learning with portfolios that can be added to over an entire lifespan (not just at school) is such an obvious small achievable step. The thought processes required for that sort of change already exist and flourish in schools – the islands of change run by early adopters and educational futurists will always continue to be islands until the system owners give permission to make it accepted practice. Unfortunately the system owners don’t have the courage to make it official. I hope this review actually does something to move things forward, and not continue to look back.
Thank you Darcy for taking the time to research and write an informative and thought provoking article. I’m not sure that govts will ever keep up with funding recommendations but we seem to be stuck following other unsuccessful education models and flawed research when planning for our future needs. I recognised the ‘managerialism’ style because it has dominated the changes in education over my 35 years to date in teaching, ticking boxes irritates me beyond belief!!! The Hattie research created a divide at my school as the senior exec treated his work as gospel and heaven help anyone who questioned it or suggested alternatives, people were crucified. Until the access to technology and resources is addressed then I doubt we will see the end of pen and paper but I support the use of electronic profiles and portfolios. Individualised learning seems achievable if we get rid of the wasteful testing and reporting, NAPLAN was always a mistake. Why aren’t we looking at education stsems that are socially successful and promote acceptance, individual difference and equity??
Thank you Darcy. Well written and well said. The frustration of parents/ educators and students grows apace as we continue to prepare our young people for a world that no longer exists.
Much to consider.
Seems like a fundamental divide needs to be more carefully and skilfully acknowledged.
Those of us who work in schools surrounded by children; and those who do not; = “school centred education”/ “principal authority/accountability??
It is possible to see the current developments as a process where by schools and principals take on huge responsibilities whilst the ‘the centre’ is trying desperately to figure out ways of making us more accountable/obedient/responsive to central determination.
We of course need both; but when in doubt those of us dealing regularly and constantly with the ever changing realities of kids need additional support.
I submitted some ideas – and I say ideas, I thought that was “idea” of the submissions???
… surely it’s an oxymoron to call the submissions “Ideas into Excellence in Australian Schools” and then expect evidence based arguments … who wrote that brief?? Or was this designed to protect the fraternity and people like Hattie??
Ideas are just that – work out the best ideas and take them into proper educational research/schools and get the results and then stand back and work out which ones have the greatest impact/benefit. Did I miss something???
The one comment I would make about your paper is the omission of the most critical aspect of the educational process (in my view) – engagement of students. It is not a criticism, it is an observation – from my experiences this is the pivotal area that must be addressed … and of course it starts the day the “child” walks through the school gate and does not stop until they leave the school gate at the end of their time in the system. There are so many elements in this …
Fact is people are hardly measured on the work they do … times have moved on, HOW they go about is the critical indicator, generally speaking the work out there is straight forward. Over time the pendulum will continue to shift this way as automation takes over …
“This” is a gaping hole in the current system that needs to addressing … I went head to head with Hattie a few years ago until he finally admitted I might be onto something!!! That was post his revolution school where he attempted to re-engage grade 9 students!!! Even today $ and resources are being thrown at dis-engaged students … grade 5 onwards (in Victoria). How can Hattie not see it is too late by grade 5???
Myopic???
Just read this again, Darcy. Love it! Wise thoughts written in response to a deep critical analysis to the readings out there. Frustrating that the wheels turn too slowly. The Occasional Papers are fantastic but we need both a state and National response to these that values the whole student as a person and the whole teacher and it needs to happen much faster.