At 07:55 PM 22/08/2001 +0100, Steve Davies wrote:
>This is true for other countries as well as the US - plenty of work on the
>British case for example. Here we have just officially confirmed that the
>under 35s have a lower standard of literacy than was the case before WW I!
I find that really hard to believe.
I doubt that the situation in UK is much different to Oz. I know a number
of public school teachers and they work incredibly hard.
A while ago there were some truly stupid "surveys" done here in Oz in an
attempt to "prove" that kids here are illiterate. They came up with figures
that the conservatives used to do a lot of chest thumping, but it really
wasn't true. All the kids I have met are bright as buttons. I wish that
when I was their age I had learned some of the things these kids are
learning now.
It seems to be fashionable to heap shit on public schools these days.
It makes me feel sad that some people feel so unconcerned at the thought of
wiping away a whole segment of society. Don't they remember why public
school exists? There is this waving of arms and saying "Leave it to the
magic of the free market -- that will fix it." But all it will fix is that
the rich will have less tax to pay and the poor will go without
education... and backwards we march to the bad old days.
I am no fan of school (I was lucky enough to be born into a family where I
was well-off and basically taught myself), but that doesn't mean I am blind
to how it can bring opportunity to those who would otherwise miss out. Sure
school can improve... it can *always* improve. But next time you feel
tempted to dump on public school just have a look at what they *are*
managing to teach kids these days.
- Miriam
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Q. What is the similarity between an elephant and a grape?
A. They are both purple... except for the elephant.
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http://werple.net.au/~miriam
http://members.optushome.com.au/miriame
Virtual Reality Association http://www.vr.org.au
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