I read a great article last week by Dr Bella d’Abrera, director of the Foundations of Western Civilisation Program at the Institute of Public Affairs.
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An article opening with the statement, “What a coincidence: Even as our children are being encouraged to become even more politically active for progressive causes, their skills in literacy and maths are declining.”
People were alarmed when students went ‘on strike’ expressing concerns about global warming. Four year olds in a Melbourne kindergarten painting posters protesting against refugee rights in Nauru. Our students are being politicized by obsessed individuals posing as educators.
Australian children are facing alarming drops in our educational standards. Literacy has dropped from 4th to 16th, 7th to 25th in mathematics and 4th to 14th in science. The drop in literacy and maths is almost equivalent to missing a year of school. Dr d’Abrera said, “We need students who know how to count and fill in a job application.” She added there was an urgent need to de-clutter the curriculum and get back to basics.
We need to develop children who have the skills to interpret information, analyse it and make well founded decisions. Educators need to realise their job is to educate children, not indoctrinate them. Alarmingly, 14 per cent of 15-year-olds are functionally illiterate and would not understand he instructions on a packet of headache tablets.
Love or loathe him, Prime Minister Scott Morrison is spot on saying, ”There should be less activism and more learning in the classroom.” (Try googling Dr d’Abrera’s article –The Great Unlearning. I have kept the article. Well worth the read)
WITS
I take my hat off to the many educators doing a wonderful job in our schools. One only had to look at the Schools Spectacular last Saturday night. A wonderful show made possible by dedicated talented teachers bringing out the best in their students.
WITS
Carols by Candlelight drew a good crowd last Sunday evening. A really pleasant night thoroughly enjoyed by the multitude of littlies. Multitude – there seemed to be so many young children. Must be the good Boorowa air.
Carols couldn’t go ahead without Deidre Johnson’s organization, the Bendigo Bank sponsorships and the continued input of Hilltops Council. The M&D Choir led the singing, Lions supplied the food and kiddies the entertainment, all held together by MC supreme Councillor Wendy Tuckerman with her own personalized communication to Santa. All in all, a great night. Well done to all.
WITS
Poor old Grandpa – last Christmas he was feeling his age and found that shopping for Christmas gifts had become too difficult, so he decided to send cheques to everyone instead. In each card he wrote, “Buy your own present!” and mailed them early.
Christmas came with family festivity, and it was after the holiday that he noticed he got few cards in return. Puzzled by this, he went to his study intending to write to a couple of relatives and ask what had happened. It was then, as he cleared clutter from his desk, lifting a stack of papers, he was horrified to find the gift cheques. He’d forgotten to include them with the cards.
WITS
Speaking of Christmas, the Rotary Club Christmas Markets are on this Saturday, December 15, 9am to 2pm in the Court House Park. The man in the red suit may be there along with bargains aplenty.
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