Mass Edumacation
This morning I dropped Liam off at before-school care so I could take EJ to his transition visit at another school, then I made a special effort (and it was a special effort, being my third school run by 9am) to be at Liam's school assembly as he was receiving an award. The assembly went something like this:
Sang some short adaptation of the national anthem.
Premier's (as in the boss guy of the state) Reading Challenge Awards:
Two children demonstrated what they have learned in the co-ordination program. The girl jumped. Once. Then rolled on the floor. The boy walked in a straight line.
And that's the assembly. To me that is a prime and offensive example of the dumbing-down of the public education system. Children who at the age of nearly 6 who have worked an academic year for a certificate, and the nearly 7 year olds who have worked 2 years for a medal, are pushed aside by kids who can walk and jump and sing songs irrelevant to education. This is another reason why my children are moving to a private school next year, which will cater for their needs and not education for the dumb masses (or dumb asses :oP ).
I will take a photo of Liam with his medal after school and post it seperately so it's not in this rather negative blog.
Sang some short adaptation of the national anthem.
Premier's (as in the boss guy of the state) Reading Challenge Awards:
- Presented silver medals to those who have been in the PRC for 3 years. These kids stood out the front to receive their awards.
- "Now for the bronze medals for those who have been in the PRC for 2 years, and the certificates for those who have done 1 year. Don't come out the front, there are too many, we'll give them to you later." List of first names read out.
Two children demonstrated what they have learned in the co-ordination program. The girl jumped. Once. Then rolled on the floor. The boy walked in a straight line.
And that's the assembly. To me that is a prime and offensive example of the dumbing-down of the public education system. Children who at the age of nearly 6 who have worked an academic year for a certificate, and the nearly 7 year olds who have worked 2 years for a medal, are pushed aside by kids who can walk and jump and sing songs irrelevant to education. This is another reason why my children are moving to a private school next year, which will cater for their needs and not education for the dumb masses (or dumb asses :oP ).
I will take a photo of Liam with his medal after school and post it seperately so it's not in this rather negative blog.
posted by Jo | 4:06 PM
2 Comments:
"The Incredibles" syndrome. The incentive to do well shrinks when everyone is made to be ordinary.
Exactly what I thought. Kids have worked 1/3 of their lives to receive a medal and can't be given a minute's recognition. Therefore they have learned. They have learned it's not worth the effort to be academic.
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