Jim SpearsInnovating Educashun
September 17th 2008 06:15
Australia has a great history of self-improvement from the Schools of Arts, established as early as 1827 in Hobart, to the modern day TAFE. The early goal of private school to transform colonials into aristocrats has fallen away as roles and goals are reconsidered. (See Elaine Thompson “Fair Enough” (1994) Pp 17-8.) Demands on the education system are evolving as parents and administrators try to compete with a changing world.
Not content with The Kings School’s rugby success the principal Dr Hawkes has unveiled ideas for education reform. Hawkes’ ideas are informed by his experiences of the gulf between education and life. Too many educational opportunities are missed in the modern world; the death of family pets too often results in the creation of Doggy Heaven, Kitty Valhalla etc which short-circuits the grieving process. I only discovered recently that doggy heaven was a myth, fortunately Santa is bringing me a dog that never dies this year.
Loss of a loved one is experiential and it is impossible to educate people how to deal with it but you can educate them in what to expect on a general level. This is Dr Hawkes’ point because the best we can do is prepare them for the obligations thrust upon them by loss, e.g. probate and will execution, and there is an argument that this could help students develop empathy. Hawkes’ personal experience of death’s paperwork informs his view on the changes education in NSW needs.
Educational changes are usually focused on computers and technology but these are not dominant in Hawkes’ conception of new education. With 73% of homes having access to a computer the value of their addition to classrooms is questionable. Students without access to a home computer are disadvantaged when education is dominated by computers. As a unique subject there is value but as a replacement for exercise books and 2cm margins the computer threatens to make subjects like Spelling as esoteric as Latin.
The admissions system for universities is changing as the guidelines prove inadequate and misleading. Various NSW universities use HSC plus where five extra points are given to students who perform well in related subjects. This attempt to reflect the transparency of the Victorian system where two entry scores are published is the beginning with Macquarie University hoping to institute an aptitude test for incoming students in coming years. A flexible system is essential because it can address potential and acknowledges that education is an ongoing process. Arguably, the American system, which considers extra-curricular activities, measures the individual’s transformation into an adult; the fraternity exists as delayed compensation for the sacrifice.
The concept of educating the child into the adult, proposed by Dr Hawkes, maintains the spirit of transformation that defines Australian attitudes to education while acknowledging the need for change. However, schools only have access to individuals for 18 years so we can not assume that the process of becoming an adult ends with school.
Ideas Man
Loss of a loved one is experiential and it is impossible to educate people how to deal with it but you can educate them in what to expect on a general level. This is Dr Hawkes’ point because the best we can do is prepare them for the obligations thrust upon them by loss, e.g. probate and will execution, and there is an argument that this could help students develop empathy. Hawkes’ personal experience of death’s paperwork informs his view on the changes education in NSW needs.
Educational changes are usually focused on computers and technology but these are not dominant in Hawkes’ conception of new education. With 73% of homes having access to a computer the value of their addition to classrooms is questionable. Students without access to a home computer are disadvantaged when education is dominated by computers. As a unique subject there is value but as a replacement for exercise books and 2cm margins the computer threatens to make subjects like Spelling as esoteric as Latin.
The admissions system for universities is changing as the guidelines prove inadequate and misleading. Various NSW universities use HSC plus where five extra points are given to students who perform well in related subjects. This attempt to reflect the transparency of the Victorian system where two entry scores are published is the beginning with Macquarie University hoping to institute an aptitude test for incoming students in coming years. A flexible system is essential because it can address potential and acknowledges that education is an ongoing process. Arguably, the American system, which considers extra-curricular activities, measures the individual’s transformation into an adult; the fraternity exists as delayed compensation for the sacrifice.
The concept of educating the child into the adult, proposed by Dr Hawkes, maintains the spirit of transformation that defines Australian attitudes to education while acknowledging the need for change. However, schools only have access to individuals for 18 years so we can not assume that the process of becoming an adult ends with school.
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