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Setting ambitious education goals is great – but what do they mean? : Comments
By Katrina Brink, published 2/2/2011You can make 90% of Australian secondary school students stay to year 12, but how do you keep them engaged?
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I am not going to be drawn in to a debate about feminism in this important conversation about education. Australia is not a "feminist" country unless by that you mean both men and women now have access to opportunities. That is true, after that it is up to individual skill, determination and a bit of luck thrown in.
I agree with you that poverty and single income families do worse. Many Hispanic and African American families in the US have their men incarcerated, some have also abandoned their responsibilities and there are a high proportion of those women escaping domestic violence. There are also many single fathers in those communities (compared to others) where mothers have done a runner or have drug issues.
Not sure how to fix those problems, indeed improving support and access to training/education, child care (if required) and housing for at-risk families might go some way to reducing disadvantage.
Part of the problem as I see it, is the idea of 'aspirational' education. One does not need a Degree for many occupations but now it has become the 'standard' measure which places pressure on students and has meant a lowering of standards overall. Even a Barista (coffee maker) now needs a diploma when these sorts of jobs were all on-the-job training. Sometimes on-the-job is the best way to learn.
Some high schools now have a trade stream which encourages boys in particular who are good with their hands (and would otherwise not remain in school) to continue to at least Yr11.
I am all for 'educated' societies but education is also about life experience and hard work. It is not just about gaining a Degree or finishing Yr12.