We have a boy who has struggled with the school system. In recent years I have come to understand the issues and that they apply to a very wide range of pupils. Our son processes information differently. Not only that, the development of his ability to process has been lagging. A common boy phenomenon. So the problem becomes one where the school system has its way of presenting information and at a certain rate. If you don't understand what is being said you can't keep up, especially as everybody has to proceed at the education department dictated rate. This results in stress, feeling "stupid" and frustration (both by student and teacher).

There are many fundamental flaws in the education system. These do a lot of damage that is not seen for what it is because we have all developed a certain mind set in which we do no see the issues for what they really are. This is a long term systemic failure in our state education departments.

What is not recognised is the diversity of learning styles and rates that kids have. It is absolutely essential that this is recognised, not only by teachers but also students. With our teaching "monculture" any student that does not keep up with the "teaching to the mean" process, gets to feel inadequate. Teachers have not got the skills to recognise this issue and to deal with it aequately.

I must be running out of words here. This is a much bigger subject that needs much more discussion than the contraints here allow.