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Productivity Commission report on childcare disappoints : Comments
By Brendan O'Reilly, published 8/8/2014The Draft Report on Childcare and Early Childhood Learning is disappointing because, despite identifying major deficiencies in existing policies, its recommendations seem unlikely to overcome many of the problems identified.
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Posted by Rhrosty, Friday, 8 August 2014 11:02:57 AM
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I would question the myth that early childhood education is important.
The brains of young children have not formed enough for them to learn much, and trying to teach young children something such as reading is a waste of time. The frontal lobe area of the brain simply hasn’t developed enough for young children to learn much. http://www.opprose.org.ar/opprose/Charting%20the%20maturation%20of%20the%20frontal%20lobe.pdf Children would be better running around and getting some exercise, or carrying out spontaneous play than sitting still and listening to a teacher. A look at the OECD tables for education shows Australia is very mediocre in children’s education performance, but Australia is one of few countries that start children as young as 5 in primary school. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/leaguetables/10488555/OECD-education-report-subject-results-in-full.html Children will learn very little in so-called early childhood education, and if it interfers in spontaneous play that it can be quite disadvantageous for children. Posted by Incomuicardo, Friday, 8 August 2014 4:26:17 PM
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Research suggests that pre-school education is valuable, especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
A significant issue in the Australian context is that early childhood teachers in pre-schools are required to be university trained, whereas a teacher in a formal child care centre may only have a TAFE qualification. Many child care centres are much inferior to formal pre-schools in their educational programmes. Child care centres have care as their main focus and are variable in their focus on education. Posted by Bren, Friday, 8 August 2014 9:29:14 PM
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Bren,
There is minimal education for a 2 or 3 year old. Physically, their brains have not formed enough for them to learn much at all. Day care centers are not “early childhood education”. Day care centers are glorified child minding centers, but these child minding centers are becoming an industry. The danger is that this industry attempts to convince the public that it is essential for children to be left in these child minding centers, and to pay large amounts of money for it also. Posted by Incomuicardo, Saturday, 9 August 2014 8:57:43 AM
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Incomunicardo:
Your opinions are just that! Opinion, and not backed by any informed study, just the opposite! In our first five years we learn a whole language, toilet habits, personal hygiene etc! And by the time we turn 7, right from wrong! Recent surveys showed that those who were taught early, had the best academic results later, and indeed, were the majority who went on to uni/professional careers/successful business and so on! Whereas, those not given said advantages, often fell behind academically, had failed relationships, were often attracted to criminality,(their only way out?) and were the biggest prison demographic, as adults. So there are whole of life consequences of early disadvantage, which is exactly what you are preaching, and from a point of quite abysmal ignorance! No ifs, buts or maybes! A recent survey of INFORMED Australian voters, showed that as many as 50-60% of them, would change their voting intentions, if anyone tried to stymie early ed! Some will tell you. we only use some 10-15% of our brains to learn or cope/solve problems. So babies brains have plenty of mental capacity to learn, and very much more so, while in alpha mode as very small children. In alpha mode, they are little more than empty vessels absorbing everything they see, hear, touch or otherwise experience. And from a memory standpoint, somewhere in those dark recesses of the mind, is a memory of absolutely everything we have seen, heard or done/experienced! And as some would say, garbage in garbage out! Thank heavens you're not in a position to make decisions for kids or have any of your own? Rhrosty. Posted by Rhrosty, Saturday, 9 August 2014 10:36:09 AM
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Pre school education basically targets four year olds, though some children may start as young as three. Most learning programmmes in child care centres are focussed on the older children.
Posted by Bren, Saturday, 9 August 2014 11:07:17 AM
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If one really wants to waste public money, one can commission an absolutely critical report, then do nothing about it.
Almost as useful as standing outside, with your fingers in your ears, repeating endlessly, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.
Really, all we need do, is eliminate all welfare for the rich, to add around 70 annual billions to the budget, that then makes a means tested early education/childcare, a very doable option!
However, ending welfare for the rich requires far more courage, than that currently being exhibited, by either side of politics, or the greens, who as usual, can't see the flamin forests for the flamin trees! Too many off farm/forest investments perhaps!?
On another note, and with La, la, la in mind.
Three men, an Australian, a Kiwi and an Irishman, were waiting at the pearly gates, seeking entrance.
Now given St Peter was having a very slow day, while Satan was being rushed off his feet, he decided to relax the entrance exam somewhat, to boost his slow day intake!
So, turning to the Aussie he inquired, where's Bondi Junction?
Somewhere near Bondi Beach? Inquired the Aussie.
Good enough answered the Saint and allowed the Aussie in!
Turning to the Kiwi he asked, Where are the Southern Alps?
Ka, ka crikey, the South Island of NZ? Replied the hopeful Kiwi.
Good enough, in you go, replied Peter.
Turning to the Irishman, Saint Peter decided he'd need to keep it very simple and asked, how many L's are there in can can?
The Irishman screwed up his brow, started counting his fingers, and then his toes when he passed a hundred.
Around a 150, replied a sweat soaked Paddy.
150? Asked the astounded Saint, how do you figure that?
To which Paddy promptly broke out into song, and started to La,la, la,la etc and so on, to the music of can can.
Well, we were talking about education?
Rhrosty.