Being an American in the International overseas educational system, I cringe when I see what is happening 'back home'. I hope Australia can address educational reform using the reflective practice of experienced educators and backed by neuroscience and educational research rather than politicians!

As I said above, anyone interested in educational reform should be paying attention to Victoria’s Education State process (http://educationstate.education.vic.gov.au/).

Today is the best day for Victorian education in perhaps 30 years. The government has announced results from the Education State Consultation. I know there are plenty of cynics in schools – I was one of them – but we actually have a government here that is serious and knows what it is doing. Despite this, the media has totally ignored the whole Education State process. A new one on early childhood has began and the media is totally ignoring that too.

A flurry of announcements today has provided a wider set of targets than the usual literacy and numeracy and $747 million in extra spending to meet them, and done so without the teacher-bashing that was once a prerequisite for being an education minister here and still is a prerequisite in some jurisdictions:

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/education-state-ambitious-targets-for-schools-to-prepare-kids-for-work-and-life

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/education-state-largest-ever-funding-boost-to-schools-for-kids-who-need-extra-help

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/education-state-more-confidence-for-every-parent-and-the-best-chance-for-every-child

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/education-state-more-help-for-struggling-students

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/education-state-big-boost-for-kids-in-regional-victoria

Victoria is on the way to being a world leader in education.

Thanks for your feedback Chris - if we stop the debates we be passive recipients of bad practice!
Sue

Chris, thank you for the Victorian updates. I agree that Victoria is contributing a lot to the education arena and we in the west are certainly looking your way. Football in the west however is leading the way at the moment!

Sue,

There’s nothing I can do about the footy I’m afraid, but I can promote Victorian education.