Sorry inbredisco I ment bozzie

Kenny
When you look at the literacy test used, (the OECD uses the PISA test) students are not marked on grammar, punctuation and spelling. The Governments own national benchmarking has seen students who are dyslexic and have very poor literacy pass their basic skills test.

There is another test, the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), conducted by the International Association for Evaluation of Educational Achievement. The results of this test shows we were not up to standard. TIMSS tests more traditional learning- things most parents and employers say are important to be able to do like spell correctly and construct a readable and coherent sentance, whereas PISA looks at the ability to guess and figure out how to solve a problem, or read and comprehend a passage of writing. The answer being right or wrong, relatively immaterial.

If things were working the way the state curriculum is saying they should work, then why are our universities and TAFE colleges having to put first year students through basic maths and english language skills courses?

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulacity uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgniegand I awlyas thuoght slpeling was ipmorantt!

Times tables by memory is not learning my father can tell me what 8 times 8 is but he uses a calculator to find out what 454335.567 times 545235.7655 is.

Kenny, difference is you don't look stupid using a calculator to work out one of those two equations.

Some people think I look stupid doing either!

Mine point was calculators are cheap there are many skills that have fallen by the wayside becuase of new tech and the times tables are one. My kids will learn the geometry at a younger age then I did.

In reply to Nita's opinion, I'd like to see the official evidence that university students require 'basic english skills'. I believe this is one of those urban myths that, once uttered, take hold and become entrenched fact.

I don't think it's possible to enter university or Tafe with below average scores, is it?

Oh, unless you're a fee-paying student, of course!