I remember that a dozen or so years ago Australia took pride in teaching children how to think, which was unlike those poor children in Japan and other places in the world that taught children by rote. It seems we have gone full cirlce and it is now trendy again to teach by rote...

As for the article, I am still confused about this apparent conflict. This article did little to explain the difference between the opposing camps.

It is ironic that a student based classroom started from Private Schools known as the "matron system" or "cottage system". Basically, the teacher assessed what each student's abilities were and what each student could achieve to their highest potential, then expanded on that to the standard. Often parents, nuns, priests, and lay clergy, assisted in more tutoring for assistance. This is closer to outcomes based education under a partnership model than what we have now in the State school stystem.

What we still have is the old "moratorium system" from Victorian times, that is, cram the rooms with as many bodies as possible, shove them in, then push them out as fast as possible with minimum expense.

Scrutiny is be placed on the teacher constantly, and lengthy reports from this huge group of students have to be presented to the Principal. That is how the NSW Education System functions now. Everyone knows that something has gone wrong with this pretention of an OBE system. Most of all, the teachers themselves. It is an ideal rather than a reality.

The assessment codes, that is A, B, or C as standard nationally is not such a bad idea, particularly for those of us who have had to adjust to different state systems.

This standard code is different in relevance to OBE.

With outcomes, we are assessing and setting standards for or with the children assuming that we and they, know what their needs are.

The paedogogy in positive language to coach them along is more complex.

Does Outcomes Based Education work? Yes. It is just our systems are not following the formula properly. It is supposed to raise standards, not drop them.

Should we put student needs over academic standards? No. All students need academic standards and this includes vocational education. The schools need to support the students more to high standards, have smaller classes and more partnership from the community.

You can't expect the teachers to lower their standards to the students, and by magic, expect high standards as the outcome. That is where the educrats have failed.

Oh for the halcyon days of Kevin’s childhood, when people communicated in meaningful A-E letters instead of feel-good postmodern gobbledygook. Let’s take a trip down memory lane... (imagine your screen dissolving into wavy lines)

A Portrait of the Frustrated Political Operative As A Young Man

Mr Donnelly Snr: “Hi honey, I’m h-ome!”
Mrs Donnelly: “How was your day dear?”
Mr D: “It was A, thanks. How about yours?”
Mrs D: “I’m feeling a bit C actually.”
Mr D: “Oh, poor chicken. Why don’t you lie down and I’ll fix you a cup of tea and a Bex?”
Mrs D: “You’re a doll.” (Chaste peck on cheek).
Mr D: “Now, where’s that brilliant young B lad of mine?”
(Donnelly Jnr storms through the door, school tie askew, socks rolled down in defiance.)
Mr D: “There you are boy. You’re looking pretty D there, what’s the matter?”
(Donnelly Jnr glares at father and slouches off to his room, slamming door behind him.)
Mr D: “I say, what’s got into him?”
Mrs D: “Oh, it’s that dreadful new-fangled Phonics they’re teaching him at school. The latest studies have proven he can’t understand a thing you say unless you sound it out.”
Mr D: “Really? What a B idea. I’ll try it at once.”
Mrs D: “A luck! I can’t get a letter out of him.
(knocks on Donnelly Jnr’s door)
Mr D: “I S-A-Y L-A-D, H-O-W A-R-E Y-O-U M-Y B-O-Y?”
Donnelly Jnr: “E.”
Mr D: “It speaks!”
Mrs D: “Oh, I wish they’d stop filling his head with this F modern teaching rubbish. I can barely have a whole-language conversation with him any more.”
Mr D: “Don’t worry dear. It’s just a bit of E teenage rebelliousness. He’ll grow out of it eventually, I’m sure.”
Mrs D: “I hope you’re right. It’s really starting to F me off.”
Mr D: “What would be really A is if he gets out and sees the world beyond our white-picket fence. Perhaps he should read something ‘multicultural’, so he can understand savage cultures better. I know just the thing - Little Black Sambo!”

You need to look again at the 1995 Eltis report--and perhaps to read it this time. the report did not condemn outcome based education--indeed, the report supports it. It did condemn the outcomes and profile approach which the Federal ALP and State Liberal Governments had both been pushing

Keep up the good fight Kev .

IRFAN.....

I looked and looked, but could not find anything in that article about "English Culture Rules"...... can you enlighten us ?

I could only see a discussion of 'OBE' verses 'CURRICULIM' approach.

Maybe u referred to some other article ?