Gadget calls Donnelly's polemic "a proper and well balanced article, nice and scholarly". I think either we must be reading two different articles or Gadget's sense of what constitutes scholarship is woefully deficient. But I suppose you could say that if this is an example of contemporary scholarship, then perversely, Donnelly demonstrates his point - academic standards aren't what they used to be.

Look again at the text Gadget. What evidence did Donnelly adduce? Were his claims backed up by research? Did he contemplate contrary positions? Was his argument coherent, lucid and logical? Of course not. As usual, Donnelly merely asserted, spreading sweeping claims like manure on a vegetable patch. If I were marking this as an undergraduate essay, I couldn't give it any more than three out of ten. And two of those marks would be for encouragement and staying withn the desired word limit.

"Balanced" - it wasn't. "Scholarly" - never. But then we all know how the right scatter weasel words around like hundreds and thousands on party bread.

This article is indeed an example of declining standards in public media, to be observed since about 25 - 30 years. It is interesting that the bewailed decline of academic standards is the usual pattern in all western democracies, obviously caused by the liberal reforms of the educational sector in the Seventies. However, this allocation of blame is too narrowly considered. These reforms needed plenty of money which the governments were not inclined to spend, and so the new curricula were liberalised and modernized in their contents but not in the methods and too little in the didactics, hence remaining unable to reach their idealistic aims. It was piecemeal reforming and we can see its result today. How it works is shown by the modern schools in the Scandinavian countries, where the accountable politicians have understood that a major investment in the youth is worthwhile for the future of their countries.

Still there is the question of Moral. Goodness, this is reminding of the truism that already the ancient Greeks complained verifiably about the ethical decline of the youth, and so did every elder generation in history. Nevertheless, this modern youth too, will in their vast majority know to distinguish what is right and wrong finding their appropriate way of living in a world of way more challenges than ever, challenges that the "better educated" old ones have left for them! But this is another topic.

Hi Petal,

In relation to evidence about the Australian Education Union promoting a PC approach to curriculum - have a look at pages 43-45, 131-133 and 154-155 of 'Why Our Schools are Failing'. The book can be downloaded from the Menzies Centre's webpage.

Also, look out for my next book, 'Dumbed Down', published by Hardie Grant books and in shops late January 2007 - chapter 3.2 details the way the AEU has adopted a cultural-left stance on issues.

Kevin

Since when has referencing yourself as the only authoritative source become academic rigour?

Strikes me as more subjective and a bit postmodernish. A bit relativist.

Sir Vivor,
Why I have lived with a number of teachers is possibly a good question.

I have also been on now 2 P&C associations, and I have been involved in a number of industries outside of education, and at the end of all that, I don’t believe state or federal governments should be wasting too much time listening to teachers or their unions.

Governments have given teachers many of the things they have asked for, but over 30 years student marks have either stayed the same or gone backwards, and it is particularly noticeable in the area of boy’s education. The statistics clearly show this, and many teachers are lucky to be employed in teaching, and not employed in some other industry where continuous improvement is required as a basic part of the job.

Teachers are not improving their teaching methods, so now people outside of the education system need to become more involved in the education system. This is what my present P&C is beginning to realise, after much capital works money has been spent over many years, for no improvement in student marks, and an increasing rate of boys dropping out of the school.

Chaplains can be some of those people that come into the education system from outside, and if teachers don’t like it, then teachers can improve their teaching methods, which they have not done over a 30 year period.

In the mean time, parents should definitely shop around and ask many questions before they enrol their sons or daughters in any school.

'But then we all know how the right scatter weasel words around like hundreds and thousands on party bread.' says Frankgol.

Well thats a very academic statement youve made there sir. Should i use it in my worldly discussion with the general public. Tell me, did you invent it, or did you plagiarise it form some rabid, anti-political Leftoid.

If you are in fact some kind of academic, i know for a fact that you would have plagiarised it. I bet you will plagiarise my 'political paedophile' term too.

Now i also bet you think, as an academic, you are the epitome of epistomology. And that you have your hand on the moral compass. But sir, with one eye, tell us which way is it aimed?