A NSW HSC English examiner told his family and friends that he ranked the performance of schools as

- scholarship high schools
- $20,000 per annum private schools
- government high schools
- P12 outer subarban $5000 per year school
- poor parish parochial/Catholic high schools

It is regrettable that the author has slandered school systems which she accuses of refusing to share information about student performance, allowing our "worst achieving schools...to continue to post low achievement rates year after year", and overriding "parents' right to know how their child's school is performing".

In SA each public school must compile an annual report, and that report must be made available to the school community either as a hard copy or online. The reports detail attendance, retention, achievement and other matters (see example: http://www.decs.sa.gov.au/accountability/files/links/Aberfoyle_ParkHS_060706.doc ). How could any parent be "information-starved"?

Making such information available on a school-by-school basis is a far cry from the conservative voyuerism of page three league tables that certain publishers believe would boost sales of the print media.

There are more important issues in education - just look at the OECD's most recent report.

There is an interesting situation in Finland regards its education system.

“First results from the PISA study of 40 countries put it [Finland] top overall in the maths, reading and science tests.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4073753.stm

So they are basically top in the world, but as well as this, they only have a 4% difference between all schools in academic results, no matter what is the socio-economic background of the students in each school. There are almost no disciplinary problems with students in any school.

They teach the children a number of languages, and about 90% of children 15 -19 are still studying full time or part time.

They also don’t start the children in grade 1 until age 7 (and then it is only for ½ a normal school day). They also have longer school holidays than most other countries.

Makes one think about the teaching methods being used in our schools.

The teaching methods and testing methods used in schools is creating problems for our youth, there is no doubt about that. Alot of students from disadvantaged backgrounds think that there is no point in even trying as they have no hope to compete.

This outcomes based approach pretty much means that students go to school to be tested to see if they have achieved certain outcomes by a certain age/grade. The quality of the teacher and the school impacts on the outcomes as does the quality of the home life of the child. The children who perform the best are usually coached and tutored outside of school and/or are in the better schools, yet test marks are then used to provide educational and career opportunities.

It just seems so wrong. It seems that those who are in the beter learning environment get the advantages.

I believe that all external tests should be returned to the students with their results so as to keep the Education system honest and to show and teach the students what they don't know and what they should have been taught. Then there needs to be a method of identifying and punishing those who fail in their duty of care and breach their code of conduct in Education.

Education - Keeping them Honest
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/
Our children deserve better

So that's what my mother was talking about!

“First results from the PISA study of 40 countries put it [Finland] top overall in the maths, reading and science tests... [s]o they are basically top in the world<<

"Finnish school" she kept on telling me, "Finnish school, if you want to get ahead in the world."

The question of whether our kids are getting a decent education won't go away until we can all agree, kinda sorta, on what "decent" means, as well as what "education" means.

I strongly suspect, for example, that the PISA study measured a whole raft of achievements that are decidedly old-fashioned, like "can the student read", "can they understand what they are reading" and "can they do sums".

If this is what we want from education, then the Finns have it down pat.

From the outside, the system looks extraordinarily simple.

"...compulsory education is provided in primary schools... comprises years 1-9 and is intended for the whole age group (7-16 years old). During the first six years the education is provided by the class teacher, who teaches all or most subjects... The guardian of a child of compulsory education age is responsible for ensuring that the pupil’s compulsory education is completed... Generally, local authorities are responsible for providing basic education... there are also some private schools... The government participates in the costs of schools by paying the so-called statutory government transfer to the education provider... Education and teaching aids are provided to children free of charge. In addition, students receive a free meal at school every day... Private schools also receive a statutory government transfer, and they very rarely charge for tuition.<<

http://www.edu.fi/english/SubPage.asp?path=500;4699

Simple system, simple responsibilities. Local authorities provide the schools, government pays them to educate to a standard, and the parents are responsible for the kids' attendance.

If we do decide that a uniform education system is a good thing, then we would have to cast off the desire to be innovative and trendy, and embrace the old-fashioned stuff. Oh, and add in the vouchers.

But somehow I can't see that happening.

We will get better results in schools when teachers actually teach and children are expected to learn. Schools spend far too much time on social issues, computing, sports, community activities, excursions etc etc.
Children are not expected to spell correctly for fear it inhibits their 'creativity'. There have been experiments with the teaching of reading (and the kids still need phonics and word attack skills) and with fancy maths (and they still need basic number facts). School is, I am told, supposed to be fun or they will not engage the attention of the child.
Perhaps what we really need is to ban computers and 'work sheets' and rooms where the kids sit in groups so that they need to swivel around to listen to the teacher. We need to teach them (and expect them to learn) basic spelling and arithmetic.
And yes, what's wrong with testing them to see they have the skills - and informing their parents and keeping them back if they fail to perform. Their self-esteem will take a far greater battering later in life if they suddenly discover that they are 'failures'. Let's invest in differences and stop asking every child to aim for university entrance. (Believe me the universities would breathe a sigh of relief.)