I think a good education should cover all topics, including those of interest to the left and right.

In my experience at university, there is a heavy bias to the left where lecturers can lead students to agree with their own personal views.

On one occasion, I asked one of my tutorials whether they actually agreed with the lecturer, and virtually all said no.

This is wrong. A student should be challenged to defend his left or right, or whatever, position.

This latter approach is what I encouraged as a tutor at a few universities. I constantly told students, have your beliefs, but defend it and don't ignore the other sides.

runner, individual, CM,

There are two atrocities here: the hijacking of English when so many kids leave high school barely literate, at best; and the encouragement for kids to despise their ancestors and themselves, for being white. Bad things were done in the past. But nobody living today is responsible. If these things have to be discussed, history or social studies are the best areas for it.

Foxy,

Kids can only think for themselves if their parents encourage them to. It's been at least two generations since that happened; now infants are farmed off into the care of strangers. Parents are too busy or tired for serious discussions with their children. It's too late after the kids are 5 years old, and they move into 'big school' from what used to simply child care, but is now 'early learning', which is actually brainwashing.

I am sure the teachers will mark them in accordance to what is expected in terms of English language competency, although one has to hope your child has the right teacher.

Some of the trainee teachers i tutored locally were not competent in terms of writing.

I was talked out of failing one or two them with one student repeating the subject after failing previously.

Dear Steele,

Thank You for the Quadrant link.

It casts a totally different perspective onto things.

With regard to the standard of English that the citizens are expected to know.

I was given a lift to Inverell yesterday and there is a new sign by the highway,

"Just a few Ks over,
Say "yeah...Naa"

My driver said, "Does that mean Yes...No?"
"Well, I'll vote Yes" and he immediately accelerated to 120 and held that speed for the next twenty kilometres.
I relaxed and enjoyed the trip.

ttbn,

In our family parents have always been involved in
their children's education. Grand parents have also
been involved in helping with care and education.
Perhaps that's why my sons have turned out to be
independent analytical thinkers who were always
cynical about the attempted indoctrination within
the school system. We kept a close watch on what
our children were being taught - our sons are doing
the same with their children.

Books are very much a part of their lives, always have
been. I've read and encouraged reading in our family
always - as did my parents. My parents learned from
experience the importance of education. Material
things can be lost over night. It's what's in your
head that lasts.