Post by ppyenews on Oct 6, 2006 21:14:09 GMT -5
Welcome to ‘Talkback Topic’ – I’m Phillip Pye.
Prime Minister John Howard has just dropped another of his frequent “clangers” in what appears to some to be designed to keep people away from real issues. It was not all that long ago when Mr Howard did a spiel on the fact that our kids were not learning enough about our Australian History and now he’s picking on the rest of the curriculum. He says the standard of literacy and numeracy being taught in Australian schools is insufficient.
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley says the proposal is a power grab. "We want to see the Federal Government lifting standards, not grandstanding over the states with ridiculous extreme language," he said, and that’s a fairly good point. South Australian Premier Mike Rann says the move is another arrogant display of power by the Federal Government. He says "I think that the message has to get through to the Federal Government in Canberra that we don't want to see everything the same," - "We don't want a bland sameness across Australia but that seems to be the vision from Canberra."
Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop has launched an attack on the curriculums set by state and territory education authorities. Ms Bishop gave a speech to history teachers in Western Australia last Friday accusing education officials of teaching themes which come "straight from Chairman Mao". She says ideologues have hijacked school curriculum.
"When you've got first year law students at prestigious universities having to undertake remedial English, we should be concerned that we've got something desperately wrong in our curriculum and what is being taught in our schools," she said. Ms Bishop wants a federal body set up to take the responsibility from the states and territories. "I've suggested a national board," she said. "It could comprise representatives from state and territory governments, experts, educators.
"What we currently have is eight separate education authorities for developing curriculum and in many cases it's the same but they don't use each other curriculums. "She notes the states and territories collectively spend $180 million running their boards of studies and curriculum councils, and in many cases the documents they produce are the same – she says.
And to me – here’s the purpose of the Federal Governments intervention in this matter, and that is, ‘to save money’. Mr. Howard has seen a gap where there is a doubling up of costs. That’s fine Mr. Howard – as long as what is saved is still spent in the area of education, and not on this War in Iraq which the public have clearly let you know they do not wish to be part of.
I’m Phillip Pye.
Prime Minister John Howard has just dropped another of his frequent “clangers” in what appears to some to be designed to keep people away from real issues. It was not all that long ago when Mr Howard did a spiel on the fact that our kids were not learning enough about our Australian History and now he’s picking on the rest of the curriculum. He says the standard of literacy and numeracy being taught in Australian schools is insufficient.
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley says the proposal is a power grab. "We want to see the Federal Government lifting standards, not grandstanding over the states with ridiculous extreme language," he said, and that’s a fairly good point. South Australian Premier Mike Rann says the move is another arrogant display of power by the Federal Government. He says "I think that the message has to get through to the Federal Government in Canberra that we don't want to see everything the same," - "We don't want a bland sameness across Australia but that seems to be the vision from Canberra."
Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop has launched an attack on the curriculums set by state and territory education authorities. Ms Bishop gave a speech to history teachers in Western Australia last Friday accusing education officials of teaching themes which come "straight from Chairman Mao". She says ideologues have hijacked school curriculum.
"When you've got first year law students at prestigious universities having to undertake remedial English, we should be concerned that we've got something desperately wrong in our curriculum and what is being taught in our schools," she said. Ms Bishop wants a federal body set up to take the responsibility from the states and territories. "I've suggested a national board," she said. "It could comprise representatives from state and territory governments, experts, educators.
"What we currently have is eight separate education authorities for developing curriculum and in many cases it's the same but they don't use each other curriculums. "She notes the states and territories collectively spend $180 million running their boards of studies and curriculum councils, and in many cases the documents they produce are the same – she says.
And to me – here’s the purpose of the Federal Governments intervention in this matter, and that is, ‘to save money’. Mr. Howard has seen a gap where there is a doubling up of costs. That’s fine Mr. Howard – as long as what is saved is still spent in the area of education, and not on this War in Iraq which the public have clearly let you know they do not wish to be part of.
I’m Phillip Pye.