Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lisa on January 30, 2010 at 15:46

I don't quite agree with 'Teacher Accountability' but I do think not anyone can just become a teacher because they can complete their diploma.

Our children are too precious as to is everyone's future which relies on the next generation of children including the elderly and our future government.

And I also do feel those teachers need more respect and should be rewarded as it is a special job!

Permalink Reply by karenleeanne on January 30, 2010 at 16:11

Great Lisa, I agree absolutely, how about we call it Recruiting talented Teachers

Permalink Reply by karenleeanne on January 30, 2010 at 22:34

Thanks Cathy
I will do some research, I seem to remember seeing somewhere that schools in some countries do this routinely, I will see if I can find out whether it is considered successful.

Permalink Reply by karenleeanne on January 31, 2010 at 10:57

Hi Everyone

Damian has mentioned the idea of researching the most successful education models across the world. In this vein, Dave Walkerden has posted a video to the main page about the Swedish model, part one. I watched that and then also googled the other two parts and watched them. I found it very interesting and definitely worth a look for anyone interested.

Cheers

Karen

Permalink Reply by Lisa on January 31, 2010 at 11:55

After watching the vid and reading Dave's comment I then began to think ok 'pressure' then wondered what the world suicide rate was and where Sweden was in relation to the under performing countries without so much pressure. Obviously something has to give way. I have tried to cut and past the table below - These stats are from 2008 World Health Organisation,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_suicide_rate

I actually do like Sweden's methods but I feel we would need to adapt it for our own country and I am sure Australia could then lead the way.

Suicides per 100,000 people per year[2] Country Males Females Total pop. Year
Belarus 63.3 10.3 35.1 2003
Lithuania[3] 55.9 9.1 30.7 2008
Russia 53.9 9.5 30.1 2006
Kazakhstan 46.2 9.0 26.9 2007
Latvia 34.1 7.7 19.9 2007
Japan See: Suicide in Japan 35.8 13.7 24.4 2007
Guyana 33.8 11.6 22.9 2005
Ukraine 40.9 7.0 22.6 2005
South Korea See: Suicide in South Korea 29.6 14.1 21.9 2006
Sri Lanka[4] N/A N/A 21.6 1996
Hungary[5] 37.1 8.6 21.5 2008
Belgium 27.2 9.5 18.2 1999
Finland 28.9 9.0 18.8 2007
Croatia 26.9 9.7 18.0 2006
Serbia and Montenegro 28.4 11.1 19.5 2006
Slovenia[6] 32.1 7.9 19.8 2008
Hong Kong 19.3 11.5 15.2 2006
Moldova 28.0 4.3 15.7 2007
France 25.5 9.0 17.0 2006
Switzerland 23.5 11.7 17.5 2006
Estonia[7] 29.1 6.2 16.5 2008
Poland 26.8 4.4 15.2 2006
Austria 24.7 7.0 15.6 2006
Uruguay 24.5 6.4 15.1 2001
People's Republic of China 13.0 14.8 13.9 1999
Seychelles[8] N/A N/A 13.2 1998
New Zealand[9] 20.3 6.5 13.2 2008
Sweden 19.5 7.1 13.3 2002
Trinidad and Tobago 20.9 4.9 12.8 2000
Slovakia 22.3 3.4 12.6 2005
Romania 21.5 4.0 12.5 2004
Cuba 18.6 6.2 12.4 2004
Suriname 17.8 6.4 12.1 2000
Czech Republic[10] 20.2 4.2 11.8 2008
Bosnia and Herzegovina 20.3 3.3 11.8 1991
Norway 15.7 7.4 11.6 2005
Canada 17.9 5.4 11.6 2005
Iceland 16.2 6.1 11.2 2005
Portugal 17.5 4.9 11.2 2003
United States 17.7 4.5 11.1 2005
Luxembourg 17.7 4.3 11.0 2005
Australia 17.1 4.7 10.9 2003
Denmark[11] 16.0 5.7 10.6 2006
India 12.2 9.1 10.6 1998
Chile 17.8 3.1 10.4 2003
Singapore 12.9 7.7 10.3 2006
South Africa[12] 25.3 5.6 N/A 2005
Bulgaria[13] 15.3 4.7 9.5 2007
Netherlands 12.7 6.0 9.4 2004
Germany[14] 14.9 4.4 9.4 2007
Ireland[15] 14.5 4.2 9.3 2008
Kyrgyzstan 15.3 3.2 9.2 2005
Argentina 14.1 3.5 8.7 2003
Turkmenistan 13.8 3.5 8.6 1998
Mauritius 13.2 3.8 8.5 2005
Zimbabwe 10.6 5.2 7.9 1990
Thailand 12.0 3.8 7.8 2002
Saint Lucia 10.4 5.0 7.7 2002
Belize 13.4 1.6 7.6 2001
Ecuador 10.4 4.0 7.2 2005
Nicaragua 11.1 3.3 7.2 2005
Italy[16] 8.4 2.3 5.2 2007
El Salvador 10.3 3.5 6.9 2005
Republic of Macedonia 9.5 4.0 6.8 2003
United Kingdom[17] 10.4 3.2 6.8 2005
Costa Rica 10.6 1.9 6.3 2005
Panama 11.1 1.4 6.3 2003
Israel 10.4 2.1 6.2 2003
Puerto Rico 10.9 1.8 6.2 2002
Spain[18] 9.6 3.0 6.1 2007
Malta 7.0 4.9 6.0 2004
Colombia 8.9 2.6 5.7 1999
Uzbekistan 8.1 3.0 5.5 2003
Venezuela 8.4 1.8 5.1 2002
Cyprus[19] 7.0 1.7 4.3 2008
Brazil 6.8 1.9 4.3 2002
Mexico 7.0 1.4 4.1 2005
Albania [20] 4.7 3.3 4.0 2003
The Bahamas 6.0 1.3 3.6 2000
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6.8 0.0 3.4 2003
Bahrain 4.9 0.5 3.1 1988
Paraguay 4.5 1.6 3.1 2003
Greece[21] 4.8 1.0 2.8 2008
Tajikistan 2.9 2.3 2.6 2001
Georgia 3.4 1.1 2.2 2001
Guatemala 3.4 0.9 2.1 2003
Philippines 2.5 1.7 2.1 1993
Kuwait 2.5 1.4 2.0 2002
Armenia 3.2 0.5 1.8 2003
Dominican Republic 2.9 0.6 1.8 2001
Turkey 2.3 2.9 1.8 1995 [22]
Azerbaijan 1.8 0.5 1.1 2002
Peru 1.1 0.6 0.9 2000
São Tomé and Príncipe 0.0 1.8 0.9 1987
Barbados 1.4 0.0 0.7 2001
Iran 0.3 0.1 0.2 1991
Jamaica 0.3 0.0 0.1 1990
Syria 0.2 0.0 0.1 1985
Egypt 0.1 0.0 0.0 1987
Antigua and Barbuda 0.0 0.0 0.0 1995
Haiti 0.0 0.0 0.0 2003
Honduras 0.0 0.0 0.0 1978
Jordan 0.0 0.0 0.0 1979
Saint Kitts and Nevis 0.0 0.0 0.0 1995

Permalink Reply by karenleeanne on January 31, 2010 at 15:29

Thanks for Lisa, that is great. I felt very similarly partly because their culture is also so different to ours.

Permalink Reply by karenleeanne on January 31, 2010 at 15:33

Hi Everyone
I am just copying & pasting a response I made to an Educator on another discussion who had been feeling very discouraged by some of the attitudes he was seeing toward teachers. I thought it would add some more depth to our discussion. Although there is currently only six of us, that is not bad for 24 hours, please take any opportunity you can to invite more positive individuals who wish to contribute.

Cheers
Karen

Take heart Samuel, I have no doubt that most teachers are wonderful giving people who are very overworked, unappreciated and underpaid. I cannot imagine the stress levels at times, particularly in classrooms where poor behaviour is escalating.

Hopefully there are plenty out there who understand that it is just not that black & white and that largely most people, teachers & parents alike have good intentions. Unfortunately, sometimes that has just not been enough for numerous reasons.

It's a shame some people look at their own poor experiences as the norm and still some others who refuse to take any responsibility for the situations they find themselves or their children in.

I wish I could remember the website but not too long ago I read research that shows that of those in our correctional institutions some whopping percentage in the high nineties have come from homes where their parents either abused or neglected them or simply were suffering themselves in some way that they were unable to be effective parents.

We ALL PAY FOR THAT, socially & financially.

Please, I am not suggesting that disadvantaged children all become offenders, but the other way around. I, myself was severely abused and am a productive member of society, but guess what, I had teachers in primary school who loved me, nurtured and encouraged me and taught me I was worthwhile, it made all the difference.

I believe passionately that even the most damaged children will do much better both academically & socially if we recruit infant teachers who really have the calling ( you know the ones where the kids cry when they have to move up to the next class) and then teach them how to deal with disadvantaged children, skill them up so we can change their outcomes because only when we raise them up will school be an effective learning environment where teachers can do what they are paid to do and all children can feel safe and learn.
Look, massive subject, just one tiny idea, sorry for the rant, but as you can see I think the problems in education are actually the symptoms of a much larger social problem, including our obvious inability to ensure that all children are safe, physically and emotionally and valued by all in the community.
Please join our group for Parents, Teachers, Community for Significant positive change to education, I am sure you have much to offer.

Permalink Reply by karenleeanne on February 2, 2010 at 22:51

Thank you Cathy, I loved that idea too. I will add it to the top now

Cheers

Karen

Permalink Reply by Jamus O'Brien on February 7, 2010 at 2:52

Cathy, I believe that in the US some schools even have webcams in the classroom and playgrounds. If your at work and wondering what your childs up to, simply click on the site and have a look.

Permalink Reply by karenleeanne on February 5, 2010 at 18:09

Hi Iain
I have corrected that and had a look at the LEAP page, what a great idea. Need to read it a bit closer.

Permalink Reply by Jamus O'Brien on February 7, 2010 at 2:22

My wife went to school in Iran, England and Australia. She reckons that the most useful subject was a compulsory one she did in England. It may sound pretty basic however, for a woman in particular, she found she has used the lessons she learnt ever since. And in all honesty, despite what you may think, this post is "fair dinkum". I'm not being sexist.

Once a week the school would get a local tradesmen in. For example, a mechanic. He would show the class (male and female) how to change a car tyre, check the water and oil, fill the fuel tank, check the air pressure and so on. Again, pretty basic however, if you have never been taught these basic skills - how do you know? I once worked in a service station and can guarantee you would be surprised at the number of women in Australia who would ask you to do something as simple as "pump up the tyres" because they didn't know how! Inevitably, the reason was that their husbands/fathers "normally look after that sort of thing"! And there is a safety issue involved here - how would you like your wife/daughter (or son for that matter) to be stuck on a road somewhere and relying on a stranger to pull over and change a flat?

My wife can change a leaky tap washer. She can change a light bulb. In fact, she rewired most of the lights in the house (not that I'm recommending that mind you). She can change the spark plug in the lawn mower. She knows how to fix something to a wall - be it plaster, brick or metal - and what screw to use. She can change the filters in the clothes dryer and put a new wiper blade on the windscreen.

Now, I know you are all saying that there are courses that kids can take. But are they compulsory? We are talking about "life skills" here - something that they will use forever - and will save them heaps of money (as my wife has us).

If you asked any local business, I'm sure they would be more than happy to help.

Anyway, just a suggestion. It's something that sounds very simple, but not everyone has parents who are "technically inclined" enough to teach these basic skills. The "better half" swears it's something schools could be doing that's worthwhile.

Permalink Reply by karenleeanne on February 7, 2010 at 9:57

Terrific idea Jamus, basic life skills, age appropriate. I will add it now.

Cheers

Karen

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page