Some of the ideas offered by other members of myschool.com.au

Thanks to Dave for his suggestion to start the Group.

First Aid Training - Thanks Lisa
Driver Ed- Seek sponsorship from Large business, opportunity to show the community they give back? - Thanks Lisa & Cathy
Recruiting & Retaining Talented Teachers - Thanks Lisa
Better education for teachers (Transactional Analysis) - Thanks Volker
Reward for extra skills,qualifications especially in Child behaviour
Kitchen Gardens for all primary schools, focusing on nutrition - thanks Stephanie Alexander
Ensuring Govt funding is directed at making a difference, not just being seen to make a difference
Reward & respect for talented Teachers
Back to the basics a bit more - Reading, writing & Arithmetic
National uniformity
Encouragement & recognition for parent, community involvement
Research & take ideas from the most successful education models around the world - thanks Damian
Secure Parent Information School Website - thanks Cathy
Effective uniform anti-bullying campaign
Support & recognition for teachers who go above & beyond the call
Recruiting Motivational Speakers who can directly relate to the child - Thanks Tracey
Identifying students at risk - Mentor Program such as LEAP - Thanks Iain
Programs to raise self-esteem, responsibility & respect - thanks Iain
Research into benefits & risk of utilizing senior citizens in schools - thanks Jamus
Compulsory, age appropriate classes in basic life skills - thanks Jamus
Uniform process for homework/home balance - thanks Lisa, Mike

Please add your ideas, debate solutions and keep it positive. Along the way we will need to document the good ideas and how we believe they can be implemented. Remember, it is not always about spending more money but utilizing it better.

Anyone with organizational skills please put your ideas forward on how we can progress! Thanks to Dave Walkerden for his suggestion to begin the group and advertise an event.

Welcome & thanks for your contribution. Remember to not just add your idea but if you have suggestions of how we implement your idea.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jamus O'Brien on February 7, 2010 at 2:44

Sorry Guys, just noticed the suggestion about Driver Ed - from Cathy and Lisa. Haven't read the post but will comment anyway (I'm probably right off track here)

In Tamworth (NSW) the local Joblink provider sponsor kids getting their driving hours. Joblink supply the car and locals volunteer to take them on lessons. It's mainly targeted towards families that don't have a car or someone to teach them. They advertise it as a community service, and presumably have a local car dealer involved. Does this fit in anywhere?

Anyway, I remember years ago our principal was a nun and she was passionate about girls getting their licence - her reasoning was that if they went to party, they didn't have to rely on their "date" to take them home. They could leave when they wanted! Well, thats nuns for you.

Permalink Reply by karenleeanne on February 7, 2010 at 10:12

I think you are definitely on the right track Jamus. As this is an expansion on the "how" for Driver Ed, I will add it to the info we collect for the Driver Ed idea.

Sorry for flipping back to the life skills idea but you have got me thinking. Any time you teach someone to do something for themselves, they not only learn a skill but it increases their self esteem, definitely a big deal.

From a practical time perspective, perhaps it could even be divided into core life skills that are compulsory and a second phase could be voluntary? Perhaps something like First Aid would be compulsory, Drivers Ed basics perhaps compulsory, actual lessons voluntary and encourage community and business to participate?

Does anyone else want to expand on this idea or offer some new.

It is probably about time we began debating the merits of each idea and putting together a solid report for each one that appears it may be practical.

Permalink Reply by Lisa on February 7, 2010 at 12:16

Included in the drivers Ed class I would like to see a run down of the car it's self ie.. How to change the oil a tyre. Where the petrol goes. How Fill the tyre with air, how to fill the car with oil. How to jump start a car and how to push a car off the side of the road if it brakes down. What to do if your in an accident - how to take each others licence details, number plate, name and phone number and when to call the police (and take a deep breath to calm your nerves ;))

How to use basic things abound you to fix little things in the car in your stuck eg .. pantie hose around the fan belt (I think, lol) How to plan road trips and what to take with you. How much water do you need if you get stranded and how to get water if you think there is none. How to work a GPS and how to alert for help.

And it should be compulsory that every car should have to have a first aid kit in their boot, even if they don't know how to use it, at least anyone to open someones boot knowing it's there to assist anyone if necessary.

Just some of them that I could think of.......

Permalink Reply by Jamus O'Brien on February 7, 2010 at 13:22

Just talking to the wife (yes, she does talk to me ocassionally - under sufferance).

She works in the banking industry and she suggests "basic budgeting skills" be compulsory. She's sick to death of seeing 19 year olds coming through the door that have declared themselves bankrupt. The biggest cause - mobile phones and credit cards. Her other comment is that you would be surprised at the number of elderly women who are left "financially incapable" when their husbands die. In other words, "hubby" used to look after the financial side of things and when they are gone the wife has no idea what to do. She recently had a widow in who had absolutely no idea how to go about paying the electricity bill - she had the money, just missing a very basic "life skill". It happens more often than you think. She is certain there is a problem here that needs to be addressed - and the younger, the better.

Her opinion is that the banks would be incredibly keen to support such a programme at their own cost - great publicity for them and they get to build "future customer loyalty" to boot!

Permalink Reply by Jamus O'Brien on February 7, 2010 at 13:39

At the risk of appearing "arrogant", how about the most basic (and the most important) life skill of them all - manners?

If you have got basic "good manners" in life, it will open up doors. I'm not sure that schools realise just how critical this simple skill can be in the wider communities "perception" of how a school performs.

If I deal with kids in a school uniform and they use the "magic words" (please and thank you), it reinforces my positive perception of that school. Manners and respect should be the basis from which everything a school does begins. I know that this should be a skill that parents teach however, lets face it, some simply don't! Again, its a critically important "life skill" and can be incredibly useful in dealing socially with the wider general public.

Permalink Reply by Simona Coppin on July 23, 2011 at 0:41

The best thing about "acquiring manners", it's free. It also doesn't hurt to have them deeply implanted, either.

Permalink Reply by Jamus O'Brien on February 7, 2010 at 14:07

Perhaps there are a few subtle ways that "life skills" could be introduced into school curriculums?

I recall studying "Merry-go-round in the Sea" during english class and I am pretty positive that it didn't alter my understanding of the world as we know it.

On the other hand, had we read "How to make friends and Influence people", I may just have picked up a few skills I could use at a later date.

Just a thought!