Schooling - The Australian System.
Oct 28th 2008 | 6:53 pm
#31
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,463
From: Brisvegas
Re: Schooling - The Australian System.
My three kids have been educated in Australia until the last couple of months (just moved to Dubai). We faced a lot of snobbery from British schools here believing that our children would be behind the more "formally educated" British kids. We decided to leave the British Schools alone and went with an International School. They are now going to school with kids from all over the world and are doing as well, if not better than a lot of their peers (including the British kids). It's no good being the most educated person from a young age if you don't know how to behave and interact with others. Australia's laid back approach in lower primary (as others have mentioned) helps kids build confidence and self esteem - and just be happy going to school everyday instead of feeling immense pressure to achieve academically.
Oct 28th 2008 | 7:02 pm
#32
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 147
From: Melbourne
Re: Schooling - The Australian System.
I went in to my 7 year old daughter's art class yesterday to help out. The teacher got the kids to divide their paper in to 8 sections and draw something in each one. In box 5 they were asked to draw 3 fluffy chickens. One little boy stuck his hand up..."Miss, I went to a farm and there were baby chickens that had just hatched". "that's nice" says the teacher "did they die?". The little boy frowned and answered "no they were alive....well one died because it had caught it's leg in the egg shell" Teacher gives sympathetic nod before speaking again "children, do you know, when my daughter was young she had a baby dwarf rabbit. It was lovely. One day I was holding it and it dug it's claws in to me...I tried to grab it but it ran through my fingers, over my shoulder and....that's right children, it fell down and split it's skull and died". I'm staring at her in disbelief, she does more sympathetic nodding to me and to the class who are all wrapt in this story and then she carries on "so, children of course we had to buy her another baby bunny and do you know what happened?...my daughter and her friend dressed it up in baby clothes..." Phew, I'm thinking, we're back to cutesy stuff " and of course they were two rough and both it's legs were broken and it died" OMG!
Thankfully I seemed more disturbed by this story than the children! I'm all for Aussie honesty but WTF LOL!
Thankfully I seemed more disturbed by this story than the children! I'm all for Aussie honesty but WTF LOL!
Our art teacher is great. My daughter is 7 and they went to Melb. zoo last week and they are now all building animal enclosures with paper mache, wire, paint etc. They do quite sophisticated art work. My other daugther is doing a mosaic of the New York skyline.
Oct 28th 2008 | 7:06 pm
#33
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 147
From: Melbourne
Re: Schooling - The Australian System.
My three kids have been educated in Australia until the last couple of months (just moved to Dubai). We faced a lot of snobbery from British schools here believing that our children would be behind the more "formally educated" British kids. We decided to leave the British Schools alone and went with an International School. They are now going to school with kids from all over the world and are doing as well, if not better than a lot of their peers (including the British kids). It's no good being the most educated person from a young age if you don't know how to behave and interact with others. Australia's laid back approach in lower primary (as others have mentioned) helps kids build confidence and self esteem - and just be happy going to school everyday instead of feeling immense pressure to achieve academically.
In Australia and many other countries in Europe such as Finland, Sweden, Netherlands etc. have a more relaxed balanced attitude and they end up doing very well in the OECD education surveys. Australia was in the above average countries in the last PISA Education worldwide survey and the UK was in the average countries list. Aust. has dropped down a few places though since the previous survey when they were in the top 5. USA not even in the top 20.
Here is the last survey resuts for the survey:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PISA
Last edited by melbournegirl; Oct 28th 2008 at 7:14 pm.
Oct 28th 2008 | 7:44 pm
#34
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Schooling - The Australian System.
Information on the UK - Australia comparisons, from the PISA 2006 Results
Science Proficiency
563 Finland - The Highest Scoring country
527 Australia
515 United Kingdom
Reading Proficiency
556 Korea - The Highest Scoring country
513 Australia
495 United Kingdom
Mathematics Proficiency
549 Chinese Taipei - The Highest Scoring country
520 Australia
495 United Kingdom
http://www.britzinoz.com/page.php?25
Science Proficiency
563 Finland - The Highest Scoring country
527 Australia
515 United Kingdom
Reading Proficiency
556 Korea - The Highest Scoring country
513 Australia
495 United Kingdom
Mathematics Proficiency
549 Chinese Taipei - The Highest Scoring country
520 Australia
495 United Kingdom
http://www.britzinoz.com/page.php?25
Oct 28th 2008 | 8:41 pm
#36
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 266
From: Illawarra
Re: Schooling - The Australian System.
[QUOTE=melbournegirl;6920722]She sounds like a bit of a nutter! I would be mentioning this to other mum's and see what they think and perhaps bring it up with the principal. I don't think the Art teacher needs to be discussing dead bunnies with the kids and concentrating on teaching them instead.
She does have a reputation as a nutter LOL! and the two Ozzie mums I told were gobsmacked. However, this is the second time I've helped out and she is enthusiastic and really holds the kids attention (sometimes without even mentioning dead animals) and she was untrained in art but stepped in to fill the roll because the school doesn't have an art teacher so despite her nuttiness I can't help but like her.
As far as I can understand it, it is at the class teachers discretion whether the class goes to her for art or does something in their own class room with their own teacher. I'm thankful my daughter is getting the chance to do art at all.
The focus here seems to be more on academic and sporting achievement.
She does have a reputation as a nutter LOL! and the two Ozzie mums I told were gobsmacked. However, this is the second time I've helped out and she is enthusiastic and really holds the kids attention (sometimes without even mentioning dead animals) and she was untrained in art but stepped in to fill the roll because the school doesn't have an art teacher so despite her nuttiness I can't help but like her.
As far as I can understand it, it is at the class teachers discretion whether the class goes to her for art or does something in their own class room with their own teacher. I'm thankful my daughter is getting the chance to do art at all.
The focus here seems to be more on academic and sporting achievement.
Jan 17th 2009 | 11:28 pm
#37
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13
Re: Schooling - The Australian System.
My three kids have been educated in Australia until the last couple of months (just moved to Dubai). We faced a lot of snobbery from British schools here believing that our children would be behind the more "formally educated" British kids. We decided to leave the British Schools alone and went with an International School. They are now going to school with kids from all over the world and are doing as well, if not better than a lot of their peers (including the British kids). It's no good being the most educated person from a young age if you don't know how to behave and interact with others. Australia's laid back approach in lower primary (as others have mentioned) helps kids build confidence and self esteem - and just be happy going to school everyday instead of feeling immense pressure to achieve academically.
can any one help?
Jan 18th 2009 | 12:53 am
#38
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,201
From: Gloucestershire
Re: Schooling - The Australian System.
The whole thing is a real worry. Looking on the belt and braces side (as we always do) we are worried about what would happen to their education if we returned to the UK. We have a 7 and 4 year old (Year 3 and Reception respectively). Maths wise it wouldn't hurt 7 year old to repeat a year, but in all other respects I think it will drive her mad. 4 year old has had an intensive pre-prep year in a local private school, followed by a less formal year in our local comp. He was 4 on 30 August so only just made it into this school year. He is pretty bright too.
We are renting our house so that we will still be in the catchment area of a good senior school, as the thought of coming back and dealing with the lottery of school places is horrible.
I'm not paranoid, but I do wonder what will happen to their education if they effectively miss a year should we come back.
Great story about the mad teacher - the world definately needs characters like this.
We are renting our house so that we will still be in the catchment area of a good senior school, as the thought of coming back and dealing with the lottery of school places is horrible.
I'm not paranoid, but I do wonder what will happen to their education if they effectively miss a year should we come back.
Great story about the mad teacher - the world definately needs characters like this.
Jan 18th 2009 | 12:58 am
#39
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13
Re: Schooling - The Australian System.
Are you in Dubai?
Jan 18th 2009 | 1:09 am
#40
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13
Re: Schooling - The Australian System.
The whole thing is a real worry. Looking on the belt and braces side (as we always do) we are worried about what would happen to their education if we returned to the UK. We have a 7 and 4 year old (Year 3 and Reception respectively). Maths wise it wouldn't hurt 7 year old to repeat a year, but in all other respects I think it will drive her mad. 4 year old has had an intensive pre-prep year in a local private school, followed by a less formal year in our local comp. He was 4 on 30 August so only just made it into this school year. He is pretty bright too.
We are renting our house so that we will still be in the catchment area of a good senior school, as the thought of coming back and dealing with the lottery of school places is horrible.
I'm not paranoid, but I do wonder what will happen to their education if they effectively miss a year should we come back.
Great story about the mad teacher - the world definately needs characters like this.
We are renting our house so that we will still be in the catchment area of a good senior school, as the thought of coming back and dealing with the lottery of school places is horrible.
I'm not paranoid, but I do wonder what will happen to their education if they effectively miss a year should we come back.
Great story about the mad teacher - the world definately needs characters like this.
Jan 18th 2009 | 10:58 am
#41
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,453
From: Perth
Re: Schooling - The Australian System.
Information on the UK - Australia comparisons, from the PISA 2006 Results
Science Proficiency
563 Finland - The Highest Scoring country
527 Australia
515 United Kingdom
Reading Proficiency
556 Korea - The Highest Scoring country
513 Australia
495 United Kingdom
Mathematics Proficiency
549 Chinese Taipei - The Highest Scoring country
520 Australia
495 United Kingdom
http://www.britzinoz.com/page.php?25
Science Proficiency
563 Finland - The Highest Scoring country
527 Australia
515 United Kingdom
Reading Proficiency
556 Korea - The Highest Scoring country
513 Australia
495 United Kingdom
Mathematics Proficiency
549 Chinese Taipei - The Highest Scoring country
520 Australia
495 United Kingdom
http://www.britzinoz.com/page.php?25
Grade four Mathematics (average 500)
Hong Kong SAR1 607
Singapore 599
Chinese Taipei 576
Japan 568
Kazakhstan 549
Russian Federation 544
England 541
Latvia 537
Netherlands 535
Lithuania 530
United States 529
Germany 525
Denmark 523
Australia 516
Grade eight
Grade 8 -average 500
Chinese Taipei 598
Korea, Rep. of 597
Singapore 593
Hong Kong SAR 572
Japan 570
Hungary 517
England 513
Russian Federation 512
United States 508
Lithuania 506
Czech Republic 504
Slovenia 501
Armenia 499
Australia 496
Jan 18th 2009 | 11:04 am
#42
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,453
From: Perth
Re: Schooling - The Australian System.
Jan 18th 2009 | 11:26 am
#43
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,453
From: Perth
Re: Schooling - The Australian System.
Jan 18th 2009 | 11:32 am
#44
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Schooling - The Australian System.
2007 TIMMS
Grade four Mathematics (average 500)
Hong Kong SAR1 607 (year 4 children)
Singapore 599 (year 4 children)
Chinese Taipei 576 (year 4 children)
Japan 568 (year 4 children)
Kazakhstan 549 (year 4 children)
Russian Federation 544 (year 4 children)
England 541 (year 5 children)
Australia 516 (year 4 children)
Grade eight
Grade 8 -average 500
Chinese Taipei 598 (year 4 children)
Korea, Rep. of 597 (year 4 children)
Singapore 593 (year 4 children)
Hong Kong SAR 572 (year 4 children)
Japan 570 (year 4children)
Hungary 517 (year 4 children)
England 513 (year 5 children)
Australia 496 (year 4 children)
Grade four Mathematics (average 500)
Hong Kong SAR1 607 (year 4 children)
Singapore 599 (year 4 children)
Chinese Taipei 576 (year 4 children)
Japan 568 (year 4 children)
Kazakhstan 549 (year 4 children)
Russian Federation 544 (year 4 children)
England 541 (year 5 children)
Australia 516 (year 4 children)
Grade eight
Grade 8 -average 500
Chinese Taipei 598 (year 4 children)
Korea, Rep. of 597 (year 4 children)
Singapore 593 (year 4 children)
Hong Kong SAR 572 (year 4 children)
Japan 570 (year 4children)
Hungary 517 (year 4 children)
England 513 (year 5 children)
Australia 496 (year 4 children)
TIMSS 2007
A total of 36 countries at Year 4, and 49 countries at Year 8, participated in TIMSS 2007 study, with approximately 425,000 pupils involved worldwide. Most countries tested pupils with 4 years formal schooling, but England and Scotland tested year 5 pupils.
I wonder how England would have looked if they had compared Year 4 to the rest of the worlds year 4, as they did in the PISA exams ?
Jan 18th 2009 | 11:38 am
#45
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Schooling - The Australian System.
Australia, Belgium and France are the only members that don't reveal the breakdown of public and private school results in the OECD's regular testing of 15-year-olds.
"The Government obviously know which are the government schools and which are the private schools in the data set, but that information is removed from the file sent to Paris."
He said analysis of OECD test results internationally showed private schools tended to outperform state schools. However, he said that in all countries that outperformance directly reflected social background.
"The Government obviously know which are the government schools and which are the private schools in the data set, but that information is removed from the file sent to Paris."
He said analysis of OECD test results internationally showed private schools tended to outperform state schools. However, he said that in all countries that outperformance directly reflected social background.
Personally I see no reason why they shouldn't just reveal the info. If more parents were to send their children to Private schools, then it would save money.
However, if the results showed little actual difference, then more children may get sent to State schools and that would increase Education costs, and maybe higher tax rates to fund it.
