Vegemite Kids

Dotty
based on my experiences growing up in Australia (state school, admittedly quite a few years ago now ), but things seem to have improved from my time.

Learning a foreign language we couldnt start until grade 7.

Art, well it all depends on your definition, certainly we got to slap some paint around from grade 1 but actual "art" lessons started in grade 6.

Music, we could start recorder in Grade 4 but that was optional and my parents had to pay extra for it. Other than that the only time we did music was when there was a school play coming up and they need a Choir so we all got intensive singing lessons.

It was very much a "3R's+sport" school and nobody seemed to worry that we werent getting "cultural" type stuff. Having said that it wasnt a big city school so maybe that makes a difference also.

Mairi

Vegemite Kids

PeteSara,
cant help with the similar experiences cos we are not arriving in Perth until April, but from reading your post the one thing that really stands out for me is that you have learnt so much from the last 2 and a bit years and that's surely a good thing. Making mistakes and regretting those mistakes doesn't necessarily make you a "whinging pom", at least not if you are prepared to do something about it which it sounds you like are.

Hope you can put your Perth experince to good use whatever you do and where ever you go in the future.

Regards
Mairi

dotty

I too would be very interested to hear what other state schools are providing for the kids. I mean this school is supposed to do art but fact is there is just no money there for supplies. Perhaps what money is available is targeted to grade ones but a grade 2 class last year did no art at all. Languages have slipped back over the years from grade 1 which may have been a bit early, to grade 2 then 3/4 it is most certainly not in Grade 5 now.

I know this school has an appaling rate of parent contribution, they ask for $60.00 a year per family but less that 20% pay it. Science levy is $5.00 per kid per year but few even pay that. Class of 29 kids reaped 9 packets of photocopy paper, parents just dont want to know. Several kids today had not even got the text books, teacher joked we'll get some more on dole day.

I dont think its any secret funding has been cut, there has been a big outcry over funds going to private schools. But I too wonder if schools vary, for instance smaller schools, schools with better parental input. There is a very big difference now to 5 years ago. If there is such a great variance in say when a language starts from one State school to another State school it may pay for people to phone around. You have to wonder how funding is worked out if this is the case or perhaps each school gets to choose where its money goes? I will ask some questions next week.

trevd72

i dont know much about economics as far as australia goes, but i have read about the tax situation and the fact that most things have an extra payment somewhere, but why is there a two tier education system in australia. from a european point of view this seems very "third world" dare i say. where is the tax going. to have to contribute to the running of a state school in such an upfront way is not encouraging. basically it gives the impression of substandard teaching to possibley substandard learners or the poor.

also is my perception of australia as a hot UK in 70's correct. it may have the technology and IT but morally, ethically and spiritually its a country of poor fashion, garrish colours and an out of date society.

OR is it a conspiracy by to be PR's and pomms to put off the rest of us and to keep the place to themselves?

MrsDagboy

Im very interested too, our school is only small (either 300 or 400 students, cant remember now) & has a levy of $15/child/year. They are very proud of the fact that last year, only 2 families in the whole school didnt pay the levy. We had a meeting with Michaels class teather last night & I specifically asked if there was anything that I could either donate ie paper for photocopying, software, pens/pencils/art equipment or if they needed money for anything in particular & the answer I got was no. It seems one of the only things they area bit short of is extra teacher aide time, the school seems to use it mainly for the older classes & for kids with extra needs/special ed. The year 1s seem to miss out, I think she said 4 hrs/week which is not very much especially as the school has 3 teacher aides plus a special ed teacher. So guess whos been assigned 2 days a week to help in the classroom? And thats only for ONE boy, the other teacher has yet to approach for volunteer aides LOL. And here was me hoping to get away from kids & have some peace & quiet now they had started school .

Vegemite Kids

definately a conspiracy

MrsDagboy

Mairi, the language & art subjects in the past are a good point. When I was at school (yes, about 30 years ago LOL), we didnt start a language until year 8 ie 13 yrs. Similarly Art wasnt a subject in itself until year 8. I think the younger you teach things like languages & art, the better skilled kids will be in it. That probably explains why I cant even draw a stick figure thats recognisable as human & anything past "Bon Jour" gets a blank look from me . If dotty is right & across the board those skills & classes have been sacrificed then theres something seriously wrong. Its gone from late starting certain subjects to starting them early & now is going back to late.

My experience as a child was in a very good Qld state school here in Brisbane if thats any comparison to yours.

HiddenPaw

you take the good with the bad. Australia may be 'behind' in some things, but is a 'modern UK society' a role model for the rest of the world?

Vegemite Kids

Absolutely agree with you, especially the language thing. I've Lived in Germany for 4 years now and I still struggle with the language, same when I was in France. Friends of mine - hubby scottish, wife swedish, living in germany - have two kids ages 3 & 5 and the kids are fluent in all three languages.

One thing I have noticed from living in countres where English is not the first language is how much emphasis these countries put on learning other languages whereas the 3 English speaking countries I been in haven't really considered it as important. In each of these countries much more emphasis seemed to be placed on Science and technical subjects.

maybe it will settle somehere in the middle now ?!?

DianeOZ

Our primary school has about 500 kids which I suppose is quite big for WA. My eldest started in year 4 when we arrived last year and did a langauge, art and music. (I was very impressed with what they did at art), also I think there are at least 4 computers per class (don't know if that is good or bad). They have sporting activities a couple of times a week. The whole school is airconditioned but they had to raise the funds themselves (sponsored events etc)

They have special needs assistants and teachers aides in each class, although the mums are encouraged to come and help with the reading etc. A lot of mums do, our fees are about $35 per kid lower if you have more than 1 child.

I remember at a meeting last year there was a woman spouting off about how much the parents in our suburb seemed to rally round in respect to their kids education (not a well off area - I think she was trying to make us feel better but did not put it very well!!)

A friend of mine was ringing round schools in her area looking for work as a special needs assistant. The more "well to do" areas basically told her that they did not require special needs help as they did not have any children with problems at their schools.

I have nothing to compare the school with (except UK) so I don't know how this compares to other schools.

jopaulss

Hi Di
We have special needs in Hillarys primary and at scotts school duncraig senior high . The high school is also good as it caters for about 25 disabled kids everyone is together so i think that is great.
Joanne

DianeOZ

Phew that's a relief then, I thought it was a bit strange

melaniee

Modern Uk society-are you serious? It is like lviing in the 80s here-they are so far behind! (well Perth anyway!)

Megalania

Help if you took down the old calendar ?