[xmca] new national curriculum in Australia

[Andy Blunden <ablunden@mira.net>]

Our immensely incompetent Labor Government yesterday 
announced their new national curriculum for schools 
(formerly this was a state responsibility).

It features the teaching of history from the very beginning, 
including indigenous history (this is an unambiguous good) 
and emphasises the 3 Rs, including grammar. No curriculum 
has been set yet in Geography and other subjects.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/a-sound-beginning-20100301-pdlv.html

Helen raised with me off-line this problem of reintroducing 
the teaching of grammar: who is going to educate the 
educators? Anyone under 55 today did not learn grammar at 
school or until they did a foreign language, when they 
learnt the grammar of the other language. (Grammar means 
"Which icon do I click now?")

What do xmca-ers think about teaching grammar? (I am in favour.)

Also, many progressive educators here are opposed to 
curricula in toto: education should be about learning not 
content. Do xmca-ers agree?

Given the disastrous implementation of policies by this 
government over the past 2 years, I fear for our education 
system. What do people think?

Andy


------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy Blunden http://www.erythrospress.com/
Classics in Activity Theory: Hegel, Leontyev, Meshcheryakov, 
Ilyenkov $20 ea

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