Our Vision.
The Seven Elements of Education Re-Form.
An Australian Education for Australian Children.
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What has happened in our nation’s schools in the past three or so decades that has made “going to school” no longer a joy and happy time in the lives of so many of our nation’s children, and their teachers? Why is there so much conflict, even violence, disenchantment and disappointment with conventional schooling that so many have abandoned it altogether, choosing to Home School their own children? Why have so many families chosen the Parent Choice option, private schools, paying for the hard fought right by our founding fathers and mothers for a “Free, Compulsory and Secular Public Education” for all of the nation’s children? Flexi-schools have provided a safety valve for some ‘square pegs that don’t fit the square holes’ and the Alternative Schools movement is fast gathering pace in an attempt to rescue and rehabilitate those for whom School Refusal is a reality. And then we are left with the growing aching problem of No-schooling and all the social ills created as a result. Has someone taken their eye off the ball? Has someone chosen a different agenda for schooling? Our politicians and church leaders certainly seem to have done so.
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My website copycatchildren.org addresses all of the above and does a great deal more. It offers you the parent, you the teacher, you the community to take back the control of education and plot a new pathway for our children, free of the stresses and strains that are causing so many of be sick, turn away from school, finding all they need is to live their lives is “Seri on their shoulders, a smart phone in their hands.” There is a tune to go with it.
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The current system, shaped by the Global Education Reform Movement over the last three and more decades, has relegated the teaching profession to one of a service delivery operative. The reins have been taken from the driver, replaced by a road map and a whip. I believe in the the innate urgency to learn that is the natural trait of all children. This has been stifled by bureaucratic, political and religious agendas. Education is not just big business—it is the bedrock of society!
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I leave the seven elements of a complete schooling Re-Form in your hands, proposing a new model for Teacher Training, School Based Mentors, Early Childhood and Primary Education teaching strategies, the nineteen modules of the "Set for Life" adolescence curriculum, Senior Secondary School and Post School considerations, all to enhance the learning opportunities for all Australian children. Time is of the essence as my lawyer friend always reminds me.
Best wishes on your journey, there's a lot of ground to cover, and if a button doesn't work try the menu bar and if a URL address should fail copy and paste it directly into your search engine. Good luck, but we'll need more than luck to fix up our schools. We'll need you and everyone you know who cares about the future for our children to make a positive contribution and step into the school ground and fight for our kids, for they are the future of our nation.
Bruce, and mate Barrington.
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A - Teacher Training
The most important task of every society it that of the teacher. Choosing and then providing the very best training opportunities for such is the greatest challenge our nation currently faces. The forty eight institutions currently charged with that task have failed to provide that mighty task. Look to AETEs for success.
B- School based Mentors for all children.
Mentoring is a proven strategy, ensuring all children get the best start in life as possible and that their parents are given the total support and resources needed to raise healthy and happy children. School based Mentors should be a part of every child's life, from birth to Post School.
C - The early years of childhood
The first thousand days of every child's life sets the foundation for the life that follows. For all of the years before formal schooling commences every child's life must be carefully nurtured to ensure the following years will indeed bring happiness and success to every child, whether at school, or not.
D - Primary school years
The six years of primary schooling must ensure all children are adequately equipped to manage the world about them and to interact in a positive and purposeful way, learning how to best find their place in their society. "Learning to learn" must be its priority, which surely means learning to think, clearly and purposefully.
E - The "Set for Life Curriculum" for the Puberty years.
The greatest period of change and growth in every child's life, after the initial thousand days of early childhood, are the thousand days of their puberty development; their early adolescence, when Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll become a reality. This stage of development must not be left to the whims and greed of Social Media.
F - Senior secondary schooling for total success
The final three to four years of formal learning before embarking on life's career choices must be addressed with the full support and weight of society at large. During this phase of development there must be much greater choice available to explore and master with greater rewarding and life changing experiences, much more than a week at Schoolies!
G - Post school model, the Gap years.
On completion of twelve years of learning and preparation for life's opportunities and challenges young adults are now ready to follow the pathway they have chosen to pursue. The option of a university pathway with free tuition is offered to those who might choose to live a different life, experience a wide range of challenges during their two year "Gap Years", be certain of the possibilities of the pathway they have chosen.