Literacy Crisis In Tasmania

[icyfroth]

At least half of Tasmania's population can't read or write properly and test results are showing a growing gap between Tasmanian teenagers and those on the mainland.

The latest global report card on 15-year-olds found that 47 per cent of Tasmanian teenagers failed the minimum standard of English, compared to 36 per cent nationally.

Tasmania's disturbing figures are not dissimilar to other parts of rural and regional Australia, but there is growing concern that the spending of more than a billion dollars a year is doing little to tackle the problem.

As Suzanne Smith reports, some experts say there will be no improvement without deep cultural change.

Entire Article Here

I was listening to the discussion about this on Hack the other night.

Apparently the schooling system has a lot to do with it. School finishes for most in year 10. To go on to year 12, students have to move to the city to complete their education at one of only 2 colleges.

[gleee58]

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@poddster wrote:

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@gleee58 wrote:

I'm a bit confused as to why you think it's not normal for our schools to organise fun events, after hours events, school socials and dances or what ever the point behind the photos is.

Why should schools celebrate Valentine's Day?

Most schools in Australia wouldn't do anything for Valentine's Day, regardless of their views about it because they don't have much time at the beginning of the year to organize for such an event in the first 2 weeks of the school year.

What's the point about tattoos, piercings and wild hair colours?  Most young teens don't have any of those either.

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What makes you think that schools in other parts of the world have more time than here, in fact I would venture ti say that they have much less free time than schools have here.The difference is that schools in other countries make time to educate the kids, not only in formal education (of a by far higher standard then here) but also in social interaction with their peers and others around them. 

The point is that when kids needs are catered for they do not feel the need to express themselves with tattoos, piercings, and the like.

Kids here are bored out of their brain and have to resort to having their fingers stuck to iPhones, tablets and their nosed glued to computer screens causing mayhem in virtual reality and "social media" much to the detriment of their intelligence potential.

Kids here are following in the footsteps of American youth and they too will end up as cannon fodder in years to come.

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Based on your comments it seems you have very little to do with the children and youth of this country. 

You obviously love to attack them and see the negative in them but clearly you have little knowledge of the real facts about the young.

As you seem unaware, the schools in Australia have extended holidays during January, leaving only 2 weeks before Valentines Day.  

When does the northern hemisphere take extended school holidays?  July is it?

[poddster]

Wrong on all counts, as per usual.

I have a great deal to do with attempting to raise the level of awareness in kids and youth of all ages, pretty demanding to say the least.

Yes I see the negatives because they out weigh the positives by a huge margin.

If you mean attack as in trying to guide them away form antisocial and disruptive behaviour then you bet I attack.

Schools in most places have an extended break, according to the seasons.

What leads you to believe thay I have based my observations on a narrow time slice?

[gleee58]

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@poddster wrote:

Wrong on all counts, as per usual.

I have a great deal to do with attempting to raise the level of awareness in kids and youth of all ages, pretty demanding to say the least.

Yes I see the negatives because they out weigh the positives by a huge margin.

If you mean attack as in trying to guide them away form antisocial and disruptive behaviour then you bet I attack.

Schools in most places have an extended break, according to the seasons.

What leads you to believe thay I have based my observations on a narrow time slice?

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They don't.  In youth as in other age groups, most are good people. Most are not wearing tattoos, extra piercings or wild hair styles.  Apart from the fact they're not, if they were those things are not a measure of their worth.

Your comments indicate that your comments are based on an extremely narrow slice of the young population.

[vicr3000]

"if they were those things are not a measure of their worth."

It's might not be a measure of their worth but a fair indication ?

The Ferals in Tasmania as an example, have always stuck in my memory.

[gleee58]

Why do you describe the children of Tasmania as ferals?

[vicr3000]

I wasn't describing the children of Tasmania as ferals.

I was commenting on your comment that "wearing tattoos, extra piercings or wild hair styles." is "not a measure of their worth."

and I made a comment that it is a fair indication if you look at the Ferals of Tasmania.

[gleee58]

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@vicr3000 wrote:

I wasn't describing the children of Tasmania as ferals.

I was commenting on your comment that "wearing tattoos, extra piercings or wild hair styles." is "not a measure of their worth."

and I made a comment that it is a fair indication if you look at the Ferals of Tasmania.

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As the dicussion is about the young it stands to reason that your comment was directed at the young.  Aside from that, why do you claim that Tasmanians are ferals?

[vicr3000]

That was what the Tasmanians I was with referred to them.

They looked it as well - and smelt like it.

I believe they lived in the bush and came into the market or
town each weekend.

[poddster]

You say that most are good people, they may be good in your opinion but most do not come anywhere near near their potential due to the things I have mentioned ad infinitum.

Their priorities are in virtual reality and they judge the self worth by the number of "likes" they get on twitter and/or facebook.

Their incentive is only related to social media and virtual reality. Their  knowledge and experience of the real world is minimal to say the least. 

If they are given a task or problem to solve in real life they immediately consult google, facebook, twitter or some other form of canned solution. The ability to solve problems from experience or by the use of logic is minimal.

That is the type of youth that the Lefties nurture, ask no questions, just do as  you are instructed and go back to your virtual reality, we'll look after your interests.

[gleee58]

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@poddster wrote:

You say that most are good people, they may be good in your opinion but most do not come anywhere near near their potential due to the things I have mentioned ad infinitum.

Their priorities are in virtual reality and they judge the self worth by the number of "likes" they get on twitter and/or facebook.

Their incentive is only related to social media and virtual reality. Their  knowledge and experience of the real world is minimal to say the least. 

If they are given a task or problem to solve in real life they immediately consult google, facebook, twitter or some other form of canned solution. The ability to solve problems from experience or by the use of logic is minimal.

That is the type of youth that the Lefties nurture, ask no questions, just do as  you are instructed and go back to your virtual reality, we'll look after your interests.

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It's clear you don't mix with many normal young people.

None of those I know are ruled by social media or fit your desciption in any way. 

All teens are testy at times, as they always have been. That doesn't make them feral or lesser people than those playing happy valentine in a photo.