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The Age
Monday March 28, 2011
Last week's guest, Danny Schwarz chief executive of Youth Connect argued that we were limiting the options of our children by failing to insist on vocational training in schools. The following are excerpts from his live chat session. Could not agree more. Just having that exact conversation with my year 7 son last night. Six weeks into high school and already overwhelmed with the useless barrage of testing that is only required so that at parent-teacher interviews coming up the teacher has something to say about the student. There is indeed so much more to learning and life than testing and it's about time our schooling system recognised this and acted upon it. If depression in our youth is to decrease, the schooling system and its logic needs to change. DebDANNY SCHWARZ'S RESPONSE: Thank you, Deb. I encourage you to keep in contact with the school and raise any issues or ideas you have with them that you feel will keep you son engaged in learning whatever his pathway.Hear, hear. A friend whose daughter graduated from university was sent gifts and congratulations from aunts and uncles. However, her sons who successfully completed apprenticeships were not acknowledged. She was rightly upset by this, but her relations could not see why. She was equally proud of the achievements of all her children. Ronnie, MelbourneDS: Absolutely. I am sure she rewarded them for their success.The schools have to change their mindset and move with the times, young people now want the opportunity to work and have the hands on learning experience. Each young person has their own way of learning and at the moment VCAL and VET isn't given as an alternative because the school is known to be "academic" and wants to keep that reputation even if it means the kids get left behind. There is too much pressure on young people to perform academically. Pulling all-nighters because they have an exam and need to get a specific score for the course they want isn't healthy. People need to know there is an alternative and there is flexibility when it comes to their education. Parents need to be informed about this also. Alternative LearnerDS: As well as parents being informed we also need to support parents to have that discussion with their children and their schools.There is so much money thrown at trying to increase the number of apprentices being trained, but without structural changes within the secondary system to give visibility of vocational careers as well as improve their status it is mostly going to waste. As an employer of apprentices it is constantly disappointing to see the low importance given to vocational education by the Education Department. Vocational education is used as a fall-back rather than as an option in its own right. Adam, SheppartonDS: Thanks, Adam. This is exactly what I hope this article helps us do. Raise the validity, importance and value of Vocational Education. With young people looking to have five careers during their working life, not all of them need to finish school and go straight to university.What are your thoughts on not only the seemingly limited scope in standard high schools that are not able to provide a more diverse range of skill development (due to funding, time, etc), but also the amount of time students are required to do school work after hours. I'm not a great supporter of homework and would like our children to have time to investigate and dabble in other interests and pursuits that might pique their interests in fields of study and employment that are not on the school radar. Why can't a teenager aspire to good marks in the sciences or humanities, but also develop skills in the arts, mechanics or caring for the environment and the like? Danny Blay, St KildaDS: I agree wholeheartedly. Schools cannot provide all of the options themselves. However, they can work in partnership with other schools, TAFEs and RTOs to have everything available. Schools need more flexible timetables to offer the breadth of an extensive curriculum. I think young people should be able to aspire to good marks while at the same time develop skills in other areas.I really hope some people from Department of Education Early Childhood Development, Catholic Education Office, Independent Schools Association and most importantly Principals have read this article and are able to filter this message through to school personnel who are working directly with young people and parents. Anne, MelbourneDS: Thanks, Anne. So do I.The full session is at: www.theage.com.au/opinion/the-zone
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