Education Revolution
January 27th 2010 06:13
For anyone with children this may be helpful. The Prime Minister of Australia and his deputy are promoting an "Education Revolution" as a political Policy of the Aust. Labour Party. This letter is directed to them for their deep consideration and evaluation.
Open letter to the Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia, and his deputy Julia Gillard with specific regard to the proposed "Education Revolution."
Firstly a request to have a Primary and Secondary school system where the subject matter of the curriculum is relevant to living in our modern society.
May I be so bold as to suggest that some emphasis be placed on the five C's:-
Courtesy
Consideration
Co-operation
Compromise
Confidence
1) Courtesy to one another seems to have lost its way in our everyday lives. Our 'throw-away' cash oriented society does not appear to have a place for the most basic of courtesies to be valued. Yet, without this element our social structure is always failing somewhere. We humans are social animals and to survive we need each other. Sometimes a simple 'please' or a 'thank you' would make a big difference to peoples attitudes. Sometimes a little respect shown for our elders would break down the barrier between children and adults and perhaps the adults could respect the children a little more than they do at present.
2) Consideration for peoples different to ourselves is improving but needs to be emphasised. No matter where a person comes from, what they believe in, or what differences there may be between their culture and ours, we are all the same species with similar goals in life. To live in comparative freedom, raise our families as best we can and to enjoy our lives as much as we are able. Our children need to know where in the world all the different countries are located, what their basic beliefs are and a little about their culture. Then they may understand them better when they meet visiting tourists or perhaps migrants to this country.
3) Co-operation.
Throughout our whole society there is continuing conflict; in homes, in the streets, on public transport and nation against nation. Why so much antagonism? A little co-operation between parties would resolve many of these conflicts and make our society just a little more satisfying to live in. Is the Education Revolution seeking to do something about this or is this just another academic non-event?
4) Compromise.
As we progress through life we are made aware that we cannot have everything we want when we want it. We must make allowances for the other person and compromise. Make alternative arrangements or vary our desires to something less antagonistic to others; maybe even share in whatever is available.
The question arises again:- What is the "Education Revolution" going to do to help our kids make for their futures, a better society than what we have today. Is the new system going to teach our forthcoming citizens how to make compromises with dignity and grace?
5) Confidence
This fifth item is important for without confidence in themselves our future society cannot survive as a free thinking place for everyone. Let us all hope that your "Education Revolution" gives our future citizens the confidence to make informed choices as to their future careers and thereby ensure our free thinking society continues.
Finally, I believe that Primary and Secondary education should provide our children with the tools and equipment necessary to make a success of the business of living in a society not of their making. May they be more successful than my generation.
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