- Students missing out on basic literacy, numeracy skills
- By James O'Loan
- Courier Mail
- 10/10/2008 Make a Comment
- Contributed by: The Rooster ( 264 articles in 2008 )
STUDENTS' literacy and numeracy are suffering because they are tied up learning such life skills as bike safety and sex education, principals have claimed.
The Australian Primary Principals Association says teachers spend too much class time on lifestyle issues at the expense of reading, writing and maths.
APPA president Leonie Trimper said sex, drug, car and bike safety tuition were key distractions.
"We're not saying we don't have a role but we seem to be the only ones with it," she told The Courier-Mail.
She said a plethora of "add-ons" had crept into overcrowded state curriculums over many years, making it "impossible to achieve" learning aims.
In a report released last month, 96 per cent of 5000 Australian principals and teachers surveyed wanted a simpler, less-crowded curriculum.
Queensland's Year 3 and 5 students came seventh out of eight states and territories in this year's first national literacy and numeracy tests. Year 7 and 9 students came sixth.
At the same time, Queensland Association of State School Principals president Norm Hart said, teachers copped "another job" when Education Queensland made 2008 The Year of Physical Activity with its Smart Moves program.
"If you put your focus everywhere you can't keep your focus," he said. "Literacy and numeracy should be the focus."
While supportive of the ideal to combat obesity, he said, it turned teachers into "fat fighters" and rigid enforcement did not suit all schools.
Smart Moves mandates moderate physical activity for primary schoolers at least 30 minutes a day, and high schoolers at least two hours a week.
Last Sunday, Education Minister Rod Welford announced social and learning programs would be added to state school curriculums.
The announcement of another issue for teachers to deal with came one month after Mr Welford dubbed 2009 The Year of Creativity.
"Creativity is important but (classroom creativity programs) are an enormous concern because the curriculum is overcrowded," Mr Hart said.
Queensland Teachers Union president Steve Ryan said he expected The Year of Creativity to have less impact on curriculums and be "more manageable" for schools than The Year of Physical Activity.
The APPA put its proposals to the National Curriculum Board which is currently formulating primary and secondary national curriculums.
The Australian Primary Principals Association says teachers spend too much class time on lifestyle issues at the expense of reading, writing and maths.
APPA president Leonie Trimper said sex, drug, car and bike safety tuition were key distractions.
"We're not saying we don't have a role but we seem to be the only ones with it," she told The Courier-Mail.
She said a plethora of "add-ons" had crept into overcrowded state curriculums over many years, making it "impossible to achieve" learning aims.
In a report released last month, 96 per cent of 5000 Australian principals and teachers surveyed wanted a simpler, less-crowded curriculum.
Queensland's Year 3 and 5 students came seventh out of eight states and territories in this year's first national literacy and numeracy tests. Year 7 and 9 students came sixth.
At the same time, Queensland Association of State School Principals president Norm Hart said, teachers copped "another job" when Education Queensland made 2008 The Year of Physical Activity with its Smart Moves program.
"If you put your focus everywhere you can't keep your focus," he said. "Literacy and numeracy should be the focus."
While supportive of the ideal to combat obesity, he said, it turned teachers into "fat fighters" and rigid enforcement did not suit all schools.
Smart Moves mandates moderate physical activity for primary schoolers at least 30 minutes a day, and high schoolers at least two hours a week.
Last Sunday, Education Minister Rod Welford announced social and learning programs would be added to state school curriculums.
The announcement of another issue for teachers to deal with came one month after Mr Welford dubbed 2009 The Year of Creativity.
"Creativity is important but (classroom creativity programs) are an enormous concern because the curriculum is overcrowded," Mr Hart said.
Queensland Teachers Union president Steve Ryan said he expected The Year of Creativity to have less impact on curriculums and be "more manageable" for schools than The Year of Physical Activity.
The APPA put its proposals to the National Curriculum Board which is currently formulating primary and secondary national curriculums.
Source: https://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24472379-952,00.html
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