Locked Topics

Mark, I hope you are not making a generalization about Queensland State Primary Schools as a whole.

I have experienced a semi-broad range of schools for someone attending Griffith University from State Schools, to Adventist to Jewish schools.

~Brisbane Adventist College >B.A.C< – Yr 3(Wishart)
~Junction Park State School– Yr 6/7 (Annerley)
~Sinai College – Yr 3/4 (Mackenzie – Jewish School, 12 kids in my class, 32 in the school)
~Wishart State School – Yr 7 (Wishart)

Having attended BAC since Year 2 – 12, I found myself wanting to be employed only within the private sector. Yes, as a child we all have some problems within school, but I assumed as a teacher going back to the school I loved so much, would be my dream. Needless to say, one could not pay me enough to teach at that school; the reasons I will not publish… but there are several.

Overall, each school has their individual challenges. I do not support nor condemn the beliefs of Adventists, Jews or Catholics; I however would like to say that I have never been around such an amazing, supportive school system, positive and well behaved students as I have at Wishart.

Obviously some state schools have a ‘tarnished reputation’ due to some of the cohorts behaviour and actions; however, I find it somewhat offensive as a possible future Ed Qld Teacher that the Schools not be to your liking as a whole and that I could possibly let you down or not teach your child to your standard; but I understand and respect your position.

State Schools offer religious education classes within their curriculum and have a school chaplain there on a full time basis (from what I have been aware of in the past). It is the parent and students decision whether they attend these religious activities or not, but it is definitely unfair to state that it wouldn’t give your children the start you wanted them to.

May I add that schools over the last 30 years have developed and changed more than we can imagine. Not just that, but the teaching strategies, understanding of student learning and styles, ICT integration and syllabus/ Essential Learnings/ QCAT Testing, is changing and evolving every few years.

I question Ed Qld’s movement from various syllabus documents to the essential learnings, and the overall success of these, but I think it is unfair to make the assumption that because a school is newly built, has better facilities. i.e. hall, pool, sporting equipment etc., it is an overall better school.

I believe that all Queensland Schools, be it Jewish, Catholic, Adventist, State Schools etc. should ALL be using the same syllabus/ Essential Learning documents which detail exact student learning by a specific age. Not cath ed. using different learning targets for their students; although I admit I have not seen what is used, and thus cannot compare.

This doesn't end there; if a students work needs extending, then their work is extended and they are engaged. The majority of "problem children" are "problems" because they are not engaged in the work their teachers give them/ they either need extension in math, english or reading, or more assistance; I just wish more teachers took the time to see this.

I believe... ->A quality teacher can make use of the equipment and facilities they have, and student outcomes be on-par, if not better than those with the facilities. Students are much more flexible than we realize when it comes to education; and nothing is more beneficial than encouraging them to ‘think outside the box’…