NAPLAN-style testing and reporting has failed in the United States by narrowing the curriculum and corrupting education standards, says a chief education adviser to the US President, Barack Obama.
Linda Darling-Hammond, a professor of education at Stanford University, who headed Mr Obama's education policy transition team, said the US had learnt important lessons from the No Child Left Behind education reforms which president George Bush introduced a decade ago.
The reforms included mandatory national standardised testing each year - similar to Australia's NAPLAN. The US tests have been criticised for narrowing the curriculum to reading and maths and multiple-choice formats.
''We have learnt about the potential negative effects of very narrow tests, particularly when they are put in a high-stakes context,'' Professor Darling-Hammond said.
Schools and individual teachers have been judged and rewarded financially for improving student test scores and punished for poor ones. This led to many of the best teachers abandoning schools in the disadvantaged areas, with some teachers accused of teaching to the test and others of helping children cheat to improve results.
"We have seen growing student exclusion to get the scores up. Schools either prevent students from taking the test or encourage them to leave school," she said.
"Schools that have choices about who to admit will not admit low-achieving students because they will bring their scores down.''
"It doesn't serve society to say we got our scores up but didn't educate lots of children. At the end of the day, it hurts the economy."
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Monday, May 02, 2011
Stop the NT Intervention, Jobs with Justice!
Two important events are coming up in the campaign to stop the NT Intervention.
i) Monday May 2 at 6pm: Come along to an organising meeting to plan a major demonstration around June 21, the four year anniversary of the announcement of the NT Intervention. Barb Shaw from Mt Nany town camp will be at the meeting as a guest speaker. Barb will provide an update on developments in Alice Springs and plans by people from Prescribed Areas to launch a programing outlining an 'alternative to the Intervention', based on self-determination and development of all communities, in Darwin on June 21.
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i) Invitation to an organising meeting:
Help plan for a strong demonstration in June marking four years since the announcement of the NT Intervention.
Monday May 2, 6pm, Teacher Federation Conference Centre, Level 1,
23-33 Mary Street Surry Hills (turn off Elizabeth st at Albion St and left onto Mary street)
Guest Speaker: Barbara Shaw, Mt Nancy town camp Alice Springs Organised by the Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney
Despite unprecendented investment of more $1.5 billion, social conditions have continued to deteriorate. Government statistics show incarceration rates have risen more than 20 per cent, school attendance has declined in many places, instances of suicide and self harm have increased and thousands of jobs have been lost as CDEP closes down. There are growing crises in urban centres such as Alice Springs as large numbers move in from the bush.
The campaign against the NT Intervention has played a crucial role over the last four years ensuring that the voices of people from Prescribed Areas are heard and putting forward community demands for self-determination and serious investment in jobs, basic services and Aboriginal controlled programs.
But the Labor government has not wavered from the Intervention initiated by Howard. If we are to win change, the campaign must become more stronger, united and more focussed.
On June 21, people from Prescribed Areas will rally in Darwin to mark the four year anniversary and launch a program for an alternative to the Intervention.
Here in Sydney, we will rally in a strong demonstration against racism and for Aboriginal rights. Along with strong speakers from the NT, supportive organisations and the local community, we are hoping to mark the date with a concert and cultural performances.
Please come along to an organising meeting on Monday May 2 at the NSW Teachers Federation or ensure that a representative from your organisation attends the meeting.
Barbara Shaw, spokesperson for the Intervention Rollback Action Group in Alice Springs will be a guest speaker at the meeting. She will lead a discussion about recent developments in the Intervention, the rise of racism in Alice Springs and plans being made by representatives from Prescribed Areas for the upcoming rally in Darwin on June 21.
For more information contact Graham 0413915334 or Paddy 0415800586
ii) Protest: Stop the NT Intervention - Jobs with Justice now!
Petition launch and rally 12pm Thurs May 5 70 Philip st - Sydney CBD
Speakers:
Senator Rachel Siewert (Australian Greens) CFMEU representative Dootch Kennedy (Illawarra Land Council)
In May, a petition sponsored Unions NT and the CFMEU demanding justice for NT Aboriginal workers will be presented to the Senate.
On May 5, the petition will be launched in Sydney by Greens Senator Rachel Siewert and the CFMEU.
The petition demands backpay at award rates for Aboriginal people working for Centrelink payments, half quarantined on a 'BasicsCard', as part of the reformed Community Development Employment Program
(CDEP) introduced alongside the NT Intervention.
You can sign the petition online here
http://www.gopetition.com/petition/43996.html
The petition has a particular focus on the use of 'BasicsCard' workers by the $672 million Intervention housing program (SIHIP). While contractors like Leighton's Holdings have made millions from SIHIP, Aboriginal people working on housing renovations have been paid as little as $6 per hour.
Thousands of NT Aboriginal workers have been made unemployed by reforms to CDEP and many others are suffering under the exploitative conditions of the new program.
Most remote communities have been deemed "economically unviable" by the NT Intervention and stripped of resources and employment in an attempt to force Aboriginal people into the "mainstream".
Living conditions are deteriorating in the these communities and enormous pressure is being put on urban centres like Alice Springs as people migrate to town.
In response to the mounting social crisis in Alice Springs, the federal Labor government has announced an extra 100 CDEP positions to complete jobs such as installing post boxes, cleaning graffiti and landscaping. This is continuing the gross discrimination against Aboriginal workers - people will only by paid Centrelink and the BasicsCard for what should be proper municipal work!
Take a stand against racism. Join the fight for an end to arrangements forcing people to work for the BasicsCard. Demand investment in community based employment programs across all Aboriginal communities that pay proper wages and include the right to join unions.
Join the lunchtime rally and petition launch on May 5 at the offices of Indigenous employment Minister Mark Arbib
Organised by: Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney (STICS) contact Jean 0449646593 jobswithjustice.wordpress.com stoptheintervention.org
Sunday, May 01, 2011
IMF: Australia's debt very low
The IMF is urging the high public debt developed nations to reduce their net debt to levels of 60 per cent of GDP. Without this fiscal adjustment it has warned that they face adverse macroeconomic consequences. IMF research has found that if the G7 countries do not take measures to rein in their debt levels their interest rates could rise by two percentage points and potential growth could be half a per cent lower. This could also have a detrimental impact on the world economy and affect even low debt countries such as Australia.
Conclusions
In sum, Australia has negligible levels of debt (see graph) which pose little threat to the country’s economic outlook. However, Australia could be affected by the international implications posed by the G7.
General government net debt 2010
Excludes Norway, Sweden and Chile which have negative net debt.
(a) Australia refers to financial year 2009–10. Figures from 11 May Budget.
Sources: International Monetary Fund, Fiscal monitor: navigating the fiscal challenges ahead, 14 May 2010; and Treasury, Budget strategy and outlook, Budget paper no. 1, 2010–11.
Conclusions
In sum, Australia has negligible levels of debt (see graph) which pose little threat to the country’s economic outlook. However, Australia could be affected by the international implications posed by the G7.
General government net debt 2010
Excludes Norway, Sweden and Chile which have negative net debt.
(a) Australia refers to financial year 2009–10. Figures from 11 May Budget.
Sources: International Monetary Fund, Fiscal monitor: navigating the fiscal challenges ahead, 14 May 2010; and Treasury, Budget strategy and outlook, Budget paper no. 1, 2010–11.
Sydney May Day
Assemble - Hyde Park North March to Rally -12 Noon
Speakers
Paul McAleer - MUA
Joan Lemaire - NSWTF
Mal Tulloch - CFMEU
Cristian Cuevas - Chilean Copper Workers
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