Teachers Bonus a Waste of Money

There isn't much doubt that the bonus scheme for teachers will not work. Like the mystique of "time and motion" where the claim is made that human productivity is linear and is an increasing curve, it's a pipe dream! Machinery can only be speeded up so much before parts start flying off in all directions and everything shuts down for maintenance. Furthermore, when task are done too quickly a lot of "non-size" rubbish is produced. While output in some industry can be improved, for paper carriers such as teachers this is virtually impossible.

Some teachers are better than others and for the main part this is innate: it is not learned and never can be. The only measurement is the quality of students that are lucky enough to be taught by them. Even then, tying down the factors that do improve matters is not easy to identify. Usually. students have an affinity with a teacher; thus they are prepared to work harder. It is not the teacher who is putting in more effort - it is the student. Testing students to deduce the performance of their teachers will also drive a wedge between teachers and students. Considering only one in ten teachers will benefit from the bonus scheme it is divisive for teachers themselves. Industrial strife is just down the road.

Overall, it is a silly exercise. Why should the Government, the taxpayer, pay more? Will good teachers be paid more for what they are already doing? It seems so. Why single out one sector of employment for a reward that everyone else doesn't get purely because it is motivated by one person, Julia Gillard? Apparently it has to do with good teachers being virtuous people. It is not much use holding out one group as an example if there is no intention to apply it to the whole workforce. Paying good teacher more will not make lesser beings respectful toward them. It will make the average teacher angry. Let's not go back to pet projects like in the Howard and Rudd eras.

http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/
http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/
http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Education

Teachers Bonus a Waste of Money

There isn't much doubt that the bonus scheme for teachers will not work. Like the mystique of "time and motion" where the claim is made that human productivity is linear and is an increasing curve, it's a pipe dream! Machinery can only be speeded up so much before parts start flying off in all directions and everything shuts down for maintenance. Furthermore, when task are done too quickly a lot of "non-size" rubbish is produced. While output in some industry can be improved, for paper carriers such as teachers this is virtually impossible.

Some teachers are better than others and for the main part this is innate: it is not learned and never can be. The only measurement is the quality of students that are lucky enough to be taught by them. Even then, tying down the factors that do improve matters is not easy to identify. Usually. students have an affinity with a teacher; thus they are prepared to work harder. It is not the teacher who is putting in more effort - it is the student. Testing students to deduce the performance of their teachers will also drive a wedge between teachers and students. Considering only one in ten teachers will benefit from the bonus scheme it is divisive for teachers themselves. Industrial strife is just down the road.

Overall, it is a silly exercise. Why should the Government, the taxpayer, pay more? Will good teachers be paid more for what they are already doing? It seems so. Why single out one sector of employment for a reward that everyone else doesn't get purely because it is motivated by one person, Julia Gillard? Apparently it has to do with good teachers being virtuous people. It is not much use holding out one group as an example if there is no intention to apply it to the whole workforce. Paying good teacher more will not make lesser beings respectful toward them. It will make the average teacher angry. Let's not go back to pet projects like in the Howard and Rudd eras.

http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/
http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/
http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Education

The Government Is Wrong to Fund Chaplaincy in Schools

Most people don't attend church, synagogue or mosque yet Nations pander to those who hold religious beliefs with outdated ceremonies. It seems one hasn't the right not to believe in anything other than accepting the fact that humans live and die.

Ron Williams tried to send his children to a school that taught all religions but also taught secularism. He couldn't find one. Schools identified with one faith and virtually condemned all others. He saw requests for gold coins to fund scripture union classes as offensive and something he wasn't going to give. Indeed, chaplains seemed to be at war with teachers over the minds of students. What he found most difficult of all to accept was that the government was already partially funding Access Ministries which were "transforming the nation for God." Adolf Hitler tried similar brain washing systems to control the Hitler Youth.

What is driving the wads of cash? All political parties need the support of the church to win elections. Indeed, it is the silence of the churches that is the objective.

The issue is now being taken to the High Court by Ron Williams with the intent of stopping the funding. He probably won't win. His attempt is worth loud applause from the community.

http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/
http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com

~~~~~Religion~~~~~

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Government Is Wrong to Fund Chaplaincy in Schools

Most people don't attend church, synagogue or mosque yet Nations pander to those who hold religious beliefs with outdated ceremonies. It seems one hasn't the right not to believe in anything other than accepting the fact that humans live and die.

Ron Williams tried to send his children to a school that taught all religions but also taught secularism. He couldn't find one. Schools identified with one faith and virtually condemned all others. He saw requests for gold coins to fund scripture union classes as offensive and something he wasn't going to give. Indeed, chaplains seemed to be at war with teachers over the minds of students. What he found most difficult of all to accept was that the government was already partially funding Access Ministries which were "transforming the nation for God." Adolf Hitler tried similar brain washing systems to control the Hitler Youth.

What is driving the wads of cash? All political parties need the support of the church to win elections. Indeed, it is the silence of the churches that is the objective.

The issue is now being taken to the High Court by Ron Williams with the intent of stopping the funding. He probably won't win. His attempt is worth loud applause from the community.

http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/
http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com

~~~~~Religion~~~~~

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Stop Funding Private Schools

The Australian Government is ignoring the protests of teachers and going ahead with publishing a list of schools ranked by proficiency. There are problems in how this ranking is done, what criteria it is based on and what parents can do about it. Teachers say the tests on students are not fully relevant to measuring how well schools "produce" good students. The rules of the test need to be explained to parents. If a parent finds his or her child does attend a poorly ranked school how can a change be carried out if, in the bush for example, another school is a hundred miles away?

Low wage earners do not have the choice of paying for their children's education so the list for them is irrelevant. Suggestions that parents take their custom elsewhere is not a luxury they can afford. The Government has made mistakes in allocating resources to schools. Yes they continue to do this. Too much is dished out to schools who then send parents unregulated bills to educate their children. Education is being treated like a business when it shouldn't be. It should be a right irrespective of income. These schools choose students based on their own criteria. A couple took their children to a Catholic School and admitted they were Protestants. They never got any correspondence from this school again. It is rubbish to say parents have a right to choose.

The website will show that schools in disadvantaged communities will be ranked low. You don't have to be an expert to know this. The allocation of money is the problem. It always had been. It is ridiculous to give schools money then allow them to charge as well. Cut all funding to private schools except to those who cater for teaching of rural students who have to live away from home. Cut funding and watch parents move their children out of private schools, ranking or no ranking. The cost of keeping them there will be too high. Let's face it private schools are subsidized by the taxpayer.

Ranking will let parents into the big secret of under-performing schools. And when they know there will be a reaction. The Government will not have to wait long for this. The Government will then try to quietly close the website citing a "technicality", like a review of the ranking system.

The truth is described by Judy Crowe of Melbourne Girls' College. She says that the school spends $20,000 per student which is three times the average spent on students in public schools. Parents who send there children to private schools are not upset by the ranking, because they will see their choice justified - carry on paying and get a first class education subsidized by the state.

Correct the disjointed funding problem. It is skewed toward the rich. Give to the poor.

http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/
http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Stop Funding Private Schools

The Australian Government is ignoring the protests of teachers and going ahead with publishing a list of schools ranked by proficiency. There are problems in how this ranking is done, what criteria it is based on and what parents can do about it. Teachers say the tests on students are not fully relevant to measuring how well schools "produce" good students. The rules of the test need to be explained to parents. If a parent finds his or her child does attend a poorly ranked school how can a change be carried out if, in the bush for example, another school is a hundred miles away?

Low wage earners do not have the choice of paying for their children's education so the list for them is irrelevant. Suggestions that parents take their custom elsewhere is not a luxury they can afford. The Government has made mistakes in allocating resources to schools. Yes they continue to do this. Too much is dished out to schools who then send parents unregulated bills to educate their children. Education is being treated like a business when it shouldn't be. It should be a right irrespective of income. These schools choose students based on their own criteria. A couple took their children to a Catholic School and admitted they were Protestants. They never got any correspondence from this school again. It is rubbish to say parents have a right to choose.

The website will show that schools in disadvantaged communities will be ranked low. You don't have to be an expert to know this. The allocation of money is the problem. It always had been. It is ridiculous to give schools money then allow them to charge as well. Cut all funding to private schools except to those who cater for teaching of rural students who have to live away from home. Cut funding and watch parents move their children out of private schools, ranking or no ranking. The cost of keeping them there will be too high. Let's face it private schools are subsidized by the taxpayer.

Ranking will let parents into the big secret of under-performing schools. And when they know there will be a reaction. The Government will not have to wait long for this. The Government will then try to quietly close the website citing a "technicality", like a review of the ranking system.

The truth is described by Judy Crowe of Melbourne Girls' College. She says that the school spends $20,000 per student which is three times the average spent on students in public schools. Parents who send there children to private schools are not upset by the ranking, because they will see their choice justified - carry on paying and get a first class education subsidized by the state.

Correct the disjointed funding problem. It is skewed toward the rich. Give to the poor.

http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/
http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .