“EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION” by Des Kelly

From time to time, it comes into focus. In Australia, it is on the agenda again. The “emphasis” on education. Aussie kids, and indeed, Lankan/Aussie kids of today seem to be regressing in this field rather than progressing with all the facilities available to them. Bad habits, beginning with the coming of the Internet especially, gives these children the idea that they needn’t study anymore. Little gadgets that now seem to be a part of them will educate them, tell them everything they want to know, do their Mathematics, calculations etc., at the press of a button or a click of a finger, so why do we have to spend time studying ?. This is the general consensus, but then, suddenly, they have grown-up, they have got to go out there, into this big ugly World that gives you nothing for nothing. They have to get a job, take their “resumes”(generally written by someone else), go to their interview, the man seated at the desk asks them a simple arithmetic question, but without the tiny calculator in hand, the answer isn’t forthcoming, and bang, they have lost a job that would have bought them a better car than the “bomb” they drove to the interview. So sad, but it is now happening in this First-World Country today.!

The “Gonski-report”, just to hand, tells us that methods now used in education are failing because all pupils in “classes” around Australia are being taught “as one”.

As everyone knows, there are students who, not only study harder, but naturally, are more “brainy”. These individuals are “hemmed-in” with the less brainy ones, and, as a result, find that they are unnecessarily delayed in “going forward”.

It is therefore more preferable if “smart-students” are separated from the not-so-smart ones & allowed to get ahead, faster. This is only one of many recommendations by Mr.Gonski. This particular gentleman must be pretty smart, himself, as the various Governments intend to follow all his “reports”, better late, than never, I suppose.

I, me & myself, were never on the “smart” side of the coin. However, I was not “dumb” either. I would advise each and every parent, who is responsible for each child they bring forth,(before they even START School), to try and interest their child in BOOKS. Picture-books would be a good start. Point out to them, the various animals & flowers

etc., saying the names softly, encouraging the child to start using his/her vocal capabilities at the same time. START the child’s education, before they even START School.

They will soon get used to it. Then, when they start school, the “reading habit” is already in them, thus making it much easier for them to begin their schooling life.

I am sure that Mr.Gonski will agree with me. “READING” is an education in itself. Writing, arithmetic, math, history and geography will follow, but BOOKS, not iphones, should be number one for every child born, especially in first-World Countries like Australia.To get an University degree is not enough if you cannot read it’s content or sign your name legibly (so that everyone can read it), Books are cool. Feel the pages as you flip them over, sniff the exhilarating aroma of the printed-page. Read, read, read, & you won’t go wrong.