When your child first starts school, you end up being confronted with a whole new world of things that may or may not be necessary for your child. Everything from learning aids through to specialty pencil cases through to toys...hopefully this list will whittle it down a little.
Primary School:
"Practice NAPLAN" tests: Unless your child has special needs and would benefit from knowing how the tests work before they take them, all these really end up doing is increasing further anxiety in your child and basically render the point of NAPLAN moot (which is meant to be comparing how your child is doing against a "typical" child their age, not as a pissing contest)
Art Smocks: Your child will outgrow these very quickly. A very large adult t-shirt or flannelette shirt will suffice in most cases and will last much longer, plus requires almost no to minimal work to be rendered usable (elastic at the cuffs). Most school paints at this level are designed to wash out easily, although you may come across those rare cases where it won't.
Math Sets: Until around year 5 or 6, the only things your child will need are a ruler and a compass. Protractors (when used) tend to be provided as a class set and set squares are almost never used in primary school.
"Brain Development" Supplements: Unless you have been advised by the doctor that your child needs a particular supplement in their diet, there has been no independent evidence showing that these will make your child smarter or score better in classroom tests.
Licensed Book Coverings: It's much cheaper and easier to make your own, as kids will outgrow these fads and trends very quickly. That Shopkins covering in Term 1 will largely end up being outclassed by a Monster High one in Term 4. Let your kid decorate their own front covers! Give them some blank paper (A4 is best), leave a section to fill in the class and year, then simply let the kid go to town.
Gel Pens: I would actually avoid these until at least Year 5 or 6. They are not designed for class work and wind up generally being used for vandalism at the end of the day. Prior to the year levels I've mentioned above, your child is also still learning how to use a pen or pencil - don't confuse them further.
Novelty Erasers: Simply put, they don't work. If your child insists on a novelty eraser, settle for one where the actual rubber part of the eraser is white as those are generally more effective.
White-Out/Liquid Paper: Aside from a number of schools having banned this, for children up until high school, it is generally better for them to learn ways of correcting mistakes that do not entail the use of liquid paper or white-out.
Battery-Operated or Crank Sharpeners: The former tend to take up space on desks and also run the risk of being stolen. The latter put unnecessary strain on the core of a pencil and tend to result in it breaking easier.
Spray-on hair colour: While these have been a mainstay of school Sports Days, swimming carnivals and fundraising events (not to mention the occasional concert), these are typically banned due to OHS concerns (Similar to deodorant). If your child does wish to colour their hair for these events, pony up for some hair chalk - while it takes a little longer to apply, it's not nearly as messy to remove and you can do so much more with the hair than just a quick spray job! Alternately, opt for a pump spray-on colour - they do exist, albeit are extremely rare.
School "Ribbons": Unless your child's school dictates the use of certain ribbons in your girl's hair, it's just as cheaper (and easier) to get some craft ribbon from the local cheap shop and use it in their hair.
Sharpies/Permanent Markers: Hold off until high school and even then, only in limited circumstances.
Left-handed Scissors: Try to find a pair that is ambidextrous (most are these days) as they're generally easier to obtain and will last a lot longer.
Plastic "Safety" scissors: These are generally ineffective and school scissors these days are generally only sharp enough to cut through paper and certain other materials - not flesh.
Novelty Scissors: See above re Safety Scissors. This also extends to any scissors with "covers" - these will fall off or get lost very quickly.
Robi "Nit" combs: These are combs which will give a small "zap" and kill headlice upon contact (they don't zap the child). While headlice is basically the scourge of every parent in primary and high school, I actually would suggest avoiding these combs for one simple reason: they make a very high-pitched noise while you're combing through your child's hair, which stops when they either detect or kill headlice. Stick with something that's less inclined to cause distress to animals or to any child with sensory issues.
Wide-brimmed hats WITHOUT a breakaway cord: These are a safety hazard and ideally these sort of hats should be avoided altogether, breakaway cord or not. Stick to either a bucket hat (if the school allows it) or a legionnaire's hat.
"School Canteen Approved" snacks: These are generally marketed as such based on arbitrary guidelines and are not consistent with any sort of state or federal government plan on what can and cannot be sold in school canteens. Check to see what your child's school canteen does sell for an idea of what are genuinely "Green Light" or "Amber Light" products. Better still, cut up some carrot sticks or apple slices and pop them in with something cold!
Fruit Boxes/Juice Boxes/Mini "Moo": These tend to contain a LOT of sugar and not much else. Stick to water as it'll last longer. It also has the added benefit in that it can be "frozen" in the morning and then will gradually thaw out during the day. End result? Cold water all day and your child's lunch won't go off.
Special "Sports" practice gear: Unless otherwise advised by the school, your child's school uniform will generally suffice for afternoon practice.
Mobile Phones: I know this is a hot-button topic for many, many parents and I can understand the reason behind parents wanting to give their child one, especially if said child does not attend before or after school care. That said though, many schools bar mobile phones for primary school aged children and for good reason! If you must give your child a mobile phone, avoid any sort of smartphone (classroom teachers will generally dictate iPads or tablets if the apps are needed for the classroom) and stick with either a simple prepaid "brick" phone (usually around $20-$30 at OFficeworks) or look at the possibility of providing a "Kisaphone" for your child. The latter is a phone that can be programmed with certain numbers (meaning that your child cannot have random strangers contacting them) and nothing else. This ensures that your kid is not racking up hundreds of dollars in debt before they're old enough to understand the consequences and also means that your kid is not likely to find themselves the victim of a random pedophile. (For those parents with court orders, these phones are also ideal if you have an order preventing the other parent from contacting your child)
High School:
Spray Deodorant and Hair Colour: Same reasons as the primary school scenario, these can cause issues for children with respiratory problems and also irritate others. Stick to hair chalk, roll-on deodorant or pump deodorant.
Portable Hard Drives: These are best kept at home. At best, your child may not even need a USB stick at school and worst-case scenario is that your child will likely not need anything larger than a 32GB stick.
Bus pass holders: Just have your kid keep their card in their purse/wallet.
ID card holders: Same as above.
Graphics Calculator: Unless your child is going into "Pure Maths" or variants of in Year 11/12, a scientific calculator will cover most functions until then and is relatively inexpensive. Please do not encourage the use of calculator apps on your child's device - these tend to be very simplistic at best.
Padlocks with a key: Unless your child's school provides these for your child, it is generally much easier on the school and your child to purchase a combination lock and hand the combination over to front office staff as well. This way, if your child does forget their locker combination, staff are able to assist without needing to necessarily cut the padlock. This also saves lost keys!
Expensive Dance Gear: Unless your child is undertaking Dance classes outside of school hours on a regular basis, unless otherwise advised by your child's teacher, generally what your child wears for PE should suffice.
Wednesday, 8 February 2017
Wednesday, 23 March 2016
Scholastic Secondary: Uniform Tips
So upon re-reading the first post I did on school uniforms, I initially discarded the idea of doing a post on secondary uniforms. Then I realised that most, if not all high schools have a winter uniform and they'll be swapping into that fairly soon. Hopefully this post might provide some advice for you as we move into winter.
NOTE: this mainly applies to public schools, but may also apply to some private schools. Take careful note as all of the points may not necessarily apply to you.
NOTE: this mainly applies to public schools, but may also apply to some private schools. Take careful note as all of the points may not necessarily apply to you.
- Secondly, schools will use the terms "dress code" and "uniform" interchangably. Unless they are an alternative school that doesn't rely on a uniform (and there are a small handful of those in Australia), they pretty much refer to the same thing.
To address this, I'll go down each item of clothing individually.
Tops and Jumpers:
- Unless your child is still fitting into kids-size clothing, you're generally restricted to purchasing your uniform items from the school uniform shop. Some schools will use Lowes as a supplier and there are staples available, so at the very least, you're not required to give up your day to drag your kiddo to the uniform shop for a fitting.
- Try as you might, but if your child's uniform has a white shirt, that shirt will get stained by the end of the day. If your child's school demands that they wear a white shirt, please question why this is the case and/or if there is an alternative.
- For winter, most schools will allow students to wear certain long-sleeved shirts underneath or they may have a long-sleeved alternative. If your child's school allows the long-sleeved shirt underneath rule, I would suggest making sure that the shirt is in the same colour as the uniform shirt, or at the very least white. If you (or your child) do need to cover their arms for religious reasons or otherwise, white is generally a safe option.
- For jumpers, regardless of whether they are woollen or not, please label them with a label that is ironed on or stitched-on and has their name printed on it-not handwritten. Please do not write their name on the tag-it will fade off over time (even sharpies). All it really needs to be is your child's full name, don't put their class or year level on there.
- It may be worth learning how to darn or at the very least fix holes in clothing if your child has a woollen jumper. It is much cheaper to have those holes repaired than it is to get a replacement jumper.
- If your child's school uniform requires them to wear a tie for any reason, check to see if a clip on or pre-tied tie is available (the latter generally will have a length of elastic or fabric that sits under the collar with a breakaway option). I say this as generally tie clips are not sold in schools (some more elite private schools will have these) and it otherwise constitutes a safety hazard for your child. If a clip-on option is not available, try and purchase a very simple tie clip that can be worn without it being obvious.
Dresses:
- Unless your child's school says otherwise, PLEASE keep these for summer only. They're far too thin for winter, even with tights and a jumper.
- There will generally be rules around the length and whatnot, so be prepared to go up a size or two if your child has weird proportions that make a dress in their normal size fall out of the uniform rules. Also bear in mind that clothing sizes do vary between manufacturers, so if your child's school switches manufacturers at some point, that Size 12 your child wore previously may now be a size 10. Most schools WILL go up to at least a Size 24-26 so if your child is plus-size, don't panic!
- PLEASE label your child's dress-I cannot emphasise this enough.
- Unless the school says otherwise (generally this applies to Catholic schools and some elite schools), a good length for the dress to fall would be to knee-length or just above (no wider than a finger). If your child's skirt falls longer than that and the school does not have a rule against it, you may wish to tack the hem up. (To "tack" is to simply sew a loose running stitch around the bottom-this can then simply be cut when your child grows)
- If your child is menstruating, it may be worth teaching them how to sit so that their skirt falls out behind them and therefore the risk of staining their skirt with blood is reduced.
- Finally, please encourage them to wear simple plain sports underwear underneath their dress. As a general rule of thumb, black, dark blue or dark green underwear are fine (and would be encouraged), but I would HIGHLY recommend a white or skin-coloured bra where possible.
Pinafores/Tunics:
- Some high schools will still insist on these for your child, especially in the younger years. As a rule, I would keep the pinafore even after they're no longer allowed to (or required) to wear it and remove the bib part. Most pinafores will come with these, especially if the pattern is the same as the winter skirt.
- Be prepared to take the pinafore to a professional to have it altered if the bib part is NOT detachable.
Skirts/Shorts/Pants:
- For "summer" skirts, shorts and skorts, get your child to kneel down while wearing the aforementioned item of clothing. If you can fit an entire palm width between the bottom of the garment and the floor, then it's too short for them. If the hem of the skirt/shorts/skort/dress is being knelt on, (unless the school says otherwise), it's likely too long and may cause problems unless you tack the hem up. (Some private schools dictate the skirt length to be somewhere between knee length and mid-calf) Generally a finger-width is OK.
- To get the most out of the skirts or dresses (or even shorts), tack up the hem with a handful of tacking stitches when you buy the item. As your child grows, the hem can be taken down. If you are going down this route, it's best to buy a size up to account for this.
- For shorts, try and refrain from getting basketball shorts unless it's part of the PE uniform. They tend to not last as long as the shorts marketed as "school shorts" because the material is also thinner and softer. The "school shorts" are more durable and will last much longer. Boardshorts are also a no-no as they're generally too thin.
- In schools where girls can wear pants in winter, they may wish to wear "trendier" pants. If they do wish to wear these, please refrain from purchasing them from anywhere apart from Target/Big W/Kmart/Lowes, shops designated as "schoolwear" shops (that is, they ONLY sell schoolwear/workwear) or from the school directly. The school may also set this up as a rule-not because it's distracting to the boys, but more for consistency's sake and also due to the tendency for those pants to sag or reveal butt-crack when bending over.
- For private schools and nearly all public high schools, trackpants, leggings or yoga pants are a big no-no outside of PE or Dance lessons. Even then, for PE lessons, they may ask that your child wears a set "PE Uniform" or "Sports Uniform" for obvious reasons.
- For boys, I'll keep this simple: please make sure they wear a belt! Also, ensure that their pants or underwear are not too low/high-nobody needs to know what brand of underwear your child wears when they bend over.
- Finally, make sure that the pants have pockets and check the pockets regularly before washing. Many a notice has gone into those pants and wound up shredded all over the washing! You may also wish to consider stitching the pockets up to minimise the risk of damage-if you do, it is recommended that you at least stitch the back pockets.
Socks/Tights/Pantyhose:
- While most, if not all schools will have a rule on what socks are to be worn, how much they enforce this rule varies. For private schools, this may be enforced more heavily than public schools, especially if they dictate that the socks need to be a certain length (they'll then insist that they're a certain colour as well and/or dictate that they come from the uniform shop) and usually comes down to the teacher's discretion.
- Unless the school says otherwise, I would not send a separate pair of socks to school with your child on PE days-just let them wear what they plan on wearing for socks as it's one less thing they need to change.
- For dignity's sake (and also hygiene), please do not send your child to school in socks with sandals (unless the sandal is completely enclosed).
- Take advantage of any sales throughout the year and stock up on socks regularly. I would also recommend that if you have multiple children in the house, to buy multiple sets of socks with different coloured toes/heels or even different colours entirely and allocate certain colours to each child. Using the "sew thread"/nailpolish method doesn't work if it fades or that area develops a hole. Kmart and Big W are great for these-they don't need to be pricey.
- If your child is required to wear tights or stockings during winter, they generally need to be footed and full length (that is, you cannot wear thigh-highs, even if you have garters). They are usually also required to be black or navy by this point-this is generally one area where you can shop freely for these, as stockings fit everyone differently and what might suit one child won't necessarily suit another. (As a side note, if your child is plus-size, I would HIGHLY recommend Sonsee brand-they sell black tights in everything from 20 to 100 denier)
- At this stage, they'll also likely insist on them being a certain "denier." This just means that they're more opaque. If they don't, 70 denier is generally a good thickness (anything over around 120 stops being tights and starts being leggings and anything less than this becomes stockings). Footless tights are generally a no-no. They are also required to be plain-if you spot your daughter walking out with patterned or fishnets, please stop them.
Shoes:
First off, before I go into my tips, take note that most, if not all private schools, dictate the wearing of black leather "school shoes", with variants on style as needed. That said, this information is still handy for sports uniforms, so don't discard this section entirely.
- General no-nos for shoes at school are flip-flops (aka "thongs"), ugg boots, slippers, fancy shoes (i.e. the kind you might wear to a wedding) including thong-like sandals, clogs or variants of these (i.e. Crocs), ballet flats (even if they have straps), shoes with high heels/wedges/platforms or anything that could be construed as otherwise inappropriate.
- A similar variant on this (more for girls) is that if they do require black leather school shoes, anything with a "chunky" heel is generally also discouraged. (that is, the sole is not flat or the heel height is not slight)
- For PE, if your child has stopped growing, I would definitely consider investing in a pair of sneakers from somewhere like Athlete's Foot-they will last the rest of the school term or at least until PE stops being compulsory.
- It may be tempting for your child to get the "REALLY COOL" shoes, but unless their feet have stopped growing, it'll be cheaper for you (and them) to avoid these shoes. Also, please do not send your child to school in heelies or variants of this-they are generally frowned upon for safety reasons. (Skate shoes also tend to have a short lifespan both in quality and in fashion)
- For high school students, sneakers, lace-ups, boots or Mary Jane style shoes are an absolute MUST for OHS reasons. Even if they are not taking technology, PE, Science or Home Ec subjects, that does not mean they will be avoiding those classrooms or spaces. Even if your child's school allows or encourages sandals in summer, do NOT send them to school in these.
- "But the shoes are black" you might hear your daughter saying in regards to black ballet flats! There are a few reasons why ballet flats tend to be banned-the main ones are that they are not as supportive as regular shoes, they fall off during the day, they often tend to not cover the toes very well (basically if something drops on them, your child will know it!), there's often the question of fashionable items and cost as a result and finally, even though the outside may be flat, the inside may be slightly raised, thus essentially they become heels.
Hair, Makeup and Accessories.
- Check with your child's school on acceptable haircuts for both genders. There will be some leeway on what is considered to be unacceptable, but the gender divide on hair is more prominent in the private system than the public (that is, girls might be OK with long hair, boys not so much).
- For boys, shaving designs into the head, rattails, mullets and similar are generally a good way to get written off as a troublemaker or bogan by both teachers and students. For girls, any sort of "trashy" hairstyle will get the same treatment.
- For both genders, go easy on the hair products. While you may have heard the trick about using hair products to prevent head lice from invading your child's scalp, it doesn't work. (I'll cover the dreaded head lice in another post). Also, please do not assume that high schools are headlice-free.
- Many private high schools will encourage or insist on your child using hairties or clips that match the school colours. These are quite easy to obtain from most shops and supermarkets and may also make it easier for you when you're doing their hair. Some schools may also have these (along with ribbons) in their uniform shop.
- Regardless of whether or not you use the "school colour" hairties, I highly highly recommend going for the snagless elastics. The ones with the metal bit on them WILL get caught in hair.
- Also, pony up a bit for these-while it may be tempting to buy the super-cheap bobbles and hair ties from the local Reject Shop, they fall apart quite quickly, aren't as secure and also may contain other bits or pieces that will catch on hair. Save them for home.
- If you have multiple school-age children (regardless of the school they attend), it may be worth making up separate "hair bags" for them. Purchase a cheap makeup bag (they're readily available at department stores, chemists, supermarkets and such), add a hairbrush, comb, nit comb (just in case), a supply of hair ties, ribbons, clips and bobby pins and voila! It also helps reduce the spread of headlice and makes it easier to treat.
- Makeup for secondary students is generally a flat-out no-no, however some schools may allow for it provided that it's discrete and not immediately obvious (for example, if your child is wearing a light foundation and maybe a hint of lipgloss, it will be more accepted than one who is wearing a bronzer, eyeshadow, mascara and so on).
- Please do NOT let your child get (or encourage them to get) acrylic nails, tips or anything along those lines. They will get in the way of them working, the school will likely enforce the "no makeup" rule even if there's clear nail polish on them and they present a OHS hazard.
- Jewellery tends to be limited to watches, studs or sleepers (and even then I recommend studs as sleepers can still catch on hair or other students may pull on them) and maybe an item of religious significance (schools may vary on this). Occasionally, a necklace may also be worn if it's of a modest nature. This is almost entirely for OHS reasons over any reason to squash fashion trends.
- By this point your child may wish to get a body piercing. For private schools, the rule will pretty much be one earring per ear and only in the lobe. Therefore, if they attend a private school, try and discourage them from getting a facial piercing-yes, even a tongue piercing does get noticed. Belly-buttons are generally OK provided your child wears a top or jumper that will cover it when they lift their arms up. For public schools, it's a case of YMMV, but both public and some private schools will allow clear retainers to be worn in the site of the piercing.
Commemorative Tops:
These are usually doled out in Year 12, although some middle schools (that are set up as such) will dole them out in Year 9. By this point they will get expensive, so I would really only recommend 1 jumper or jacket and 1 or 2 shirts if they're an option. As an added point, if your child does want their nickname on their jumper/shirt (most schools do allow for this), please check what the nickname is before they hand in the form-most schools will refuse ones like "pig fucker" but depending on your child, the nickname given may also be a sign that they're bullied.
Exemptions:
Most schools are not that heartless and will understand that from time to time, things happen. By law or by policy, most public schools will make exceptions in their dress code for the following reasons:
- Financial hardship (this is on a case-by-case basis and the school may be able to work with you for being able to afford the uniform.)
- Cultural or ethnic (this may be a little rarer nowadays, but may be that for example, your child might be allowed to wear certain items during certain times)
- Religious (this one is a little easier to modify and most schools are now incorporating parts of this into their standard dress code. What this may typically look like is the allowance of a student to wear religious dress provided it's in the school colours. Note that schools can and do check up on these things and will not simply take your word for it.)
- If you are a brand new student (this ground is a little harder to prove nowadays given that most parents would have their child settled into the area well before they move schools. That said, as some schools are tightening uniform policies to include items that can't be purchased from Kmart, it's a little harder)
- If there's a genuine medical need for it (this might be that for example, the student can wear a sandal to allow for a swollen or infected foot that's being treated, or that they can wear shorts to allow for a knee brace/cast)
- Mobile or transient students (the school would be aware of this. Examples of this might be families where one or both parents are in the defence force, emergency force or where one parent is escaping an abusive relationship)
- Any other situations (these are assessed on a case-by-case basis)
These are not automatically granted however and parents do need to take their case to the principal as soon as they are aware of the matter (for example, if it's a surgical thing, making the school aware before the surgery). Some states will require it to be done within 3 weeks of the term. These exemptions are usually temporary although in some cases, they may be ongoing. If your child is attending a K-12 school, any exemptions may not necessarily apply when your child moves over to the high school.
Schools may also insist that students with exemptions are restricted to certain areas of the school during recess and lunchtime. While this may seem like a case of putting on a "front" and that the school cares about image more,in most cases, this is to prevent students from being mistaken for non-students or for those students to take advantage of the fact that they aren't in uniform and thus leave the school grounds.
For private schools, the same general principle applies.
FAQS and other questions:
What about hats?
For secondary students, this tends to fall into a few categories depending on the school. Some private schools (generally all-girls ones, but sometimes co-ed do this too) and selective public schools will require your girl to wear a straw hat with a badge on the hat band (at least in summer), while other schools will allow either a bucket hat, wide-brimmed hat or cap that is designated by the school. Unless they require the latter in the uniform, please aim for the wide-brimmed or bucket hats where possible-there's a reason why we have the highest rates of skin cancer.
Your child may also be required to wear the hat out of the school grounds. If they ride a bike to school, generally the rule only extends to the child wearing it out of the school gates at least.
Your child may also be required to wear the hat out of the school grounds. If they ride a bike to school, generally the rule only extends to the child wearing it out of the school gates at least.
I don't want to go to the school uniform shop, can you suggest anywhere else?
Lowes (Australia Lowes), Best n Less, any shop that designates itself as a schoolwear shop and some workwear stores. And yes, Lowes do sell school uniform "staples" for both genders-they are not just a menswear store (they do also act as a supplier for some schools for their entire uniform).
Why do you discourage writing their name on the tag, even if there's a space for it?
The problem with those particular tags is threefold:
-They generally do not hold ink very well and even laundry pens can fade or smudge over time.
-If your child has a sensory issue and can't cope with the tags on the clothing, they generally need to be cut off (it's not always just that the tag is rubbing because it's moving, it may also be the composition of the tag fabric) negating the need for it.
-Finally, there's generally not enough space for a full name to be put on there so if your child has a long name, they can't really have the name on the tag and use short forms/nicknames generally doesn't work.
The added benefit of the iron/sew-on labels is that they can be put in a place that's not immediately irritating to the student (such as on the bottom) and they can also be firmly ironed/stitched into place reducing the irritability issue. Many, many places will allow you to order custom-made printed labels with your child's name on it and if you own a labelmaker, the two main varieties sold in shops (Brother and Dymo) sell label "tapes" that are of a fabric nature.
Why are ballet flats not an allowed option? They cover the toes and feet!
They're generally forbidden for the following reasons:
-They slip off easily.
-While they do appear to encase the toes/heel, not all varieties of ballet flat do this. (most in fact, only just cover the toes)
-They provide very minimal support for the foot, especially when you're active.
-The sole is also often very thin. (and in some cases, is almost entirely non-existent)
-It also minimises that "cost" thing, as ballet flats can run the gamut from $5 at Kmart to $150 in some places.
-There are several options out there for students that tend to result in them looking anywhere from "party"-like to "pretty"
-Finally, ballet flats also tend to fall into that realm of "party shoes."
Canvas slip-on shoes and canvas flats that look like ballet flats do generally have a lot more support and coverage, but for fairness sake, the latter tend to be banned.
What about if my child has special needs?
If your child has special needs, the same rule around exemptions applies. I would suggest talking to your child's GP or therapists about modifications. Alternately the school can also assist.
What about if my child has an injury?
For temporary injuries, the rule about exemptions does apply. Generally speaking, if the area needs to be kept "exposed" or covering it causes discomfort, schools will relax a little on the coverage rules. If your child breaks their arm/wrist, it is still possible to get them into their school uniform tops/shirts-you will need to lift their arm right up and it'll take some time to slip the casted arm/hand into the sleeve. Then simply replace the sling (if they have one) and you're done! For winter, you may need to use a jacket instead of a jumper. If your child breaks/sprains their leg/ankle/foot, the same issue applies, or you may need to buy an item of clothing the next size up to accommodate the cast. Some schools may allow for a loaner if needed, but check with them first.
You don't mention blazers...why?
These are almost entirely restricted to private schools, although some public schools will either provide or loan/hire out blazers for official functions. Some schools may also dictate that these are worn for "formal" events. In this instance, the main tips for them are pretty much the same everywhere: stick to 1 blazer (as they are PRICEY), get it dry-cleaned regularly (some schools provide this as an option) and make sure that your child is aware of the protocol with said blazer (such as when to wear it, take it off and so on). If your child is prone to losing clothing, there's enough space for it and the school has no rule about requiring blazers to be worn in or out of school grounds, it may be worth allowing them to put their blazer in their locker-make sure that they can fold it up first.
Why/when do public schools loan out blazers?
Typically this is for formal events or occasions where the standard school uniform won't cut it. Typically that same uniform will already have a white button-up shirt (or in some cases green/blue) or school dress as part of it, but the blazers tend to clarify exactly where they're from. The events include things such as inducting school captains, Open Day (worn by students acting as tour guides or similar, parents do see students in the actual uniform), representing their school at memorial events, graduation (rarely, but it does happen), photo day (SRC only usually), greeting MPs or foreign dignitaries and some competitions. Your child will usually be advised if the blazer is needed or they will be provided with one.
My child attends a private school and I can't afford the uniform, what should I do?
Both public and private schools will regularly keep a stock of pre-loved uniform pieces. There's usually nothing wrong with these, just that they've previously been worn by another child. Some schools will also hold secondhand shop days with the same idea. Check with your school's uniform shop to find out how this works for you. If you'd like to repay the favour, a lot of schools will encourage this, sometimes under consignment (meaning that you will get some money back when another parent purchases the garment) sometimes simply as a donation. Check with your school's uniform shop on how this works and what condition the garment needs to be in. For hygiene purposes, old sports uniforms (not the PE uniform, this is more sports team competition uniforms), socks, some skorts, bathing suits (some schools do demand this too) and hats are generally not allowed to be sold or donated.
My child keeps losing clothing, what do I do?
Aside from labelling the everloving crap out of everything (it is possible to get labels printed with your child's name for a fee in some places, alternately a labelmaker and fabric tape are available from Big W, Kmart, Target and Officeworks for around $50-$60 total), there are a few things you can do.
-Check the school's lost property box regularly. Once a week will usually be enough.
-Understand that the most common items to go missing are hats and jumpers. Lunchboxes may also occasionally go missing if your child's school does not get kids to eat in their classrooms first (or if your child puts other items in there) .
-If your child attends any sort of after-school care program, check the lost property box there as well!
-If your child is continually losing items despite efforts on their end (as well as yours), it may also be a sign of bullying or another psychological issue and it may be worth taking further action.
The problem with those particular tags is threefold:
-They generally do not hold ink very well and even laundry pens can fade or smudge over time.
-If your child has a sensory issue and can't cope with the tags on the clothing, they generally need to be cut off (it's not always just that the tag is rubbing because it's moving, it may also be the composition of the tag fabric) negating the need for it.
-Finally, there's generally not enough space for a full name to be put on there so if your child has a long name, they can't really have the name on the tag and use short forms/nicknames generally doesn't work.
The added benefit of the iron/sew-on labels is that they can be put in a place that's not immediately irritating to the student (such as on the bottom) and they can also be firmly ironed/stitched into place reducing the irritability issue. Many, many places will allow you to order custom-made printed labels with your child's name on it and if you own a labelmaker, the two main varieties sold in shops (Brother and Dymo) sell label "tapes" that are of a fabric nature.
Why are ballet flats not an allowed option? They cover the toes and feet!
They're generally forbidden for the following reasons:
-They slip off easily.
-While they do appear to encase the toes/heel, not all varieties of ballet flat do this. (most in fact, only just cover the toes)
-They provide very minimal support for the foot, especially when you're active.
-The sole is also often very thin. (and in some cases, is almost entirely non-existent)
-It also minimises that "cost" thing, as ballet flats can run the gamut from $5 at Kmart to $150 in some places.
-There are several options out there for students that tend to result in them looking anywhere from "party"-like to "pretty"
-Finally, ballet flats also tend to fall into that realm of "party shoes."
Canvas slip-on shoes and canvas flats that look like ballet flats do generally have a lot more support and coverage, but for fairness sake, the latter tend to be banned.
What about if my child has special needs?
If your child has special needs, the same rule around exemptions applies. I would suggest talking to your child's GP or therapists about modifications. Alternately the school can also assist.
What about if my child has an injury?
For temporary injuries, the rule about exemptions does apply. Generally speaking, if the area needs to be kept "exposed" or covering it causes discomfort, schools will relax a little on the coverage rules. If your child breaks their arm/wrist, it is still possible to get them into their school uniform tops/shirts-you will need to lift their arm right up and it'll take some time to slip the casted arm/hand into the sleeve. Then simply replace the sling (if they have one) and you're done! For winter, you may need to use a jacket instead of a jumper. If your child breaks/sprains their leg/ankle/foot, the same issue applies, or you may need to buy an item of clothing the next size up to accommodate the cast. Some schools may allow for a loaner if needed, but check with them first.
You don't mention blazers...why?
These are almost entirely restricted to private schools, although some public schools will either provide or loan/hire out blazers for official functions. Some schools may also dictate that these are worn for "formal" events. In this instance, the main tips for them are pretty much the same everywhere: stick to 1 blazer (as they are PRICEY), get it dry-cleaned regularly (some schools provide this as an option) and make sure that your child is aware of the protocol with said blazer (such as when to wear it, take it off and so on). If your child is prone to losing clothing, there's enough space for it and the school has no rule about requiring blazers to be worn in or out of school grounds, it may be worth allowing them to put their blazer in their locker-make sure that they can fold it up first.
Why/when do public schools loan out blazers?
Typically this is for formal events or occasions where the standard school uniform won't cut it. Typically that same uniform will already have a white button-up shirt (or in some cases green/blue) or school dress as part of it, but the blazers tend to clarify exactly where they're from. The events include things such as inducting school captains, Open Day (worn by students acting as tour guides or similar, parents do see students in the actual uniform), representing their school at memorial events, graduation (rarely, but it does happen), photo day (SRC only usually), greeting MPs or foreign dignitaries and some competitions. Your child will usually be advised if the blazer is needed or they will be provided with one.
My child attends a private school and I can't afford the uniform, what should I do?
Both public and private schools will regularly keep a stock of pre-loved uniform pieces. There's usually nothing wrong with these, just that they've previously been worn by another child. Some schools will also hold secondhand shop days with the same idea. Check with your school's uniform shop to find out how this works for you. If you'd like to repay the favour, a lot of schools will encourage this, sometimes under consignment (meaning that you will get some money back when another parent purchases the garment) sometimes simply as a donation. Check with your school's uniform shop on how this works and what condition the garment needs to be in. For hygiene purposes, old sports uniforms (not the PE uniform, this is more sports team competition uniforms), socks, some skorts, bathing suits (some schools do demand this too) and hats are generally not allowed to be sold or donated.
My child keeps losing clothing, what do I do?
Aside from labelling the everloving crap out of everything (it is possible to get labels printed with your child's name for a fee in some places, alternately a labelmaker and fabric tape are available from Big W, Kmart, Target and Officeworks for around $50-$60 total), there are a few things you can do.
-Check the school's lost property box regularly. Once a week will usually be enough.
-Understand that the most common items to go missing are hats and jumpers. Lunchboxes may also occasionally go missing if your child's school does not get kids to eat in their classrooms first (or if your child puts other items in there) .
-If your child attends any sort of after-school care program, check the lost property box there as well!
-If your child is continually losing items despite efforts on their end (as well as yours), it may also be a sign of bullying or another psychological issue and it may be worth taking further action.
Tuesday, 22 March 2016
Transcendent Tertiary: Textbook Costs
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/why-are-textbooks-so-expensive-in-australia-20160229-gn6djg.html
Normally this would be a news post, but I do actually have some tips to help with this one and the article at least highlights the problem a little bit.
My own experience with textbooks is that they are incredibly expensive and depending on the field, almost impossible to resell. In some places, there are buyback options, but it's almost damn near impossible to get rid of older textbooks or get secondhand books without needing to use textbook exchange or similar sites. My alumni (Flinders) attempted to mitigate the need for textbooks by selling readers, but even these came at a cost and in the case of my teaching degree, the cost was partially justified by the fact that many of the books required were actively used by current teachers in schools and was seen as a way of helping us build our own little "educational library." At least with the readers and the majority of the teaching books, they weren't any more than around $40-$50 at most, in comparison to some other items that went anywhere from $60-$180 in at least one case.
A reader is basically the required readings for uni bound into a book and divided by weeks. Depending on the subject, tutorial questions were also included. This had the positive effect of at least not requiring us to buy textbooks which got old real fast as the readers could be updated over time. (This did come with the payoff that readers could not be exchanged or refunded unless the lecturer/tutor made a huge error due to copyright)
This said, the costs of some textbooks are ridiculous. Law, Medicine and Science are among the worst offenders for textbook costs alone, while Social Sciences in general (along with the others mentioned) is one of the worst offenders for needing to constantly buy up-to-date books. To give you an example, I checked the Co-Op website (one of the more reliable textbook providers in the country) and selected a course from my alumni at more or less random.
For one first year nursing unit (out of around 4), there are 3 textbooks-combined, this makes up to around $400. Multiply expected costs by 4 and you're looking at around $1600+ for textbooks alone. While secondhand books are usually available, it's entirely based on luck and if you happen to know where to go.
So if you're unsure or hesitant with your textbook costs, what can you do?
- First, if you are taking a unit as an elective, consider if the cost of any textbooks is worth enrolling in the unit. It is not worth starving yourself for a "fun" unit.
- If the unit is a compulsory one, check to see if the older edition of the textbook is an acceptable option. While it is a bit tricky, it is possible to get older editions of a textbook secondhand, or the library will carry copies of that same book, which you can borrow for a certain period of time (some libraries will allow up to 4 weeks for the book and you can extend it for another 2)
- If there is a "package" set for the unit (ie textbook, workbook, CD-ROMs), you will unfortunately be required to purchase the pack as a whole. In some cases, some parts of the package might be also sold separately (ie a language book might have their audio CDs sold separately), but this is rare and if this the case, it's generally online-only. Please do not annoy the cashier by breaking it apart.
- Also check if the textbook is actually required-this also extends to checking the Extended Unit Outline available at most, if not all unis, which will outline how often the textbook actually gets used. If you find that it's not getting used all that often, or you're only using maybe 10% of the book, then consider going on the "borrow" option.
- If you DO want to go secondhand, book despoitory and Textbook Exchange are usually fairly reliable, but please exercise some common sense. That is, don't send money over the internet if you don't know the person, always arrange for meetups in a public place (the university would be even better) and try to get cash.
-If all of these options are exhausted, then you may want to prioritise what you do get. Readers are all but required in most cases. From there, I'd then look at the cheapest option and then leave the more expensive options until last.
- Alternately, consider buying them in instalments. Lay-by is generally not an option, but if, for example, you get paid fortnightly, then you'd buy 1-2 textbooks one paycheck and 1-2 the next one.
- Finally, if your uni has that option, see if they'll do buybacks at the end of the semester. You won't get much back for your book, but you'll at least get rid of it!
Normally this would be a news post, but I do actually have some tips to help with this one and the article at least highlights the problem a little bit.
My own experience with textbooks is that they are incredibly expensive and depending on the field, almost impossible to resell. In some places, there are buyback options, but it's almost damn near impossible to get rid of older textbooks or get secondhand books without needing to use textbook exchange or similar sites. My alumni (Flinders) attempted to mitigate the need for textbooks by selling readers, but even these came at a cost and in the case of my teaching degree, the cost was partially justified by the fact that many of the books required were actively used by current teachers in schools and was seen as a way of helping us build our own little "educational library." At least with the readers and the majority of the teaching books, they weren't any more than around $40-$50 at most, in comparison to some other items that went anywhere from $60-$180 in at least one case.
A reader is basically the required readings for uni bound into a book and divided by weeks. Depending on the subject, tutorial questions were also included. This had the positive effect of at least not requiring us to buy textbooks which got old real fast as the readers could be updated over time. (This did come with the payoff that readers could not be exchanged or refunded unless the lecturer/tutor made a huge error due to copyright)
This said, the costs of some textbooks are ridiculous. Law, Medicine and Science are among the worst offenders for textbook costs alone, while Social Sciences in general (along with the others mentioned) is one of the worst offenders for needing to constantly buy up-to-date books. To give you an example, I checked the Co-Op website (one of the more reliable textbook providers in the country) and selected a course from my alumni at more or less random.
For one first year nursing unit (out of around 4), there are 3 textbooks-combined, this makes up to around $400. Multiply expected costs by 4 and you're looking at around $1600+ for textbooks alone. While secondhand books are usually available, it's entirely based on luck and if you happen to know where to go.
So if you're unsure or hesitant with your textbook costs, what can you do?
- First, if you are taking a unit as an elective, consider if the cost of any textbooks is worth enrolling in the unit. It is not worth starving yourself for a "fun" unit.
- If the unit is a compulsory one, check to see if the older edition of the textbook is an acceptable option. While it is a bit tricky, it is possible to get older editions of a textbook secondhand, or the library will carry copies of that same book, which you can borrow for a certain period of time (some libraries will allow up to 4 weeks for the book and you can extend it for another 2)
- If there is a "package" set for the unit (ie textbook, workbook, CD-ROMs), you will unfortunately be required to purchase the pack as a whole. In some cases, some parts of the package might be also sold separately (ie a language book might have their audio CDs sold separately), but this is rare and if this the case, it's generally online-only. Please do not annoy the cashier by breaking it apart.
- Also check if the textbook is actually required-this also extends to checking the Extended Unit Outline available at most, if not all unis, which will outline how often the textbook actually gets used. If you find that it's not getting used all that often, or you're only using maybe 10% of the book, then consider going on the "borrow" option.
- If you DO want to go secondhand, book despoitory and Textbook Exchange are usually fairly reliable, but please exercise some common sense. That is, don't send money over the internet if you don't know the person, always arrange for meetups in a public place (the university would be even better) and try to get cash.
-If all of these options are exhausted, then you may want to prioritise what you do get. Readers are all but required in most cases. From there, I'd then look at the cheapest option and then leave the more expensive options until last.
- Alternately, consider buying them in instalments. Lay-by is generally not an option, but if, for example, you get paid fortnightly, then you'd buy 1-2 textbooks one paycheck and 1-2 the next one.
- Finally, if your uni has that option, see if they'll do buybacks at the end of the semester. You won't get much back for your book, but you'll at least get rid of it!
Tuesday, 15 March 2016
Update: Safe Schools Findings
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/conservative-mps-angry-after-safe-schools-review-finds-program-should-not-be-scrapped-20160315-gnjzgf.html
So this morning, they finally delivered the review of the Safe Schools Coalition. Surprise, surprise, it's been deemed worthy and should not be scrapped. More specifically, while the professor reviewing it argues that there are some changes that should be made, the program actually aligns with the Australian Curriculum (no surprises there at all). In other words, the program shouldn't be stripped of funding or basically scrapped in its entirety.
I, for one, am very pleased with the professor who conducted the review, even if the conservatives are not. The changes that he recommends are actually fairly reasonable and do allow for some compromises. The changes noted in the article include:
- Giving teachers more guidance over how to use the material they have been given for the program. (As a note, around 85-90% of the program is school-wide policies, so really this is a small part of it)
- Restricting the dissemination of some website links to school counsellors only (such as, for example, a student coming out as transgender). This actually makes logical sense, since the counsellors are usually either psychologists, social workers or similar and would therefore be the best place for a student to actually discuss these matters without feeling like someone will eventually find out, even if by accident (i.e. teacher letting slip to students or parents). Although that said, nothing will stop the student from finding this stuff out themselves.
- Providing more information to parents: This really isn't an issue, but again, like I've said, about 85-90% of the program is school-wide policy changes.
- Opt-out options: This really only affects the classroom component. I do actually have to disagree with this one only slightly. The reason I say this is that there's no real "sex" components to the program, it's mostly looking at sexuality and gender identity-sexuality and sex are two very different things (i.e. it's entirely possible to be gay and a virgin by choice). Unless you're prepared to thoroughly educate your kids on this issue without forcing religion down their throats or controlling what information they view online/in magazines, opting-out is somewhat moot.
The fact that the conservative MPs still seem to be of the view that it's disseminating PORN to schoolchildren seem to have a very narrow-minded idea of how online filters actually work, or a broad definition of what constitutes pornography. I say the former as many schools (if not all schools) will have a filter in place to prevent students accessing certain material. In the case of public schools, the filter is put in place by the government (so cracking it is not as easy as it sounds). Yes, I'm familiar with proxy sites, VPNs and whatnot, but really, you would think the MPs would know this.
It also doesn't surprise me that they're viewing the professor who conducted the review (who, by the way, can be found here) as a fraud among other things. Funnily enough, this same guy was previously used by the Coalition (in the Howard era) to conduct the National Inquiry into the teaching of literacy in 2005 and is also a foundation board member of the two committees who are more or less responsible for education in Australia - ACARA and AITSL (the latter of which assesses teachers against certain standards). Guess he's not a fraud when it suits them.
Furthermore, the comments on the review were that it was inadequate, too narrow and the terms of reference weren't suitable. So...in other words, you're pissy because he did what you asked of him and he found out that it went against your agenda. Oh boo-frickin hoo.
The full report will be released in the coming days and I will try and find it. When I do, I'll share it here.
So this morning, they finally delivered the review of the Safe Schools Coalition. Surprise, surprise, it's been deemed worthy and should not be scrapped. More specifically, while the professor reviewing it argues that there are some changes that should be made, the program actually aligns with the Australian Curriculum (no surprises there at all). In other words, the program shouldn't be stripped of funding or basically scrapped in its entirety.
I, for one, am very pleased with the professor who conducted the review, even if the conservatives are not. The changes that he recommends are actually fairly reasonable and do allow for some compromises. The changes noted in the article include:
- Giving teachers more guidance over how to use the material they have been given for the program. (As a note, around 85-90% of the program is school-wide policies, so really this is a small part of it)
- Restricting the dissemination of some website links to school counsellors only (such as, for example, a student coming out as transgender). This actually makes logical sense, since the counsellors are usually either psychologists, social workers or similar and would therefore be the best place for a student to actually discuss these matters without feeling like someone will eventually find out, even if by accident (i.e. teacher letting slip to students or parents). Although that said, nothing will stop the student from finding this stuff out themselves.
- Providing more information to parents: This really isn't an issue, but again, like I've said, about 85-90% of the program is school-wide policy changes.
- Opt-out options: This really only affects the classroom component. I do actually have to disagree with this one only slightly. The reason I say this is that there's no real "sex" components to the program, it's mostly looking at sexuality and gender identity-sexuality and sex are two very different things (i.e. it's entirely possible to be gay and a virgin by choice). Unless you're prepared to thoroughly educate your kids on this issue without forcing religion down their throats or controlling what information they view online/in magazines, opting-out is somewhat moot.
The fact that the conservative MPs still seem to be of the view that it's disseminating PORN to schoolchildren seem to have a very narrow-minded idea of how online filters actually work, or a broad definition of what constitutes pornography. I say the former as many schools (if not all schools) will have a filter in place to prevent students accessing certain material. In the case of public schools, the filter is put in place by the government (so cracking it is not as easy as it sounds). Yes, I'm familiar with proxy sites, VPNs and whatnot, but really, you would think the MPs would know this.
It also doesn't surprise me that they're viewing the professor who conducted the review (who, by the way, can be found here) as a fraud among other things. Funnily enough, this same guy was previously used by the Coalition (in the Howard era) to conduct the National Inquiry into the teaching of literacy in 2005 and is also a foundation board member of the two committees who are more or less responsible for education in Australia - ACARA and AITSL (the latter of which assesses teachers against certain standards). Guess he's not a fraud when it suits them.
Furthermore, the comments on the review were that it was inadequate, too narrow and the terms of reference weren't suitable. So...in other words, you're pissy because he did what you asked of him and he found out that it went against your agenda. Oh boo-frickin hoo.
The full report will be released in the coming days and I will try and find it. When I do, I'll share it here.
Sunday, 6 March 2016
Board of the News: When "Education" Becomes "Instruction"
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/instruction-confused-with-education-with-religion-in-qld-state-schools-20160303-gna0qf.html
Given all the hubbub in recent weeks around the Safe Schools Coalition, I figured this was actually somewhat fitting to discuss.
A bit of background first: in several states, there is a requirement (set by the state) for some form of religious education for one hour a week. Key word here is education. This can be as simple as the Easter and Christmas performances for schools in SA all the way through to Special Religious Education/Instruction (NSW/VIC/QLD). (This article by the ABC explains it a little better) In particular, there only needs to be time set aside for it, the kids do not need to be taught it.
In theory, how the latter programs work is that for one hour a week, the kids would be taught about various world religions by either their teacher or someone who was actually qualified to teach in the subject. Unfortunately, this is far from the case.
Some of the problems the article notes (and some other issues that have been circulating among various sources) with these programs though include (I'll be calling them RE from here on out):
- Teachers not understanding that the program is optional and that they should not be questioning why a kid is not participating.
- Parents getting misled or incorrectly assuming that the program is teaching kids about a religion, rather than being basically a condensed Sunday School/Yeshiva/Madrasa*. On a similar vein, parents not checking up on what's actually being taught in those classes (with the article quoting that parents were surprised to discover the classes were all about "Sin and salvation" rather than history)
- A huge lack of classes in other religions, with some schools not even offering anything other than Christianity at all. (The schools that do offer other religions tend to have an extremely diverse population) I'll cover this one a little more in a bit.
- The issue of "opt-out" vs. "opt-in." Most states are "opt-out" instead of "opt-in" meaning that if you do not indicate an option on the form or specifically indicate your kid is NOT to be in a class, your kid will be automatically enrolled into a particular class. In the article listed at the top, the program evidently runs off of whatever religion is put down on the child's enrolment form, although it gives no indication of what happens if that section is blank. (The article describes that for example, a Jewish person would not be shoved into a Christian class) There are calls for an "opt-in" approach, meaning that parents NEED to indicate if they want their kid to have religious instruction or not at enrolment time. NSW takes a slightly different approach, where the options of ethics classes are provided, but due to the actions of the Senate, parents really need to dig to find this option.
- A lack of real teaching qualifications to run these classes. This is something that also applies to the ethics classes. There are three main groups that run the SRI/Ethics classes: ACCESS Ministries (Christianity), Religions for Peace (everything else) and Primary Ethics (secular). All three are run by volunteers, who are required to undergo all of the necessary checks, but just because someone passes a Working With Children Check does not necesssarily mean they are suited for a classroom, let alone teaching. Primary Ethics, from the looks of things, appears to be the most rigorous of the three, in that they require an interview first and extensive training before someone sets foot in a school, along with ongoing training afterwards that helps to fill in the gaps a bit.
- Not in the article, but another valid issue that is making the rounds at the moment, is the idea of basically making those kids who don't participate feel bad about their choice (or their parents). Some stories have included bribing kids who do attend those classes with treats and other goodies (it's also very common for those kids to receive Bibles) and barring children who don't participate from doing anything during that time that could constitute "learning." (In other words, parents who pull their kids from SRI because they need extra literacy support won't get it during that time)
The last issue that bears more discussion is that the majority of schools will only hold Christian classes and nothing else. These will occasionally be divided up into Catholic, Non-Denominational and any other very specific sect (i.e. Jehovahs Witness or Mormon). NSW does provide ethics classes as an alternative, but because these are volunteer-run, there is no guarantee that the program will be offered in all schools. The group that's responsible for running the Christian programs is ACCESS Ministries, who also assist with chaplains. They, for the most part (after checking their website), appear to be a law unto themselves. That is, they are deemed to be self-accrediting in relation to what's taught in classrooms, do not have any other rules for teachers except they need to pass all the checks and get endorsed by their church and seem to be the ones who receive the bulk of funding. What's particularly telling is that ACCESS do not appear to have provided copies of their curriculum (or even samples) for parents to see and even if they do, it is not necessarily easy to obtain.
In comparison, Religions for Peace (who are responsible for everything else) actually do require religious instructors to be accredited by an independent body, also require the curriculum taught to be approved by them and also publishes the curricula for four of the main classes taught on their website (they show Baha'i, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism). It's unknown if the Jewish and Islam programs are shown there or who runs them, but one could assume that there are similar requirements. The religious instructors are also endorsed by their religious figure, but are also required to undergo more training and are required to stick to the curriculum being taught.
So why the comparison with Safe Schools?
The comparison has come about due to the accusations in recent weeks that the Safe Schools Coalition is pushing a "gay agenda" onto children (but they never elaborate on what that agenda is-the supposed assumption is that they plan on turning everyone gay, but methinks they've watched too much South Park). The irony is apparently lost on those who complain because they are still of the belief that a) the program is optional (and thus, if you don't want it, then don't sign up for it) and b) that the program is educating children about religions and not "indoctrinating" them because they aren't going to church, aren't being baptised and aren't being told to go blow something up in the name of their religion.
What about ethics classes?
I've mentioned these a few times, unfortunately the perceived controversy with these is that they push particular political or social ideologies or particular philosophies onto children. The curriculum (available here) really just looks more at different issues that are appropriate to the child's age, which start with things like "Is it OK to tell a friend's secret" in Kindergarten all the way up to "Who can judge a countries moral code?" in years 5 and 6. A common theme in all the classes as well is just looking more at "how to think" rather than "what to think" and that unlike the religious classes, there is no right or wrong answer.
What's my view on this?
Personally, I feel that if religion is to be taught in schools, it needs to follow some very strict criteria. The Steiner curriculum actually covers religion fairly well and is a good model to follow for a starting point. Schools like John Colet are also another example of how one could follow this, but my requirements would be:
- It is integrated into the existing curriculum as part of the History/Civics/Geography topics. (This is how I was exposed to other religions as a child-I learnt about Islam in Years 3/4 as part of units on Malaysia (for the Commonwealth Games) and to practice taking notes (Year 4). I then learned a little more about Buddhism in Year 5 as part of the Olympics and then covered Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam in greater detail in year 7 as part of an Asian Studies unit.)
- If the class teachers do not want to teach it for some reason, qualified teachers should be pressed into service for this and it can form part of a NIT block (NIT=Non-Instruction Time, commonly used by teachers for marking, planning etc. this is typically when Music, PE etc. is taught). The qualified teachers would also need to follow a strict curriculum and be audited regularly.
- The content needs to cover ABOUT a religion, practices, beliefs and so on. This is actually easier to do than you think. I give an example below:
Teaching ABOUT Islam: One of the core festivals of Islam is Ramadan, where people fast between sunrise and sunset. Little kids are not required to fast, but they sometimes practice doing "little fasts" until their families believe they are old enough to do so.
Teaching Islam: You must fast once a month to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Mohammed. During fasting time you also cannot do <blah>.
- Schools stop parading students of a particular religion around as though they are "special" or somehow a spokesperson for their faith. This is more common with children who are of a distinct faith (i.e. Jainism) or after a major incident that involves a particular religion (i.e. the Bali bombings). Aside from it being extremely rude to the child and the family, it opens that kid up to abuse.
- Students who wish to set up religious groups (some Christian and Muslim students have been known to do this) can do so at recess or lunch, but the school cannot endorse, ban or do anything other than supervise and intervene should the students be going down a path that violates school policies (i.e. a Christian Bible group providing pamphlets to "Pray away the gay.") They are also barred from doing this until high school (that is, primary schools are not permitted to set up the groups)
- If parents want religious instruction to occur, they need to start taking their child to temple, Sunday School or whatever their religion offers as a children's service. Stop relying on the school to raise your child for you.
Given all the hubbub in recent weeks around the Safe Schools Coalition, I figured this was actually somewhat fitting to discuss.
A bit of background first: in several states, there is a requirement (set by the state) for some form of religious education for one hour a week. Key word here is education. This can be as simple as the Easter and Christmas performances for schools in SA all the way through to Special Religious Education/Instruction (NSW/VIC/QLD). (This article by the ABC explains it a little better) In particular, there only needs to be time set aside for it, the kids do not need to be taught it.
In theory, how the latter programs work is that for one hour a week, the kids would be taught about various world religions by either their teacher or someone who was actually qualified to teach in the subject. Unfortunately, this is far from the case.
Some of the problems the article notes (and some other issues that have been circulating among various sources) with these programs though include (I'll be calling them RE from here on out):
- Teachers not understanding that the program is optional and that they should not be questioning why a kid is not participating.
- Parents getting misled or incorrectly assuming that the program is teaching kids about a religion, rather than being basically a condensed Sunday School/Yeshiva/Madrasa*. On a similar vein, parents not checking up on what's actually being taught in those classes (with the article quoting that parents were surprised to discover the classes were all about "Sin and salvation" rather than history)
- A huge lack of classes in other religions, with some schools not even offering anything other than Christianity at all. (The schools that do offer other religions tend to have an extremely diverse population) I'll cover this one a little more in a bit.
- The issue of "opt-out" vs. "opt-in." Most states are "opt-out" instead of "opt-in" meaning that if you do not indicate an option on the form or specifically indicate your kid is NOT to be in a class, your kid will be automatically enrolled into a particular class. In the article listed at the top, the program evidently runs off of whatever religion is put down on the child's enrolment form, although it gives no indication of what happens if that section is blank. (The article describes that for example, a Jewish person would not be shoved into a Christian class) There are calls for an "opt-in" approach, meaning that parents NEED to indicate if they want their kid to have religious instruction or not at enrolment time. NSW takes a slightly different approach, where the options of ethics classes are provided, but due to the actions of the Senate, parents really need to dig to find this option.
- A lack of real teaching qualifications to run these classes. This is something that also applies to the ethics classes. There are three main groups that run the SRI/Ethics classes: ACCESS Ministries (Christianity), Religions for Peace (everything else) and Primary Ethics (secular). All three are run by volunteers, who are required to undergo all of the necessary checks, but just because someone passes a Working With Children Check does not necesssarily mean they are suited for a classroom, let alone teaching. Primary Ethics, from the looks of things, appears to be the most rigorous of the three, in that they require an interview first and extensive training before someone sets foot in a school, along with ongoing training afterwards that helps to fill in the gaps a bit.
- Not in the article, but another valid issue that is making the rounds at the moment, is the idea of basically making those kids who don't participate feel bad about their choice (or their parents). Some stories have included bribing kids who do attend those classes with treats and other goodies (it's also very common for those kids to receive Bibles) and barring children who don't participate from doing anything during that time that could constitute "learning." (In other words, parents who pull their kids from SRI because they need extra literacy support won't get it during that time)
The last issue that bears more discussion is that the majority of schools will only hold Christian classes and nothing else. These will occasionally be divided up into Catholic, Non-Denominational and any other very specific sect (i.e. Jehovahs Witness or Mormon). NSW does provide ethics classes as an alternative, but because these are volunteer-run, there is no guarantee that the program will be offered in all schools. The group that's responsible for running the Christian programs is ACCESS Ministries, who also assist with chaplains. They, for the most part (after checking their website), appear to be a law unto themselves. That is, they are deemed to be self-accrediting in relation to what's taught in classrooms, do not have any other rules for teachers except they need to pass all the checks and get endorsed by their church and seem to be the ones who receive the bulk of funding. What's particularly telling is that ACCESS do not appear to have provided copies of their curriculum (or even samples) for parents to see and even if they do, it is not necessarily easy to obtain.
In comparison, Religions for Peace (who are responsible for everything else) actually do require religious instructors to be accredited by an independent body, also require the curriculum taught to be approved by them and also publishes the curricula for four of the main classes taught on their website (they show Baha'i, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism). It's unknown if the Jewish and Islam programs are shown there or who runs them, but one could assume that there are similar requirements. The religious instructors are also endorsed by their religious figure, but are also required to undergo more training and are required to stick to the curriculum being taught.
So why the comparison with Safe Schools?
The comparison has come about due to the accusations in recent weeks that the Safe Schools Coalition is pushing a "gay agenda" onto children (but they never elaborate on what that agenda is-the supposed assumption is that they plan on turning everyone gay, but methinks they've watched too much South Park). The irony is apparently lost on those who complain because they are still of the belief that a) the program is optional (and thus, if you don't want it, then don't sign up for it) and b) that the program is educating children about religions and not "indoctrinating" them because they aren't going to church, aren't being baptised and aren't being told to go blow something up in the name of their religion.
What about ethics classes?
I've mentioned these a few times, unfortunately the perceived controversy with these is that they push particular political or social ideologies or particular philosophies onto children. The curriculum (available here) really just looks more at different issues that are appropriate to the child's age, which start with things like "Is it OK to tell a friend's secret" in Kindergarten all the way up to "Who can judge a countries moral code?" in years 5 and 6. A common theme in all the classes as well is just looking more at "how to think" rather than "what to think" and that unlike the religious classes, there is no right or wrong answer.
What's my view on this?
Personally, I feel that if religion is to be taught in schools, it needs to follow some very strict criteria. The Steiner curriculum actually covers religion fairly well and is a good model to follow for a starting point. Schools like John Colet are also another example of how one could follow this, but my requirements would be:
- It is integrated into the existing curriculum as part of the History/Civics/Geography topics. (This is how I was exposed to other religions as a child-I learnt about Islam in Years 3/4 as part of units on Malaysia (for the Commonwealth Games) and to practice taking notes (Year 4). I then learned a little more about Buddhism in Year 5 as part of the Olympics and then covered Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam in greater detail in year 7 as part of an Asian Studies unit.)
- If the class teachers do not want to teach it for some reason, qualified teachers should be pressed into service for this and it can form part of a NIT block (NIT=Non-Instruction Time, commonly used by teachers for marking, planning etc. this is typically when Music, PE etc. is taught). The qualified teachers would also need to follow a strict curriculum and be audited regularly.
- The content needs to cover ABOUT a religion, practices, beliefs and so on. This is actually easier to do than you think. I give an example below:
Teaching ABOUT Islam: One of the core festivals of Islam is Ramadan, where people fast between sunrise and sunset. Little kids are not required to fast, but they sometimes practice doing "little fasts" until their families believe they are old enough to do so.
Teaching Islam: You must fast once a month to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Mohammed. During fasting time you also cannot do <blah>.
- Schools stop parading students of a particular religion around as though they are "special" or somehow a spokesperson for their faith. This is more common with children who are of a distinct faith (i.e. Jainism) or after a major incident that involves a particular religion (i.e. the Bali bombings). Aside from it being extremely rude to the child and the family, it opens that kid up to abuse.
- Students who wish to set up religious groups (some Christian and Muslim students have been known to do this) can do so at recess or lunch, but the school cannot endorse, ban or do anything other than supervise and intervene should the students be going down a path that violates school policies (i.e. a Christian Bible group providing pamphlets to "Pray away the gay.") They are also barred from doing this until high school (that is, primary schools are not permitted to set up the groups)
- If parents want religious instruction to occur, they need to start taking their child to temple, Sunday School or whatever their religion offers as a children's service. Stop relying on the school to raise your child for you.
Friday, 26 February 2016
The Safe Schools Coalition and Why This Is Not An Issue
Normally, I would be posting a news link on this, then delving into the article in a little more detail to provide some context. Not today folks.
No doubt, it's been noted in the media by now that the Safe Schools Coalition is under review, thanks in part to the ACL (among others) complaining. The amount of mudslinging from both sides on this subject is utterly horrendous and in the interests of keeping the topic to well...the topic, I decided not to put it up here. (In addition, while I'm 100% straight, this topic has hit a bit of a raw nerve with me in terms of the bullying going on.)
When I got wind of this however on Reddit (at the moment, probably the most reliable source for me in terms of actually GETTING the articles),
The concerns with the Safe Schools program include (and why these are flawed arguments):
No doubt, it's been noted in the media by now that the Safe Schools Coalition is under review, thanks in part to the ACL (among others) complaining. The amount of mudslinging from both sides on this subject is utterly horrendous and in the interests of keeping the topic to well...the topic, I decided not to put it up here. (In addition, while I'm 100% straight, this topic has hit a bit of a raw nerve with me in terms of the bullying going on.)
When I got wind of this however on Reddit (at the moment, probably the most reliable source for me in terms of actually GETTING the articles),
The concerns with the Safe Schools program include (and why these are flawed arguments):
- Pushing an "Agenda" onto other individuals: Most of the time, people aren't able to explicitly state what that "agenda" is at all. In a further twist of irony, the groups who tend to make that claim do often have an agenda in question and aren't simply doing it out of the goodness of their hearts.
- Denying "competing views" or a "reasonable debate": This argument most commonly tends to be held by groups who view that there's too much exposure on "the other side" of the argument and not enough to argue their point. This would make logical sense if the view was say, that Muslims were all horrible individuals and they weren't being allowed to show what real Muslims are like, but when asked for their arguments, they tend to fall into the traps of logical fallacy, reliance on a religious text or some other argument that does not in any way, shape or form address the actual issue at hand.
- The "Too sensitive" or "Too PC" argument: The second part seems to refer more to this idea that we have to be "PC" (which ignores the point of what politically correct actually refers to) and therefore can't piss someone off without consequence, while the first part refers more to this idea that we've become too soft as a society and need to "toughen up" more. If someone can actually show me (with scientific backing) that we are becoming too PC/soft, then I might retract the following, but until then, the people who use thesse arguments are nothing more than bullies who have had their way for far too long, get away with it scot-free, are finally getting called out for their behaviour and cannot deal with the consequences.
- The "Discrimination" argument: This one seems to refer more to this idea that it's discrimination to have set spaces for one group but not another (i.e,. a women's space but not a man's space), or that one group is being allowed to form, but the "opposing" group is banned from campus/school (good example with the school side is that a public school is OK with having a Christian prayer group, but a Muslim prayer group is not allowed). I'll make this one nice and simple: if you feel that you are being discriminated against, then go ahead and raise hell by lodging a complaint with the Equal Opportunity board in your state or the Human Rights Commission if you so desire. Just be prepared to argue your case before a tribunal.
- The "Oppression" argument: See above on the "Too sensitive" argument/reasonable debate subject. Simply put, unless you are being jailed explicitly for your beliefs/identity and not for your actions (i.e. you're jailed for being gay, not because you assaulted another man) then yes, you can claim you're being oppressed. If your school, place of worship or other building has been torched to the ground, vandalised or similar because you are of a particular race, religion, ethnicity or sexuality, then yes, you can claim oppression. If you are being beaten up, fired, denied jobs or other services (that are the only option out there) because of your beliefs or sexuality, then yes, you can claim oppression. Until then, this argument fails.
- The "Taxpayer dollar" argument: Usually this argument takes on the idea that "Why should my taxpayer dollars go towards this thing I don't support?" Aside from the fact that you have no direct control over where your tax dollars go (i.e. they don't specifically allocate your money to roads or welfare), this argument really shows a lack of knowledge about how the tax system actually works. On top of that, most of these rooms are usually funded by the university or student union or even the students themselves. In other words, no taxpayer funds needed.
So, I've given quite a number of the arguments that are against the Safe Schools Coalition, that do not delve into the outright homophobic comments, along with why these are failed arguments.
Now comes the question: well, what can I (as a parent or student) do about these things?
Children in Primary/High School:
- TALK TO YOUR KIDS. Seriously. Have an open and honest discussion about sexuality and gender identity. If you don't know something, admit it to your child, but also actually go and start looking for resources so you and your child can learn together. Good places to start are your local library, community centre, GP, youth/family health clinics or sexual health clinics (the latter tend to be staffed by nurses and GPs who can answer questions as well).
- If your child does come out as something other than straight, be supportive. There are a number of support groups out there for parents of non-straight children and I would highly recommend a face-to-face group over an online one. PFLAG is a good place to start. I wouldn't fret about how it'll "look" to others-it's not worth your time or theirs.
- In a similar vein, should your child turn out to be straight, don't celebrate it as a good thing-just see it for what it is.
- For parents with younger children, there are a few books out there that are age-appropriate and simply discuss different families (The Family Book by Todd Parr is an excellent resource for this, I cannot recommend it enough as it covers many different families, not just families with two mums/dads or one of each). At that age, it can just be a simple explanation on homosexuality, bisexuality, transgenderism and intersex, without getting too far into the nuances. (I.e. "Some boys grow up to fall in love with other boys, some girls grow up and fall in love with other girls, some people fall in love with both boys and girls, some people feel they were born in the wrong body and try to change it and some people don't feel that they're boys or girls.")
- If your child is trans, get them to a therapist as soon as possible.
- If you are from a religious background, try to avoid shunning someone on those grounds alone. You'll find that there are priests/rabbis/imams/whatever who are just as supportive of non-straight worshippers and depending on what branch of the religion you follow, there are places of worship that are a little more open with sexuality.
Teachers/Schools:
- If you aren't part of the Coalition already, it may be worth raising it as an idea at the school. Some of the issues to consider will relate to how the "All of Us" resource (which is likely the centre of the controversy) is used in the classroom, but it is entirely possible to incorporate this into your existing sex ed curriculum.
- If you aren't part of the Coalition, or your school refuses to implement the Coalition for whatever reason suggested, it is still possible to act as a supportive person for LGBTI individuals. Consider the possibility of becoming a school "Ally." (meaning someone who is supportive of LGBTI individuals, especially if your school lacks a counsellor or psychologist) It may be worth raising it with the principal or education department on the idea of you undertaking some training if you wish to take it further.
Monday, 22 February 2016
Board Of The News: Safe Schools...for everyone? (or how an antigay protest backfired spectacularly)
There is actually a link to this with education believe it or not. The program that is being targeted though, is not part of the curriculum as such, but is designed purely for schools.
The program in question is known as the Safe Schools Coalition and is 100% optional. It runs in a number of schools across Australia that includes public, private, primary, secondary and religious schools. The main aims of the Coalition are to reduce homophobia, educate individuals on LGBTI issues without it being based on myths or stories and also to allow individuals who may not necessarily be straight to come out as such and not get attacked for it. The program also has sponsorship from pretty much every Sexual Health educator in the country, some of which are government funded.
Most of the goals of the Coalition are school-wide. That is, if there are changes, they tend to affect overall school policy or certain events ie uniform policies, anti-bullying policies and expanding school formals to allow for same-sex/transgender individuals. The rest are mostly aimed at certain specific events supporting the LGBTI community and whether or not the school opts to celebrate those events is entirely up to them (the Coalition does talk with schools on this and tailors the program accordingly).
Now that all the background information is out of the way, let's get on with the meat of this post.
A charity group, Minus18 (which focuses on disadvantaged LGBTI individuals), opted to host an event that was designed for LGBTI individuals and their allies to attend (as while many schools have signed up to the Coalition, it does take a while for things to change). Unfortunately, a group that was attacking the Safe Schools Coalition (fitting named the STOP Safe School Coalition, or SSSC) decided that this event was linked to the Coalition and opted to try and force a shutout. That is, they planned on buying all of the nonrefundable tickets to the event, then ripping them up and effectively denying actual eventgoers a chance to attend. So going along in their merry glory, they snapped up all of the early bird tickets ($10).
At this point, I should note two things:
1) An ally is anyone who supports LGBTI individuals and makes a point of it. They do not need to necessarily be LGBTI themselves. So yes, you can be 100% straight and still attend this formal. The aim was just to have a nice formal event where you can be outside the norm and not get bullied for it.
2) Minus18 and the Safe Schools Coalition have almost zero links to each other, except for the fact that Minus18 occasionally receives funding from the Coalition (not for this event though).
What the SSSC missed however, is that the ticketing system this year, is in fact, crowdfunded. Yup, it's 2016 and they completely missed that crowdfunding is still very much a thing. How the plan would actually work is that when you bought a "ticket" online, you were actually sponsoring a ticket for someone else. Those individuals who actually wanted to attend the event had to contact Minus18 directly (either by phone or in person), put their name down on a list and they would receive a ticket on the night. For every $40, it gave a chance for someone to attend the event for free. Their original goal was $15,000 (which would've allowed for around 375 people to attend)
So, as of 23/2/2016, they have now raised just over $45,000. This means that a whopping 1,125 people can attend the event. The early bird tickets that were sold? Nothing but a puddle in the middle of the ocean. In other words, by effectively denying people a $10 ticket, the Coalition have now actually allowed more people to attend.
To my understanding, Minus18 have opted to move to a larger venue and any money raised for the event after the formal will be going towards a similar formal event happening in Adelaide later this year.
Update: As of the 26/2/2016, they have raised $46,000.
Unfortunately, this has come with a consequence in that the Safe Schools Coalition is now subject to a governmental enquiry. I will cover this issue in another post.
So, as of 23/2/2016, they have now raised just over $45,000. This means that a whopping 1,125 people can attend the event. The early bird tickets that were sold? Nothing but a puddle in the middle of the ocean. In other words, by effectively denying people a $10 ticket, the Coalition have now actually allowed more people to attend.
To my understanding, Minus18 have opted to move to a larger venue and any money raised for the event after the formal will be going towards a similar formal event happening in Adelaide later this year.
Update: As of the 26/2/2016, they have raised $46,000.
Unfortunately, this has come with a consequence in that the Safe Schools Coalition is now subject to a governmental enquiry. I will cover this issue in another post.
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