The morning after
Oct. 9th, 2004 01:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
melwil1. I just can't believe it.
2. If you could vote and didn't, I'm disgusted. It's the only real price we pay to be Australian citizens.
3. A lot of people are trying to make themselves feel better by saying that it won't affect them directly. That's fine. But I can't do that.
When I decided on teaching, I knew that teacher's lives were affected by Governments, especially in the State School system. I didn't realise, though, just how much of a political football we would be.
In order to get funding for a school, teachers will now have to enforce patriotism. In order to keep our jobs, we have to get children through standardised tests every year from grade 2. We will move away from marking where we can tell parents what their children are really doing, to marking where we use A, B, C, D and E - because that's all parents can understand.
And once we get the funding, the way it's used will be decided by a minority of parents on the Parents and Citizens committees. Because they obviously know more about the best way to teach than teachers.
4. There are other things to say, but I'm depressed now
5. You can look at my new blog on your friends list -![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-syndicated.gif)
busynimportant
2. If you could vote and didn't, I'm disgusted. It's the only real price we pay to be Australian citizens.
3. A lot of people are trying to make themselves feel better by saying that it won't affect them directly. That's fine. But I can't do that.
When I decided on teaching, I knew that teacher's lives were affected by Governments, especially in the State School system. I didn't realise, though, just how much of a political football we would be.
In order to get funding for a school, teachers will now have to enforce patriotism. In order to keep our jobs, we have to get children through standardised tests every year from grade 2. We will move away from marking where we can tell parents what their children are really doing, to marking where we use A, B, C, D and E - because that's all parents can understand.
And once we get the funding, the way it's used will be decided by a minority of parents on the Parents and Citizens committees. Because they obviously know more about the best way to teach than teachers.
4. There are other things to say, but I'm depressed now
5. You can look at my new blog on your friends list -
busynimportant
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
on 2004-10-09 02:23 pm (UTC)We had 65 on our senate ballot. Much good it did us. Bloody Family First - I hate them I hate them I hate them...
Oh, and I did the same: turned off the coverage and watched Buffy. (I kept the 'net on, though. I needed the comfort of knowing other people were as enranged as I was.
And if people think they won't be affected, they're deluding themselves.
*hugs* We'll get through this.
no subject
on 2004-10-09 02:29 pm (UTC)But when you get to church today (hmm... if you're still on the net, now, that is), look up a hymn in the red book that starts "God of Jeremiah, grieving with an aching heart." I both love and hate that hymn, but I think it's what I need today. So maybe it will help you, too...
no subject
on 2004-10-09 03:20 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2004-10-09 05:57 pm (UTC)Couldn't agree more, you'd swear people didn't fight and die to keep Australia, Australia and here they are just away our rights.
no subject
on 2004-10-09 09:00 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2004-10-09 11:49 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2004-10-11 12:51 am (UTC)I hope you and your fellow teachers take a stand against this!