"Poorly thought out"
Yesterday's appalling plan to force students to complete 20 hours of community service or not graduate high school has not gone unnoticed. Today the opposition sensibly attacked the policy saying it was "a gross over-reaction and heavy handed", which is exactly what it is. Shadow Education Minister John Day also branded it "poorly thought out", "grossly unfair" and "an election gimmick" - all of which are true. The coalition will instead pursue the infinitely better alternative of "developing volunteer groups such as Cadets WA as well as providing extra resources to help foster emotional and moral growth."
Liberal candidate Graham Kierath is worried about the ability of orgnisations to deal with thousands of students who really don't want to be there. He says: "Trying to give our young people a sense of civic duty is admirable. Trying to force them to have one is simply ridiculous." I couldn't agree more.
Robert Corr thinks it's no big deal as he had to do it in school himself. Does a very short rebuttal and gets all the comments, typical!
He Who Must Not Be Named Lefty thinks its ridiculous too, remarking that it will be yet another incentive to drop out.
Miss Piss is also in on the act, using the work experience example, as does Yobbo.
There's more discussion on LJ crossposts here, here and here.
I have to point out that I am not dissing community service, just the idea that students be forced to undertake it before they are allowed to graduate, especially for reasons that are simply not true. The rhetoric is that community service helps students. The reality is that this claim has no evidence.
Liberal candidate Graham Kierath is worried about the ability of orgnisations to deal with thousands of students who really don't want to be there. He says: "Trying to give our young people a sense of civic duty is admirable. Trying to force them to have one is simply ridiculous." I couldn't agree more.
Robert Corr thinks it's no big deal as he had to do it in school himself. Does a very short rebuttal and gets all the comments, typical!
He Who Must Not Be Named Lefty thinks its ridiculous too, remarking that it will be yet another incentive to drop out.
Miss Piss is also in on the act, using the work experience example, as does Yobbo.
There's more discussion on LJ crossposts here, here and here.
I have to point out that I am not dissing community service, just the idea that students be forced to undertake it before they are allowed to graduate, especially for reasons that are simply not true. The rhetoric is that community service helps students. The reality is that this claim has no evidence.
posted by Nic White at
10:05 PM
