Apr 22, 2019
We loved this article explaining how teaching philosophy is very economical to implement and has immediate impact on students' maths and literacy scores.
It teaches them to think broadly, problem solve and encourages creative approaches. It's called the fourth R - reasoning.
Burunda State High School in Queensland introduced Philosophy programs 5 years ago. In that time, their students' test scores have gone from well below average to above the mean in everything.
In the US, where they have entrance exams to law and other graduate degrees, philosophy majors had the highest scores. Even cooler, US Philosophy graduates have the highest earnings of non STEM graduates* - so those parents who wondered about their kid's employablility need not have been concerned - learning how to think does it every time.
Despite efforts in 2009 to have Philosophy included in the Australian National Curriculum, it hasn't been as yet, but Australian educators who see the benefits are including it.
Read the whole article here
*(STEM is an anagram for Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths)
Image: Yr 3 student doing a NAPLAN test.
Australia’s schooling system is among the most highly segregated in the OECD. Public schools educate the majority of disadvantaged students, while there is concentrated advantage in private schools.
This situation can be attributed, in large part, to our school funding arrangements. Recent research
Read more →
As Term 3 is almost upon us, if you haven't sorted a Book Week incursion, hurry! If you're flexible with dates, you might be able to swing one of our great shows.
See our Book Week Shows here.
Image: Something Special Live - Available NSW, QLD, ACT,VIC,SA & WA
Livestream version available nationally
Read more →
The next cultural day to celebrate nationally is NAIDOC week. This year on 5-12 July, when all Australian schools are on holiday. The likely time schools could celebrate is the first week of July, when some states are still at school.
Read more →