Hi to all

Thanks to all who have responded to my issues. I'm not a happy chap tonight because my car was stolen today! Green Lancer, 922 DQG. Any sitings would be greatly appreciated.

I'm still waiting for some responses from school administrators about cultural changes. Thanks to Ken Price for his responses re: teachers' knowledge of VocEd issues. My point about cultural change is that it is difficult, and can easily be thwarted if there is not support for it from the top. The changes don't have to be instigated by those at the top, but if not supported by admin will be very difficult to implement. For example, timetable changes and timetable flexability are usually the responsibility of Deputy Principals. If they are not prepared to look at ways of "freeing up the timetable and making things more flexible" then change will be difficult to implement. Grass roots enthusiasm is crucial for cultural change, but so is support from "the top".

I have just been reading a very interesting paper from the Dusseldorf Skills Forum about Community Based Learning (CBL). Terrific stuff that I wholeheartedly support. At our school the Child Care Studies students in Year 12 conduct a Playgroup at the school. The students are responsible for designing and conducting the weekly programme. Parents and their little ones attend and pay $1.00 for 2 hours. The parents have coffee and a chat, while our students run the playgroup. It is very inspiring to see the students interact with the littlies, reading stories, organising games, painting, etc. Our students gain much more than skills in Child Care. They also gain invaluable skills in teamwork, organising, interacting with adults etc. Our Child Care teacher, Wendy Pearce, has trialled "Peer Evaluation" among the child care students for teamwork etc. Wendy reports that the student evalualtions are "spot on" and she no longer does the evaluations. It is all done by "peer evaluation". Our students are gaining "real work and life skills" in the school environment. I'm sure that there are many examples of this in other schools. Please share your great examples with us over the next few days.

Cheers
from the not so cheery, walking, not driving.
Janelle

Janelle Schloss
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