as posted here
THE City of Gosnells Eco Walks and Talks season is on again and with wildflowers in full bloom now is the time to experience nature at its brightest.
Gosnells chief executive Ian Cowie urged people not to miss the chance to enjoy walking through Ellis Brook Valley with naturalist Marc Lane and see some of Perth’s most spectacular bush reserves.
“Each walk allows you to discover new wildflowers and local birds, insects and animals,” Mr Cowie said.
“In October and November there are also night stalks at Ellis Brook Valley and Mary Carroll Park respectively, where people can bring their torches and spotlights for a guided night-time ramble to discover the local nocturnal animals.”
Mary Carroll Park is one of Perth’s main breeding wetlands and a haven for waterbirds, songbirds, migratory birds, reptiles and turtles.”
People can enjoy a range of special activities such as Breakfast with Friends on October 4, where breakfast in the park is followed by an informative walk around the lake learning about bush site rehabilitation and observing waterbirds.
Also at Mary Carroll Park on November 1, the Adventure with Nature walk offers a stroll around the lake and the opportunity to discover a unique ecosystem with naturalist Eric McCrum.
Mr Cowie said other walks included the Wetlands Ramble at the Brixton Street Wetlands in Kenwick on October 24. “This walk is followed by morning tea with live music by Peta Lithgo and Malaika,” he said.
“At the Flora Walk on November 7, people can also discover the amazing and unique plant life at Brixton Street.”
Friends of Ellis Brook Valley, Friends of Mary Carroll Park and Friends of Brixton Street Wetlands run the walks with support from the City.
For a brochure or more information contact Leisure Services on 9452 9901 or visit www.gosnells.wa.gov.au
as posted here
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Report cards for schools only fair
as posted here
Educators have widely opposed the Federal Government's push to publish school performance information online at the end of this year because of fears it will stigmatise schools that perform poorly.
Teachers and principals have threatened to boycott the next round of national tests in May unless the Government passes laws to prevent the creation of so-called "league tables" that rank schools based on raw scores. They argue that "naming and shaming" struggling schools will damage students and school communities.
The new online report card will allow parents to compare all schools' performance in national literacy and numeracy tests, the percentage of students graduating from Year 12 and how well each school has progressed in lifting student performance.
Controversy on whether this should be available publicly has been red hot in the Eastern States, with NSW passing laws to fine newspapers for using the information to create league tables that compare schools.
But few from the Eastern States realise that WA has been leading the rest of the nation in giving parents access to school comparisons - and the sky has not yet fallen.
Each year, _The West Australian _publishes Year 12 academic results for private and public schools and ranks the top 50. It also prints the results of national literacy and numeracy tests from State schools. It is only fair that private schools should also have to reveal their performance.
Attempts by the teachers' union and others to prevent publication of school performance data is akin to censorship. A school can't address poor standards if it doesn't know whether they've fallen.
This newspaper has championed school transparency because public money goes into State and independent schools and the community has a right to know how well those schools are doing their job.
Critics also argue that revealing school comparisons will put too much emphasis on literacy and numeracy at the expense of other subjects.
But surely the main purpose of schooling is to ensure that children get a sound foundation in those skills. Every other part of the curriculum depends on those basics.
There are also complaints that teachers are "teaching to the test". But if setting compulsory tests requires students to learn some skills and then demonstrate them, then surely that is a positive outcome.
And if it forces schools to look at ways to improve their students' performance, even better.
as posted here
Educators have widely opposed the Federal Government's push to publish school performance information online at the end of this year because of fears it will stigmatise schools that perform poorly.
Teachers and principals have threatened to boycott the next round of national tests in May unless the Government passes laws to prevent the creation of so-called "league tables" that rank schools based on raw scores. They argue that "naming and shaming" struggling schools will damage students and school communities.
The new online report card will allow parents to compare all schools' performance in national literacy and numeracy tests, the percentage of students graduating from Year 12 and how well each school has progressed in lifting student performance.
Controversy on whether this should be available publicly has been red hot in the Eastern States, with NSW passing laws to fine newspapers for using the information to create league tables that compare schools.
But few from the Eastern States realise that WA has been leading the rest of the nation in giving parents access to school comparisons - and the sky has not yet fallen.
Each year, _The West Australian _publishes Year 12 academic results for private and public schools and ranks the top 50. It also prints the results of national literacy and numeracy tests from State schools. It is only fair that private schools should also have to reveal their performance.
Attempts by the teachers' union and others to prevent publication of school performance data is akin to censorship. A school can't address poor standards if it doesn't know whether they've fallen.
This newspaper has championed school transparency because public money goes into State and independent schools and the community has a right to know how well those schools are doing their job.
Critics also argue that revealing school comparisons will put too much emphasis on literacy and numeracy at the expense of other subjects.
But surely the main purpose of schooling is to ensure that children get a sound foundation in those skills. Every other part of the curriculum depends on those basics.
There are also complaints that teachers are "teaching to the test". But if setting compulsory tests requires students to learn some skills and then demonstrate them, then surely that is a positive outcome.
And if it forces schools to look at ways to improve their students' performance, even better.
as posted here
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