Education Red Revolution

08 September 2009

Mark Lopez the writer of The little black schoolbookhas completed a second book on the subject of how students can improve their marks by playing to their teachers political sympathies. Reading an extract of Lopez’s second book The little black schoolbook 2was similar to the guide by English teacher gave me at school – the redder the argument the better.

Never will I forget when I was in year 9 or 10 a teacher keeping us in class and forcing everyone to sign a petition asking the government to say sorry to the stolen generation to before we were allowed to go to recess. Some in the class supported the notion, some indifferent, some against but the fact is overt political grandstanding by teachers is simply not on. So how did I vote. Well it was easy. Since I was in the back of the class I was one of the last to receive the petition. When I received it I ripped it up, put it in the bin and walked out. And no when asked to apologise I refused citing there had been enough sorrys for one day.

However I realised a distinct pattern in all the practise exams and assessments we had in year 12 where our work was marked by ‘independent’ markers. All opinion articles were asked to write on were metaphors for the previous premier Jeff Kennett, who had slashed spending in Victoria and rejuvenated the states previously stalling economy which was on near receivership when he came to power. Their political leanings were obvious so naturally I played to them and English ended up being my best mark in year 12.

One of the key attributes most employers look for is an ability to use critical thinking and effectively communicate a position on a particular topic. Now sure, students will adapt their positions, even if they do not agree with them so they can maximise their marks, yet it discourages debate amongst students, forcing them to refine their arguments so that their opinions are as well thought out and effective as possible. That is what happens in the real world and that is what the much vaunted “education revolution” needs to be about. Unfortunately for some of our educators and indeed many of our politicians revolution is something committed by Che Guevara and not by a trying to improve communication and debate.

Maybe Lopez puts it best "if it is clever to be able to outsmart someone, it can be even cleverer to resist the temptation to let them know that you have outsmarted them." Lopez is right, though I would still love to find the guys who marked my final year essays and tell them sucked in.