Kevin 07's Throwaway Laptops

In this giveaway world where your mobile phone lasts for a few months if that and your PSP, ipod and PS2 all need to be upgraded within the year, why would a government - as Labor's Kevin Rudd proposed today - fund a computer for every student?
Where would all of these computers be housed? If they were not laptops, every school would be required to rebuild their classrooms just to accommodate them! If Labor was proposing laptops - a good proportion of students already own their own laptops! Does that mean they will now own two laptops? or will they get a refund for their former laptop? And how are they to carry textbooks and a laptop to school without getting robbed? The logistics of such a throwaway decision are incredible!
And of course the most important issue of all involves our teachers and administrators, many of whom still struggle to format a Powerpoint, have never entered information in a blog, or created a webpage. So - will the students teach the teachers first? or will the teachers pretend to instruct the students while their pupils play interactive gaming on a hidden window?
Unfortunately our two aspiring Presidents are apparently not in the Democrats business of democratic consultation or real planning before bribing the voters.
It's time to call the next government to account....

Encourage Reading First Carmel Tebbut

Morris Iemma’s initiative to introduce testing into Kindergarten discredits the very capable work already being done by Kindergarten teachers. Particularly in NSW the teaching profession has long been aware of the importance of progress in the first years. Extra funding for Reading Recovery teachers is a very expensive but certainly worthwhile program.

The biggest drawback to early development of children’s literature from my own experience, is the lack of interest in literacy due to the family situation. Families – especially those of hard-working and financially struggling or recent migrant groups, need ongoing support to assist them with improving the literacy and numeracy of their children. Parenting programs, videos, literature and free short-term childcare which demonstrate the importance of reading to children with substantial quantities of good children’s literature, may help to stimulate those critical years when young children’s brains develop. Of course whatever is done should not be decided upon just before elections, with little accountability, planning or discussion with those child-care providers and kindergarten teachers who are truly the experts.

My own children have been excellent readers, as I read to them from before they could talk or walk. The ongoing discussions about pictures, storylines and concepts encouraged language development. One of the first items that I am organizing prior to the birth of my first grandchild, is a selection of well-used favourite books in preparation for long hours of comfortable story telling in my lap.