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<blockquote data-quote="Marguerite" data-source="post: 321087" data-attributes="member: 1991"><p>rm1976, I think GoingNorth was making a point of contrasts, not saying "either-or".</p><p></p><p>In Australia we have a system of trades traineeeships that have been incorporated into the senior high school education. We have "vocational courses" which a student actually undertakes at a nearby college (TAFE or Technical and Further Education) and these courses can be used as a head start in tertiary educaiton; in apprenticeships; in stand-alone courses that may be prerequisite for certain career paths.</p><p>The mai problems eith this, is kids often still don't know for sure what they want to do, and may do acourse that might never be used again.</p><p></p><p>We do have school courses which will set a career path option for a student, or perhaps cut a student off from a possible career path. For exampel, if difficult child 3 wants to go to university, he will need to study English at a certain level which could be too challenging for him. However, if he chooses a different path, he can cut right back on English so it's at a very basic level - teaching grammar and spelling but not much else.</p><p></p><p>Similarly a kid who isn't good at Maths can study what my kids called "veggie Maths". That way they learn the life skills needed such as how to balance a bank account, how to manage compound interest and other things like that.</p><p></p><p>Our education system is getting better at helping kids work towards their skills and the range of possible career paths.</p><p></p><p>We even have other options for those who chose the "veggie" route and changed their minds. There are bridging courses available including the TAFE courses which can be used to give a headstart into uni. For example, difficult child 3 is continuing to finish his high school work, but part-time. So when our students usually fiinish high school at 17, he will be 20. But at the same tie, he will be studying a TAFE course from next year. We may be able to get some of his TAFE course credited to his high school curriculum but I'm not sure. The thing is - by the time he finishes his high schooling, he should also have a TAFE diploma also. This should open up doors into university, bypassing all of first year uni and half of 2nd year. Our aim is to avoid a lot of the "push and shove" academically that happens in 1st year uni, when subjects are much more superficial and other often unnecessary subjects are also studied, while the course is still very general. difficult child 3 is going to need specific directed study, not the broader stuff.</p><p></p><p>When I was a student there were fewer options through school. Now we have more choices depending on a kid's abilities as well as interests.</p><p></p><p>One girl I know was perhaps one of the brightest kids in our area, but she chose the veggie subjects route because she was going to be a professional singer. So why study?</p><p></p><p>And now she's over 25, the entry requirements to various courses are relaxed anyway. So after 25, you can pretty much enrol in what you want, after you've provedan interest in it and a capability. Some courses (such as medicine or vet science) won't accept you unless you've done a bridging course and done well in it. At Sydney Uni you can do a basic health sciences degree first, then you enrol in Medicine. From myrecollections of the way things were done with Science and with Medicine years ago, this current system can only be an improvement.</p><p></p><p>Marg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Marguerite, post: 321087, member: 1991"] rm1976, I think GoingNorth was making a point of contrasts, not saying "either-or". In Australia we have a system of trades traineeeships that have been incorporated into the senior high school education. We have "vocational courses" which a student actually undertakes at a nearby college (TAFE or Technical and Further Education) and these courses can be used as a head start in tertiary educaiton; in apprenticeships; in stand-alone courses that may be prerequisite for certain career paths. The mai problems eith this, is kids often still don't know for sure what they want to do, and may do acourse that might never be used again. We do have school courses which will set a career path option for a student, or perhaps cut a student off from a possible career path. For exampel, if difficult child 3 wants to go to university, he will need to study English at a certain level which could be too challenging for him. However, if he chooses a different path, he can cut right back on English so it's at a very basic level - teaching grammar and spelling but not much else. Similarly a kid who isn't good at Maths can study what my kids called "veggie Maths". That way they learn the life skills needed such as how to balance a bank account, how to manage compound interest and other things like that. Our education system is getting better at helping kids work towards their skills and the range of possible career paths. We even have other options for those who chose the "veggie" route and changed their minds. There are bridging courses available including the TAFE courses which can be used to give a headstart into uni. For example, difficult child 3 is continuing to finish his high school work, but part-time. So when our students usually fiinish high school at 17, he will be 20. But at the same tie, he will be studying a TAFE course from next year. We may be able to get some of his TAFE course credited to his high school curriculum but I'm not sure. The thing is - by the time he finishes his high schooling, he should also have a TAFE diploma also. This should open up doors into university, bypassing all of first year uni and half of 2nd year. Our aim is to avoid a lot of the "push and shove" academically that happens in 1st year uni, when subjects are much more superficial and other often unnecessary subjects are also studied, while the course is still very general. difficult child 3 is going to need specific directed study, not the broader stuff. When I was a student there were fewer options through school. Now we have more choices depending on a kid's abilities as well as interests. One girl I know was perhaps one of the brightest kids in our area, but she chose the veggie subjects route because she was going to be a professional singer. So why study? And now she's over 25, the entry requirements to various courses are relaxed anyway. So after 25, you can pretty much enrol in what you want, after you've provedan interest in it and a capability. Some courses (such as medicine or vet science) won't accept you unless you've done a bridging course and done well in it. At Sydney Uni you can do a basic health sciences degree first, then you enrol in Medicine. From myrecollections of the way things were done with Science and with Medicine years ago, this current system can only be an improvement. Marg [/QUOTE]
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