Russell Kirkpatrick's Journal
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Hamilton Boy's High School Ballet
22-Aug-2007
Ah, reading University student essays is such a desperate exercise.
Students are far better these days with regard to their oral skills. They present with confidence. No longer are students the quiet ciphers of previous generations. That's great.
But, by and large, this has been at the expense of their ability to write.
I'm marking third year research proposals. The very first one I picked up is entitled: 'In what ways does clothing form opinions of others?'
'Hey, this is a nice, warm human,' said the shirt to the pair of trousers.
My favourite so far, though, is what purports to be a direct quote from the Waikato Times. This student has the principal of Hamilton Boy's High School saying: 'there are flaws in the zoning system and it could be devastating to miss out by ballet.'
Oh dear. I can see it now: prospective students rolling up in their lycra, ready to compete for the right to enrol at Boy's High. I'm so there.
I'm so disillusioned. The best University students don't write as well as an average 15 year old school leaver of a generation ago. We are reaping the harvest sown by educators in the 1980s and 1990s, who told us all that was necessary was to communicate meaning. Sorry, but without the proper tools meaning will often be lost.
Cheer me up, someone. Deliberately, not inadvertently.
Comments
Now I feel really guilty...don't go back and read my comment on the last post, it will just make you feel worse! Look on the bright side though, this means that there won't be very many writers coming through in the next generation to give you competition :-).
Thought you would like to know, Angus and Robertson booksellers over here have got "Across the Face of the World" in their selection where if you spend over a certain amount you can buy one for cheaper. Not sure if this is a good or a bad thing, moneywise, but at least it gets the book out in front of the customers!
Thought you would like to know, Angus and Robertson booksellers over here have got "Across the Face of the World" in their selection where if you spend over a certain amount you can buy one for cheaper. Not sure if this is a good or a bad thing, moneywise, but at least it gets the book out in front of the customers!
It's all good, Jo. I don't mind my books ending up in the remainder bin. If someone buys it for 5 bucks and likes it, he or she will buy the rest. How can I lose?
you could always imagine Granny being allowed to mark these student essays. *g*
Why is it that when someone asks to be cheered up, the only things that come to mind are bad puns?
Sold out of all your books today,Russell, got 20 people to buy the trilogy and the new one....Happy??????
Cos I made it up :-)
Cos I made it up :-)
Linda, you are evil.
I knew there was a reason I liked Linda - she's evil *g*
Oh Linda, that's fantastic! Just what I needed, because Dorinda's sick and we need the money for medicine.
Oh, wait. You were kidding. Oh. OK. Dorinda will be fine, really. It's only a rash.
Well, and swelling. And lots of blood, and one of her arms fell off. But it's OK. I'll sell one of my children. We'll be all right.
Oh, wait. You were kidding. Oh. OK. Dorinda will be fine, really. It's only a rash.
Well, and swelling. And lots of blood, and one of her arms fell off. But it's OK. I'll sell one of my children. We'll be all right.
Hey I work hard to get them to that level! Ungrateful... . Think about having to mark 60 essays from 15 year olds. Sob.
Kylie
Kylie
If Linda hadn't mysteriously become a donkey, then one of her arms could have been used as a replacement.
Yes, it was wather wude of me to impute all students' writing problems squarely on Kylie's shoulders. Sorry Kylie. I realise you're only responsible for 90% of them.
I'm a uni student and I write better than the average 15 year old. I also write for enjoyment though. I do represent a biased population of the true uni student.
I just finished 'the book thief' last night (I rarely read books) and it made me smile a lot.
I believe high schools focus too much on knowledge building, rather than focus on skills and attitudes. I say let them wait until uni if they want to learn the intricacies of life.
I just finished 'the book thief' last night (I rarely read books) and it made me smile a lot.
I believe high schools focus too much on knowledge building, rather than focus on skills and attitudes. I say let them wait until uni if they want to learn the intricacies of life.
It's ok Russell, you can have my kids...sell them, keep them, whatever... Other people tell me they're cute!!
Excellent, Jo. Parcel them up and send them DHL.
Perhaps Dorinda could have Hals arm....since he doesn't need it any more
That's better!
Kylie
Kylie
Fair enough, Yabba. But what of those kids who don't want to (or can't) go to University? Shouldn't they get exposed to a wide variety of stuff?
Here in NZ we have what's called NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement). It's the assessment standard for school students. The theory is that all students are supposed to meet a minimum standard. Problem is, if a bright student makes one simple mistake in a basic assessment. they fail the whole unit. So my son, for example, passed Geography scholarship (the highest standard) yet failed the minimum standard despite getting two 'excellents' out of three papers.
Students and teachers become extremely conservative in the face of such an assessment regime, and the moment of brilliant insight is unrewarded if it's not part of the curriculum. Nor, of course, can one critique the curriculum's received wisdom. This is all so antipathetic to the University system that students are disoriented when we expect them to think for themselves and be critical of text books.
This deep intellectual conservatism is going to hit us hard as a nation. I always wished out national symbol was the Kea - bright, cheeky and destructive. Instead we're the Kiwi - sleepy, with its head in the sand. And now we're truly living up to it.
Hey, that was a rant. Ten points and a signed jelly bean for anyone who read it.
Here in NZ we have what's called NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement). It's the assessment standard for school students. The theory is that all students are supposed to meet a minimum standard. Problem is, if a bright student makes one simple mistake in a basic assessment. they fail the whole unit. So my son, for example, passed Geography scholarship (the highest standard) yet failed the minimum standard despite getting two 'excellents' out of three papers.
Students and teachers become extremely conservative in the face of such an assessment regime, and the moment of brilliant insight is unrewarded if it's not part of the curriculum. Nor, of course, can one critique the curriculum's received wisdom. This is all so antipathetic to the University system that students are disoriented when we expect them to think for themselves and be critical of text books.
This deep intellectual conservatism is going to hit us hard as a nation. I always wished out national symbol was the Kea - bright, cheeky and destructive. Instead we're the Kiwi - sleepy, with its head in the sand. And now we're truly living up to it.
Hey, that was a rant. Ten points and a signed jelly bean for anyone who read it.
Where's my jelly bean...I read the whole thing!! Wondered about the irony of the son of a geographer's son failing geography (even if only through a loophole) :-).
About the kids, decided to keep the girl (she's only three and not completely obnoxious yet)... must remember to poke holes in the box for the boy!!!!
About the kids, decided to keep the girl (she's only three and not completely obnoxious yet)... must remember to poke holes in the box for the boy!!!!
I need a signed jellybean too. I'm refraining from ranting also - good education isn't an optional extra for any society.
Jellybean please.
I'll bring the jellybeans to Canberra when I'm there in late September. You may request any colour you like, as long as it's not black.
This is real.....I have moved your books to the top shelf now.....happy? Can I have one of those yummy chocolate biscuits with the raspberry in the middle instead of a jellybean??? Ta muchly.
Can you mail my jellybean to me cos I can't get to Canberra *sob* Purple please.
It will need insurance - jellybeans are notoriously fragile in the mail.
I'm more worried about the drug dogs.
Write "This package contains a single yellow jellybean" on the package. It may not prevent the drug dogs from sniffing sugar, but at least you're safe from prosecution for importing restricted substances (since sugar is most definitely a restricted substance for dieters).
We'll all be expecting mailouts of jellybeans now... *grin*. I promise, if you sign it...I'll frame it!!
Shame you have such a long name.....I dont think it will fit on a jellybean......mine will, mine will, mine will (just incase anyone wants a donkey signed one)
Don't think I'll chance international post, but I'm happy to sign 'em and hand 'em out when I get to Oz. As for you, Linda, what makes you think you deserve a jellybean?
signed jellybeans? Just for reading that? Bring em to Conflux and we can have the random signed jellybean/dalek cake demolition party.
Use alcohol instead of ink, just to entice Granny.
vodka would go well with jellybeans
The scary thing, sharyn, is that I'm sure you know this from experience.
All right. It appears as though something has to be done with jellybeans. More information to follow.
All right. It appears as though something has to be done with jellybeans. More information to follow.
Now I really want to go to Conflux, just to get a jellybean, but *sigh* not likely to happen. Quite apart from the fact that we will be camping then, can't see the hubby being really happy if I said I wanted to fly to Canberra to get a jellybean :-). What can I say, the man has no soul!!!!
vodka and jellybeans equates to a similar taste as those lollywater premixes the kids love so much ...
um, no! I actually don't know this, honest.
Ok, maybe I fibbed a bit just then *g*
um, no! I actually don't know this, honest.
Ok, maybe I fibbed a bit just then *g*
Jo, bring the hubby, tell him you need to do some anthropological studies on the effect of writing, conventions, fandom, daleks and alcoholic jellybeans. Surely he'd understand that?
Camping vs Conflux, Jo? Hmmm, no contest, I would have thought. You're going to have to lean hard on that hubby of yours. I'm sure you have a hundred ways of making him do what you want: bust one of them out.
By the way, the package hasn't arrived yet. Are you sure you put airholes in? Or maybe it's held up at the border in the midst of the equine flu scare? (I'm not implying anything, honest.)
By the way, the package hasn't arrived yet. Are you sure you put airholes in? Or maybe it's held up at the border in the midst of the equine flu scare? (I'm not implying anything, honest.)
Did the jellybeans cheer you up, Russell? Or do we need to find something else?
I'm officially cheered up. Though still aghast at the litcrimes perpetrated by my students.
The boy kicked up a stink, promised to be good...just please don't send him to the place where the All-Blacks come from :-). Regulations against sending dangerous goods through the mail also came into play!!!
Troy's been to Canberra twice already this year, so he thinks taking the kids to see the dinosaur bones would be more fun. He doesn't understand the allure of alcoholic jellybeans...
Troy's been to Canberra twice already this year, so he thinks taking the kids to see the dinosaur bones would be more fun. He doesn't understand the allure of alcoholic jellybeans...
Ahh Jo I can see there is going to be much rivalry in the next few weeks....GO the All Blacks!
Linda, the way the Wallabies have been playing lately...I'm almost (I say 'almost') prepared to follow the All-Blacks. At least they stand a chance of making it to the semi-finals. Then again, all the matches will be played at some ungodly hour of the morning so even Hubby probably won't be watching much :-).
Hulloo *knocks* anyone home??? Just 'cos we mentioned rugby doesn't mean everyone has to go into hiding. Promise we won't do it again, will we Linda?? Damn, I hate weekends when everyone else has a life and I don't *sad face* (pathetic, really...).
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