Victorian students are required to learn a language other than English up until year 8 and for many years our students learnt Italian. This year after extensive community consultation we choose to change the language to Chinese - Mandarin.

The main reasons the community selected Mandarin include:

•  Australia is viewed geographically as part of Asia and most people immigrating into Australia come from Asian countries - therefore we should include Asian perspectives across the curriculum to better understand our neighbours - including a language. 
• China is one of our main trading nations and in this international economic climate to speak the language is an advantage. 

We have recruited a teacher and looked for grants to fund the resources required to start teaching the language. We have already attracted groups of Chinese teachers at summer school at RMIT to visit the school and interact with the students. In the next year or so we we look to develop a sister school relationship with a school in China so that students can learn about Chinese culture and practice some language skills.

We imagine it will take some time for the students who, for the most part do not come from Asian countries, to learn about the Chinese culture. We are operating from the theory that when you understand the culture your capacity to understand the language improves. This all makes for an exciting journey ahead.

Any tips from schools that have started this journey would be appreciated.

I have just caught up with the interview of Sir Ken Robinson on the ABC 7.30 report on schooling and creativity amongst other subjects discussed. Warrick Wynne has managed to create a direct link to part 1 of the interview on his blog.

The interview is a must see for all parents enrolling their child in schools and for educators who know something is out of kilter in the school house but don’t know how to fix it. Sir Ken talks about head teachers being critical to the capacity of a school community being really able to address individual needs - where passion and interest collide.

He didn’t argue that all is bad but just that creativity and imagination which he believes are the real drivers in the  21st century need a place in the school. Its not all about the maths and sciences its also about the arts and humanities.

I agree with his thoughts about the “cramming” schools being dangerous for they have no real long term value. He defines cramming schools as those focused around state or national test scores. I think he was spot on about parent and some educators anxiousness about the future driving cramming as it’s seen as a way to ensure success when in fact no-one can predict with certainty what the future holds except that it will be different and will need different solutions to the worlds problems.

In past 2 of the interview I also think he got it right when he alluded to the notion that schooling is not all about preparation - you prepare for kindergarten, then you prepare for school, then high school, then university etc…. We need to learn skills and understandings and action our learning at each and every stage of schooling not waiting for some time in the future.

Each time I have viewed the interviews I get something else. I have previously written about his TED Talk.

I really like this clip for it honours those who thought differently, were prepared to take a risk, experiment or hypothesis or test new ideas, to make a difference in the world.

Interesting little video where you are told when to take your medicine. Sign of a possible future ahead.

I have just finished sending in my last assignment for this semester [Masters Course] and with some relief I am now able to get some of my life back and amongest other things write a bit more on my blog. My assignment was the first stage of my research project on instructional leadership which I am sure will feature in future posts.

Browsing Don’s blogI came across the funny BBC clip on teenagers. I have been reflecting on student disengagement with family and schooling and are starting to think that some 11 and 12 year olds are not waiting for the secondary school 13 y.o.  ”its cool not to show the smarts” disengagement in school.

We have some data on this at school and its a complex challenge. It seems from the data that some students appear to have lost deeper connections with each other [part of this teenager trying to be cool I would suggest]. One of the connector skills is expressing emotions in ways that are clear and non threatening and this has become apparent through the use of restorative justicetechniques of ‘circle time’ which teachers use to focus on these issues. I participated in one of these circle times with a group of year 11/12 y.o’s and was heartened to hear some children unscripted apologise for some of their actions towards another person in the yard but discouraged to hear that one a little while later used a phone camera to take photos and put down another student - its a work in progress. 

I know there are lots of other factors besides school in play here: i.e. balance of video games vs creative neighbourhood play.

I also know its a challenge for teachers in this age of immediate gratification and instant google information to keep students engaged in learning skills and understandings within the context of real life problems that they can effect change here and now - but that’s the challenge.

The video, while funny, shows the parent’s perspective, who also need our support to deal with disengagement. I wonder how other people are feeling about this?