2012 Issue 2 PSC e-magazine ➥ EDUCATING AT THE EDGE: ANDREW PEGLER ON THE CHALLENGE OF SCHOOLING IN REMOTE COMMUNITIES ➥ A FUTURE FOR THE LIBERAL ARTS? PROFESSOR DON MARKWELL ON HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY ➥ TURNING THIS SHIP AROUND: DR JOHN RIDD AND DR MATTHEW DEAN ON IMPROVING MATHS AND SCIENCE RESULTS IN QUEENSLAND SCHOOLS ➥ EXPORTING EDUCATION SENATOR BRETT MASON LOOKING CLOSER AT INDEPENDENT WITH EDUCATION PUBLIC MINISTER SCHOOLS JOHN-PAUL LANGBROEK Proudly sponsored by Editor’s Welcome Welcome to the education edition of Dialogue magazine. More than anything else, education has the power to transform lives. With a combination of education and motivation, every Australian has the opportunity to reach their potential. AMANDA STOKER It’s our best weapon in the fight against social disadvantage. Better than welfare, health care or policing, it is the most effective way Editor – Dialogue magazine to reduce crime, get people into work, and help them to achieve Policy Standing economic and social independence. Committee Member We should be concerned, then, that the results of Queensland school pupils have been declining for some time now. While the results of Queensland’s students in the core skills of maths, English and science were once internationally leading, today we are gradually being eclipsed not just by other developed countries, but by several developing Asian countries who are rapidly improving results despite limited resources. All of this is occurring in an environment in which education spending has never been higher. So what is going wrong? In this issue, Dr John Ridd and Dr Matthew Dean provide their perspectives on what has caused the decline of education standards, and what we need to change about how and what we teach to deliver outstanding results. Although so often demanded by teachers’ unions, it’s clear that continuing to just throw money at the problem isn’t the answer. In this edition, great minds from Oxford, Brisbane and the bush offer their answers to this difficult question. It’s encouraging that the new LNP Government has already taken steps to implement change to how schools operate, giving greater parental and local input, and giving teachers the right to decide how they distribute resources to best cater to the unique needs and interests of their pupils. In this issue, Minister for Education, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek explains how the new Independent Public Schools program will drive creativity and Send your letters to competition in education service delivery. [email protected]. A selection will be This policy is an excellent example of the role of the LNP membership, published in the too. Policy to introduce Independent Public Schools was carried at next edition. the 2011 Convention, after being initially proposed as a motion by a Young LNP branch. It’s a demonstration of the impact that you and your ideas can have: all the way into the classroom, changing the lives of thousands of students across the State. DISCLAIMER: “Dialogue is a publication The Policy Standing Committee and I hope that this will inspire you designed to generate policy to contribute to policy through party unit motions and contributions debate and to encourage to policy committees. As our State seeks to achieve more with the sharing of policy ideas. fewer resources, your ideas have never been more valuable. The views expressed are not LNP party policy or the policy of all LNP Members of Parliament. Each author takes responsibility for the views expressed in their own work only. ” Amanda Stoker – Editor, Dialogue magazine Policy Standing Committee Member Dr B.J. Arnison OAM Chair, LNP Education Committee The Challenge of Knowledge – Education in Queensland On behalf of the LNP Education Policy Committee I am delighted to provide this introduction to a series of thought provoking articles on issues in the field of education. The Minister for Education, Training and However, in the competitive export industry Employment provides an outline of the of education, resting on our laurels is not an development of something new for Queensland option. Whilst Australian pupils perform better – The Independent Public Schools (IPS). This than children in many other countries, our development is anchored in the belief that position is not guaranteed. The internationally the principles of choice and diversity are recognised value of a strong knowledge base fundamental to good education. If parents and excellent education system is driving many are to be given an effective voice in how their new powerhouse economies to improve their children are to be educated, they need to be national standards in education and training. able to choose the school their child attends Those economies which simply rest on their and be able to help shape the direction of that laurels will fall behind. Excellent teaching school. It is also well recognised, in modern and a clear and substantive curriculum are research in education, that the quality of public fundamental to excellence in education. education is enhanced when school Principals are given greater flexibility and autonomy to The contribution by Professor Don Markwell, run their schools. Warden of Rhodes House, Oxford challenges us to raise our sights and include in our vision for In his thought provoking article Senator Mason education, not only advanced technical skills in reminds us that not only is an internationally Science, Mathematics and the Humanities, but competitive education system essential for the also those benefits of a liberal education which children of Queensland, Education is also our promote rational analysis, clear thinking and nation’s largest export earner after minerals. a breadth of knowledge necessary for active citizenship in a world where knowledge is the Yes, bigger than tourism! essential asset. | 1 | We also need to be alert to that which we can challenges of educating their children in remote improve. and regional environments. These families address all of the challenges already mentioned, In a confronting article on the front page of but with the added difficulty of isolation and The Australian newspaper of 10 July 2012 frequently inadequate infrastructure. They need the nation’s deans of science described special recognition and assistance because the Queensland Studies Authority Science education is critical to the social and economic Curriculum as flawed and based on a futures of these communities. fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of scientific inquiry. I wish to take this opportunity to thank the members of the education committee for their Such a powerful criticism should not go contributions and research. I would also like unanswered and Minister Langbroek has to acknowledge the support and assistance responded by referring the matter for further provided by the Minister and his office. investigation to the Premier, seeking scrutiny of the syllabuses and the QSA by the parliamentary To all of those engaged in the important committee on education and innovation. The enterprise of education across Queensland, articles in this edition by Dr Matthew Dean the members of the LNP Education Committee and Dr John Ridd provide revealing insight welcome your comments, which can be sent to into aspects of the delivery of Mathematics and [email protected]. Science education in the state’s primary and secondary schools. However, no insight can be more revealing than the perspective provided by Andrew Pegler, President of the Queensland division of the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association Dr B.J. Arnison OAM of Australia, an organisation dedicated to Chair, LNP Education Committee supporting families who meet the special Independent, Local and Effective Independent Public Schools – Driving innovation through local decision-making The Hon. John-Paul Langbroek MP Decentralisation is a classic pillar of conservative governments. Unlike those from the left, we believe that decisions are best made at the local level. We believe that government should provide the grounds upon which private initiative can grow and flourish. We believe government should devolve and decentralise authority and decision-making, thereby empowering communities and ensuring our public services are responsive to the needs of the communities they serve. The Newman government is no exception. This government believes that ABOUT THE AUTHOR decentralisation is a good thing as a guiding principle, and that where practicable The Hon. John-Paul Langbroek we should devolve power to communities. MP is the Minister for Education, Training and Employment and Our education policies are consistent with this belief. The LNP promised before the has been the Member for Surfers Paradise since 2004. election to introduce 120 Independent Public Schools over the next 4 years. These schools would be granted greater autonomy to make local decisions and would be more accountable to their local communities. We We introduced the Independent Public Schools (IPS) initiative to lift education standards for students by granting schools more control over introduced the their own decision-making. Independent As the flagship education policy of the last election, I strongly believe the Public Schools IPS initiative reflects those core principles which define theL iberal National (IPS) initiative Party, the Newman government and our underpinning philosophies. to lift education We believe in government that nurtures and encourages its citizens standards for through incentive, rather than putting limits on people and creating stifling students by bureaucratic red-tape. We believe in government that provides its citizens granting and school teachers with freedom of choice as a means of achieving the schools more best results. This is a clear distinction between the Newman government control over and previous administrations. their own Schools should not have to spend their budgets in accordance with a decision- ‘one size fits all’ approach. We will change this by empowering local communities. What delivers the best results for students at Coorparoo making. | 3 | state of Queensland.