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 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, 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 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. The initiative is open to primary and high schools. Participating schools will receive up to $50,000 as a transitional grant to assist in the change. In addition, Independent Public Schools will be eligible to receive up to a further $50,000 in funding each year to support additional administrative requirements. It is anticipated that this cost will be offset by reduced centralised administrative costs. Schools taking part in the Queensland IPS initiative will be required to form a School Council. This will ensure community involvement is maximised to enable local decision-making without compromising the valuable support and economies of scale that can be provided through State High School in Brisbane won’t necessarily centralising some functions. be right for Texas State School or Tully State High. Stakeholders have made it very clear they do not want the IPS initiative to establish a culture On 21 June 2012 I opened expressions within Queensland of the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’. of interest for IPS in line with our 100 day To address this concern, and to complement commitment. We have had a great response the Federal Government’s Empowering Local from school communities eager to become one Schools (ELS) program, the IPS initiative will of Queensland’s first 30 Independent Public provide schools with options that enable all Schools in 2013. schools to maximise their autonomy in line with their capacity. Queensland’s principals, teachers and local communities recognise that IPS will give them By 2013 there will be 30 Independent Public greater control and ownership of their school Schools in Queensland. Along with an through greater autonomy in decision making. anticipated 62 schools involved in the ELS For example, schools will have more scope to program, there will be 92 schools across the hire their own teachers and manage their school State with enhanced control over decision- budgets. This will enable schools to tailor their making. decision making to the individual needs of the school. A prospectus is now available to support the implementation of the Queensland IPS program One of the important aspects of the application and an announcement of the first schools to take process is that schools must demonstrate how this step will be made in Term 4. The prospectus they will use their additional autonomy to drive can be viewed at http://education.qld.gov. innovation in education. As Minister I would au/schools/independent-public-schools/ like to see individual schools develop strengths resources/ips-prospectus.pdf in specific fields of education so that our state schools offer a variety of value propositions. * * * * * * * * * * * IPS schools will lead the way in innovative education offerings. The IPS initiative is modelled on Western Australian and international successes. Becoming an Independent Public School will be voluntary and selected State schools will represent a balanced cross-section of the entire

| 4 | Education: the heart of rural and remote communities Andrew Pegler

The cost of, and difficulties associated to provide great opportunity for those with, access to education are major learning in remote areas. contributing factors to Queensland’s declining rural population base. However for many students, access to any or all of the above technologies For many rural and remote children is limited at best and non-existent at distance education is the only worst. Students who use a satellite- option available for the provision of based internet service (other than the their primary education. Teaching NBN Interim Satellite Service) simply distance education, particularly with do not have the data transmission the introduction of Curriculum to speeds to successfully log on and work Classroom (C2C), which is an internet- with these types of service delivery. In based system for delivering teaching addition internet plans of sufficient size resources, can be beyond the ability to enable the up load and down load of of some parents. Parents have a wide large quantities of data are expensive range of education and skill levels. for those families whose only internet Unless the home tutor happens to have access is via satellite and who cannot teacher training from some previous access the NBN Interim satellite service. life, the curriculum is being delivered Data collected by ICPA Qld Inc reveals face-to-face by an untrained individual. that some families are paying internet Add to the mix children with learning costs of in excess of $200 per student and/or behavioural difficulties or gifted per month. students whose requirements include extension and the task becomes almost There are some government impossible. Even if the parent can cope allowances available for distance education, such as the Assistance for About the Author with the demands of teaching distance Andrew Pegler is the education, the time commitment Isolated Children Distance Education President of Isolated required precludes them from seeking Allowance. However, families are Children’s Parents’ any form of employment. still considerably out of pocket as Association of the cost of establishing, stocking and Australia Queensland It would be very easy to make the maintaining a home class room is Incorporated incorrect assumption that with the considerable. Schools of Distance (ICPA Qld Inc). advent of the home computer, internet Education strongly recommend one ICPA Qld Inc is a and email that the delivery of distance computer for each student in the home voluntary, non-profit, education would become simple. class room, but current allowances apolitical parent body Tools like video streaming, embedded for computer and data plans are dedicated to ensuring that all rural and remote web links in the curriculum, the use currently calculated by family unit. students have equity of email to return completed work One way to better reflect the real cost of access to quality instantaneously, virtual classrooms and of providing distance education would education. interactive white boards all appear be to calculate these allowances on

| 5 | a per student basis, not per family. There are  whole families leaving communities to also added costs for families to bear, including access better education; fuel and accommodation when travelling long distances to attend face-to-face functions such  wealth leaving rural grazing enterprises as mini schools, sports carnivals and home tutor and rural communities; and workshops.  children leaving for education, but not Often boarding school becomes the only returning once their education is completed. practical option for secondary education. For When the cost of boarding schools is beyond some, this is a decision made at great emotional reach, many families pack up and move to be cost and considerable financial outlay. With closer to an appropriate education. When that the transition of Year 7 into secondary school occurs, younger siblings are removed from the in 2015, families will have to fund six years local primary school, with a domino effect on of boarding school fees instead of five, with services provided, both at that school and in an increase in the likelihood of having a the wider community. number of children attending boarding school concurrently. This is particularly evident in small rural towns that rely on the business generated by workers Again, there are some State and Federal such as shearers, contact harvesters, contract government allowances available to assist with mustering providers and the like. Once these these costs. However, even more so than with workers’ children reach high school, they leave distance education, these allowances, some the small communities and move to where their of which are means tested, offer only limited children will have reasonable daily access to a assistance. The Assistance for Isolated Children high school. (AIC) scheme, The Living Away from Home Allowance and the Basic Travel Allowance While common sense dictates that governments assist some families. As the CPI education sub- cannot provide schools in all remote and index is consistently much higher than the basic isolated areas, the provision of education for CPI (at which allowance increases have been all is a core responsibility of government. The calculated) the gap between the actual costs of population of rural and remote Queensland is education and any allowances has increased dependent on the provision of adequate support dramatically. Independent Schools Queensland for the educational needs of its population. reports that school fees have increased across Without it, the knock-on social and economic the board by approximately 6 per cent this effects resonate across these communities. year, reflecting the higher costs of education This support should encompass a home tutor provision.1 allowance, adequate computer hardware and software allowances and realistic boarding and In addition to the financial impact on families, travel allowances, each calculated on a per- when remote areas have limited education student basis. Without this support, attracting options it has a drastic impact on local and retaining families in these areas will communities. Broadly, this can be categorised become virtually impossible. into three effects: * * * * * * * * * * *

1 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-26/rising-board- ing-school-costs-ousting-rural-families/3794532

The 2012 LNP Convention passed this resolution on education:

NUMBER 55 CARRIEd springWOOD STATE ELECTORATE COUNCIL

Skills shortage That this Convention of the LNP calls for the LNP Government to direct an additional $10,000,000 towards programs delivering Recognition of Current Competency and Prior Learning, along with associated Gap Training Provision and concurrently change the method of funding from government pays all to government pays 50% and the person undergoing the process also pays 50% for this to also facilitate interstate apprentices transfers. Use the VET fee help system.

| 6 | Education for the 21st century Professor Don Markwell

We live in a world of global economic competition, in which an economy’s competitive advantage is increasingly determined by the knowledge and skills of its workers – and in which the career prospects for each individual are increasingly determined by their knowledge and skills. For this reason – as well as because education enriches the lives of people and the communities to which they belong – it is essential that Queensland and Australia have truly world-class education systems. A key question for governments is therefore: do we have a world-class system, and what do we need to do to ensure that we do?

A world-class education must equip students for lives and careers in a world About the Author of global forces and rapid change (partly driven by developments in science Professor Don Markwell is the and technology), in which the knowledge and skills they need is likely to grow Warden of Rhodes House, Oxford and a Visiting Professor and change with ever-faster speed. This requires the ability to think clearly, to at the . communicate effectively, to see the often-changing connections between fields of He is the author of “A large and liberal education: Higher knowledge, to adapt to new challenges and to cope with uncertainty, to continue Education for the 21st Century” learning throughout their lives, and to work in teams as well as independently. (2007), and several papers on this topic, accessible via In many education systems around the world, it is increasingly realised that, www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk. appropriately refreshed for the 21st century (including with increasing emphasis on scientific understanding), liberal education – education that nurtures intellectual and personal breadth, and A world-class the capacities for critical thinking and clear communication – is education must an important means of preparing students of high potential for fulfilling lives and careers, and for active citizenship, in the world equip students for of the future. lives and careers in a world of global Such liberal education should, of course, be founded on strong fundamental skills, including of literacy and numeracy, developed forces and rapid in world-class schooling. World-class schooling involves teachers of change. high aptitude who are well prepared for teaching their disciplines, with clear and substantive curricula, and with reliable assessment. A world-class education system also involves a diversity of tertiary education opportunities in a higher education system that encourages outstanding teaching and learning, and contributes to our innovative capacity through cutting- edge research. At a time when many other countries are seeking to offer university education comparable to the best in the world, ensuring sufficient resources for high-quality higher education – from public and private sources, including fees (with loans and strong equity measures) and philanthropy – is a major challenge for Australia. * * * * * * * * * * | 7 | Does Queensland need an inquiry into falling school student performance in maths and science? Dr John Ridd

About the Author John Ridd is a retired secondary schoolteacher and co- author of a series of maths textbooks for years 8, 9 and 10. He is a former member of the Moderation Committee of the Queensland Board of Senior Secondary School Studies. He was awarded his Doctorate in 2004, with a thesis on the topic Participation in Physics and rigorous Maths and a consideration of educational, economic and political influences.

| 8 | Two of Australia’s Chief Scientists, Ian Chubb recently and Robin Batterham some years ago expressed concern over the condition of “maths, science and other vital disciplines” - the “enabling sciences” - in Australia, as they foreshadowed the prospect that we would be overtaken by more competitive education systems. An examination of data from the International Trends in Maths and Science Studies (TIMSS) reveals a deplorable weakness in the condition of maths and the numerical sciences in Queensland. As you consider the data below, keep in mind that the average result for TIMSS is a score of 500.

Maths, Maths, Science, Science, Grade 4 Grade 8 Grade 4 Grade 8 HIGHEST PERFORMERS Hong Kong, 607 Taiwan, 598 Singapore, 587 Singapore, 567 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 529 (11th) 508 (9th) 539 (8th) 520 (11th) UNITED KINGDOM 541 (7th) 513 (7th) 542 (7th) 542 (5th) AUSTRALIA 516 (14th) 496 (14th) 527 (13th) 515 (13th)

A clear picture of the effect of recent Australian education policy is painted by change in these scores: in the period from 1995 to 2007 the USA gained 17 points, the UK gained 16, but Australia lost 13 points. The TIMSS tests award a rating of ‘Advanced’ to students who score highly. It provides an indicator of those countries who develop higher numbers of students into top performers. Australia and Queensland also under-perform by this measure:

Maths, Maths, Science, Science, Grade 4 Grade 8 Grade 4 Grade 8 Hong Kong, 40% Taipei, 45% Singapore, 36% Singapore, 32% Australia, 9% Australia, 6% Australia, 10% Australia, 8% Queensland, 3% Queensland, 3% Queensland, 4% Queensland, 6% The implications of these feeble performances for our more gifted children are severe. Algebra, considered the “gateway to further mathematics” because of the crucial work it plays in more advanced mathematics. Weak results in algebra inevitably cause trouble for students as they are expected to build upon that knowledge later. TIMSS results for algebra in Grade 8 were:

Taiwan (Taipei) USA UK Australia 617 501 492 471 All of the five top performing countries were East Asian, with scores of greater than 558. Those countries are Australia’s local and global competitors, both in the education industry and in the economy as a whole. In that context Australia’s performance is embarrassing. Queensland had predictably weak National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (known as NAPLAN) results, ranking second last, just above the Northern Territory. It was a shock to many. Then Premier Anna Bligh described the results as “a wake-up call”. She requested the Australian Council for Educational Research (known as ACER) to examine the situation. ACER’s report, titled “A Shared Challenge” (2009), analysed the situation and made a series of recommendations.

| 9 | A ‘flavour’ of the document can be gained by looking at these graphs and quotations.

We must accept and implement as soon as possible Jensen’s recommendation that "the current measures of school performance published in the My School website should be replaced Figure 2.9 Trends in Year 4 mean scores in mathematics with value added TIMSS 1995 to 2007 measures of school performance, given their greater accuracy and fairness to schools serving poorer communities.

Figure 2.10 Trends in Year 4 mean scores in science TIMSS 1995 to 2007

The data showed that education in Queensland at year 4 is not improving, and in science, standards are falling. ACER’s accompanying remarks included:  "…at Year 8 also, the absolute performances of Queensland students were unchanged or declined non-significantly between 1995 and 2007."  "…Australian primary school students, and particularly students in Queensland, perform well below world-best standards in mathematics and science."  "…there has been a decline in the relative performance of Queensland students in mathematics and science over several

| 10 | decades.’ From ‘…1964 to 1995, the not just that EEIs and ERTs use up a vast amount absolute decline in lower secondary of time for little learning outcome. Because mathematics achievement appears to have the process drives at the production of long been greater than in any other state, and reports they teach habits that are contrary to to have been the equivalent of about two the practices and skills of real scientific method. years of schooling." It is bad science to reward waffle. Science is about cogency, precision.  "In the mid-1960s, Queensland junior secondary students outperformed The QSA’s assessment structures are complex, students in all other Australian states in non-numerate, opaque, furtive and have mathematics. …From the late 1970s, there unclear rules and systems. A matrix of results was a significant decline in levels of junior must be completed with letters, not scores, and secondary mathematics performance in then the teacher uses those letters to come to an Queensland." overall assessment using an unclear technique. Exam papers are never available to anyone So what is the cause of these for examination and comment. Fear of reprisal problems? silences criticism. The Longitudinal Survey of Australian Youth Because of the authoritarian nature of the (known as LSAYR 20), proved that school type assessment systems, QSA effectively control (that is, whether it is public or private) is not the pedagogy, that is, the way things are the driver of these results. Individual schools taught. The National Curriculum syllabi will influence outcomes. School types do not. not help much either, because the States control assessments and the QSA has already stated It is not class size: there is no evidence anywhere that such things as EEIs and ERTs will stay. of a relationship between class size and results. So, what is to be done? It is not money: in the 1970’s I taught at Innisfail State High School. There were no lights in the Some pointers were revealed by ACER in "A classrooms, no fans, class sizes were much Shared Challenge": greater than nowadays, and we produced maths and science outcomes far higher than  "All top performing schools recognise that happens nowadays. they cannot improve that which they do not measure". The problem is "The Education Establishment"; the two main wings of which are University  "Top performing schools are relentless education faculties and the Queensland Studies in their focus on improving the quality of Authority (known as the QSA). classroom instruction" Education faculties are the source of the  "All of the top performing and rapidly background theories on how to educate. As improving systems have curriculum the TIMSS data shows, the theoreticians’ ideas standards which set clear and high have palpably failed. As university education expectations of what students should faculties are also responsible for teacher achieve." In this writer’s opinion, no QSA training, their influence permeates widely syllabus meets that standard. throughout the school system. Schools need "well developed systems for The action wing is the powerful Queensland evaluating and monitoring performances." Studies Authority. They produce all syllabi ACER recommended "That all aspiring primary and assessment systems for all subjects in all teachers be required to demonstrate through test schools of all types throughout the State. They performance, as a condition of registration, that have strong authoritarian tendencies, and their they meet threshold levels of knowledge about assessment systems are laid down with absolute the teaching of literacy, numeracy and science rigidity. In Years 11 and 12 sciences, there and have sound levels of content knowledge in must be Extended Experimental Investigations these areas." (known as EEIs) and Extended Response Tasks (known as ERTs) that go on for months at a ACER also recommended "That standard time, allowing pupils to obtain the assistance science tests be introduced at Years 4, 6, 8 and of others (parents, tutors, siblings) such that the 10". final product is often of dubious provenance, and facilitates minimal real learning. But it is

| 11 | ACER observed that in high performing  Accept the ACER recommendation that Victorian schools, "Each of the schools has all aspiring primary teachers must be been particularly active in identifying tests able to demonstrate a reasonable level of and other assessments which contribute to an knowledge in maths, science and English. objective picture of student achievement and to That must occur by formal testing, set the determination of the value that the school externally and supervised in a manner not itself adds, through analysis of trends over less rigorous than for the Core Skills Test. time." Suggested minimal achievement should be at NAPLAN year 9/10 standard and with Valuable as NAPLAN is, it requires an 85% pass level. Past papers, marking development. Dr Ben Jensen of the Grattan schemes, pass marks and pass rates should Institute, in his work "Measuring what Matters: be available for perusal by Parliament and Student Progress", states that “the ‘My School’ the public. website is considerably better than having no information published on school performance.  Insert in the Queensland Studies Authority However, problems still exist because …[it] can Act 2002 (Qld) a Regulation stipulating produce biased results for schools in low socio- that all assessment systems must be economic areas." He argues that there needs clearly defined, justifiable and produce to be a process of “value adding” in education. predictable, measurable outcomes. They must be clearly understandable to students, Value adding can be defined as "…models that parents and Parliamentarians and must not estimate the contributions of schools to student discriminate against any student group. progress …measured at at least two points in time (OECD 2008)".  With the introduction of the Australian curriculum the only remaining activities Jensen states that value adding is more accurate that QSA has to do are Year 11 and 12 and that “greater accuracy resulted in head assessment, supervision of core skills testing teachers in England favouring the introduction and OP calculation. All other activities, of a system of value-added [teaching]…”. He notably enforcement of pedagogy in Years explains that it is preferred in Europe for the 1-10, are unnecessary, produce even lower same reason, and that “Teacher unions and standards and are purely “make work”. It school associations in a number of countries is now a rump organisation and must be have also supported the introduction of value treated and financed as such. Employee added modelling as the greater accuracy numbers and general costs should be creates a fairer system, particularly for schools reduced proportionately, probably by serving more disadvantaged communities.” about 70%. The savings achieved by doing NAPLAN is already having a positive effect so would be large; far more than the cost of on teaching in many schools. A value added introducing of value added testing. system would have an even greater impact.  Accept and implement as soon as possible Only Parliament can institute the drastic changes Jensen’s recommendation that "the current needed to syllabi, assessment systems, teacher measures of school performance published training and school attitudes, because at present in the ‘My school’ website should be the QSA and university education faculties think replaced with value added measures of everything is either fine or minimally imperfect school performance, given their greater and will resist the change required. accuracy and fairness to schools serving poorer communities". So, what should the new Implementation of these measures will help Queensland Government do? to turn around the results of Queensland’s Five steps are worth consideration and action: students. We must act to do so before another generation of students emerges  Form a permanent standing committee from our education system without the skills of Parliament for school education. The needed to compete in the modern world. committee should, inter alia, examine assessment systems, causes of weak performance to Year 10 exit, and obtain * * * * * * * * opinions from parents and students under as part of a parliamentary inquiry.

| 12 | Maths, not “Bloom-in” Education Dr Matthew Dean

Have you noticed how school graduates generally do not know their times-tables, cannot add fractions or do long division? Even at The University of Queensland, I am finding that the students starting science and engineering degrees are not confident with standard mathematical skills.

Mathematics is the language of the physical fractions, and do not know how to do long world. Science and technology rely on division, and do not have confidence in doing mathematics. Studying mathematics develops mathematical procedures, is because teachers of sound reasoning, and has been a core discipline maths, at all school levels, have been instructed pursuing clarity of thought for thousands of to de-emphasize the standard algorithms, and years. So why are we presently failing to pass not to use repetition. on this gift now? No, it’s not a terrorist giving our teachers these What is wrong? instructions. It’s the recent fashion of educational ideology endorsed by our educational theorists. Maths' teachers with over twenty years' This ideology is attributed to the 1950s experience in Queensland, and those teachers psychologist, Bloom. He regards activities such who have also taught in other systems, can as remembering and understanding as ‘lower readily explain what is wrong with our school order’ activities while activities like application system: the reason kids do not know their times- and evaluation are considered ‘higher order’. tables is because our teachers of maths have been instructed not to have students memorise Bloom’s theory of ‘higher-order-thinking’ may facts! The reason kids do not know how to add have appeal in some sectors, but it is not

About the Author Dr Matthew Dean teaches mathematics at The University of Queensland. He has researched capacitance for silicon chip design, the detonation of mining explosives, symmetrical network problems, highway curvature, and image processing of cells. He has taught mathematics in local schools and abroad. In the course of his career, he has also swung a sledge-hammer, washed dishes, crawled through ceilings, and delivered donuts.

| 13 | suited to mathematics, since Another way that Bloom’s mathematics, much like learning With our ideology inhibits developing to play a musical instrument, emphasis on so- maths' skills in our schools is requires years of practice and called ‘higher- through the introduction of written repetition. Following Bloom, order’ thinking, we assignments into mathematics' our school maths has become assessment. Written assignments instead like one of those ‘musical have neglected the do not build basic mathematical appreciation courses’ where basics. This has skills, like regular homework students are briefly exposed to been disastrous for and studying for an exam does. a sweeping range of topics, but learning maths. Written assignments belong in never really learn how to play. English, rather than in maths' Our students are not asked to class, and they also tend to be do the practice necessary to be able to play done with the input of parents, tutors, friends a musical instrument. The musical instrument or the internet, rather than by the student referred to in this analogy is of course the mind. alone. High school chemistry and physics are suffering even more than mathematics by the With our emphasis on so-called ‘higher-order’ inappropriate introduction of very long written thinking, we have neglected the basics. This has assignments. been disastrous for learning maths. Maths is a ‘vertically condensed’ discipline, building upon The imposition of Bloom’s ideology also creates itself from one year to the next: Calculus relies much red tape. The paperwork requirements on advanced algebra, which relies on simple placed on teachers waste so much time that algebra, which relies on standard arithmetic, they are obstructive to learning. For example, which relies on knowledge of the times-tables. when a teacher marks a maths' test, he/she is Only half-knowing maths one year means only forbidden from awarding a (number) mark for one-quarter-knowing it the next year, and only each question and adding these up to get a one-eighth-knowing it the year after that, and total score. Instead, for each question, teachers so on, until you’re having nightmares about must award letter grades, over three different arriving at school on the day of the exam, categories. The appropriate letter is to be completely unprepared. chosen by reading and considering up to fifty paragraphs of descriptors. Here is one of the I can’t help but think that Bloom’s followers will fifty such paragraphs: not consider maths as ‘higher-order’ until they have turned it into something it is not. It appears “The student work has the following to me that university-level mathematics is still characteristics: considered a ‘lower-order’ activity according to Bloom’s taxonomy.  use of problem solving strategies to interpret, clarify and analyze problems to develop responses to routine and non-routine simple tasks in life-related or abstract situations”

| 14 | Thus a task which is done by every teacher for (Caution: degrees called ‘mathematics' every student on every piece of assessment, 'education’ generally consist of only a little or which should be simple and routine, is in no mathematics, and a lot of ‘education’.) Queensland, not simple at all, but instead a festival of cultural deliberation. After all these However we decide to restructure, and who festivities, the mystery of how to combine the ever we appoint, the new body governing letter grades begins. Later on, this combination mathematics in school must be accountable, emerges somehow transfigured, on the report unlike the Queensland Studies Authority, which to parents, as one of maybe five uncomfortably- was set up as a statutory body, answerable worded sentences. The whole process proceeds only to itself. officially uncontaminated by numbers. I feel that we should keep state sovereignty over “How is Johnny going in maths?” remains the education as much as possible, even though the question on everyone’s lips. proposed national curriculum looks better than our present one. My reason for this is if or when, How can we fix it? the national education bodies begin to move down silly paths, then it will be so much more Education theory and psychology are relatively difficult to turn them around. Will the national new and speculative areas of study, with body appoint people who do mathematics, or frequently changing ideas. In hindsight, people who do education? we might question why we ever placed an educational theorist into a position of authority There is some good news: over the process of learning mathematics. It 1) our current low performance in maths is not doesn’t seem appropriate to subject a whole due to any intrinsic or innate stupidity, population to unproven ideas of a speculative nature. People have been learning mathematics 2) this problem can be solved, and for thousands of years. Traditional approaches are safer and more reliable. 3) it is not an issue of needing to spend more time or money. The key to fixing this problem is to have experts in the actual discipline of study responsible for A good mathematics' course will build a the curriculum and assessment of that discipline, student’s confidence in his/her own ability to rather than appointing education theorists reason clearly and correctly. After completion, who imagine that every kind of learning is a student may go on to apply this ability to his/ the same. When it comes to mathematics', an her chosen pursuits in life. May we grant this appropriate panel of experts might consist of privilege to every generation. very experienced maths teachers, engineers and mathematicians. Physicists, chemists * * * * * * * * and economists might also be appropriate.

The 2012 LNP Convention passed this resolution on education:

NUMBER 10 CARRIED LNP WOMEN (HERVEY BAY)

Review teaching and learning in Prep and Primary schools

That this Convention of the LNP calls for the LNP Government to review, as soon as possible, the state of teaching and learning in Prep and Primary schools by:

a. Conducting an extensive review of the C2C centrally based curriculum with the view (to) allowing teachers to teach and children to learn in a positive environment, b. Continuing to closely monitor the implementation of the National Curriculum so that the Queensland teachers and children do not face the stress at the beginning of 2013 that they are currently experiencing in term 1 2012, and c. Developing positive communication with practising teachers and valuing their feedback and that adequate time frames be provided for writing the lessons to provide quality education for Queenslanders.

| 15 | Challenges and Opportunities for Australian Higher Education Senator the Hon. Brett Mason

What is our country’s biggest non-mineral They can plead with the government for more export? Which export services industry earns money but the budgetary positions of the state Australian more money than even tourism? and federal governments has deteriorated so What is the largest industry in cities like much that the cupboard is literally bare when Melbourne and Armidale? If your answer to it comes to extra university funding. Universities all three questions is education, you are right. should try to tap into non-government sources Knowledge is power. It is also business and of income by marketing the gains the business opportunity for the future. community stands to make through financing the university sector. Additionally, universities Higher education in particular is important for should make better use of technology to help our country because it enhances our productivity in the delivery of education to take pressure off and builds a more resilient economy. Australian university infrastructure. students benefit from university study and the entire country shares in those benefits. In this pursuit of expansion and increased participation, the university sector cannot be But our universities face a big challenge over allowed to meander into mediocrity. Quality the next decade in trying to absorb a large cannot be sacrificed for quantity. In an equation number of additional students, with limited where resources, participation and standards additional resources, and without sacrificing are all variables, the considers the quality of education. Universities are being standards to be non-negotiable. asked to do more with less because there are more students coming in under the new, student While we are faced with these challenges in demand-driven system commencing this year. our university sector, there exist enormous opportunities for the future of international Universities will invariably have to increase tertiary education in Australia. So long as quality class sizes, squeeze more students into and standards are maintained we should have existing facilities and increase the workload more international students in Australia. In terms of academics. There are productivity gains of exports, education benefits the Australian to be made in the sector but there is a point economy nearly as much as gold and a few where quality is compromised for the sake of billion dollars more than tourism. It’s not our efficiency. beaches, the Great Barrier Reef or the Outback Universities will be left with limited options. that are bringing in most visitors to Australia, it’s our universities.

| 16 | It’s not our beaches, the Great Barrier Reef or the Outback that are bringing in most visitors to Australia, it’s our universities.

About the Author Senator the Hon. Brett Mason is the Shadow Minister for Universities and Research. He has served in the Federal Parliaament since 1998.

The 2012 LNP Convention passed these Spectacular natural beauty and resolution on education: abundant natural resources make Australia a lucky country. But a successful, world-class education NUMBER 7 CARRIED sector makes us a smart country. NOOSA STATE ELECTORATE COUNCIL Australia should try to depend more Removal of environmental propaganda on our smarts than our luck in the material future, especially given the prospects of a rapidly increasing Asian middle That this Convention of the LNP calls on the Minister class. Australia should not be satisfied for Education to require Queensland government with merely being the breadbasket of schools to remove environmental propaganda material. in particular post normal science about ‘climate Asia and the world, or its mining pit, change’,from the curriculum and as adjunct material at when it can also be its lecture hall. exam time. Australia is a superpower in mining, agriculture – and higher education. We educate more overseas students per capita than any other nation on NUMBER 16 CARRIED earth. Australia educates our young MAROOCHYDORE STATE ELECTORATE COUNCIL people and those from foreign lands Directive Qld Studies Authority Langbroek exceptionally well. But we can do better. This will be the Coalition’s That this Convention of the LNP calls for the LNP challenge. Government and the Minister for Education to issue a directive to the Queensland Studies Authority: * * * * * * * * a. to continue to write external exams for mathematics and science and that all schools be allowed to use these external exams over the two senior years of school so that fair comparability be achieved between schools; and b. to allow schools to use marks to assess students, rather than the criteria sheets that currently have to be filled out for each student for each piece of assessment.

| 17 | What is the Policy Standing Committee? Richard Williams

A number of people at Convention skills that can be drawn from the membership of asked me about the Policy Standing the LNP. Each committee member is an expert Committee (PSC) and its role. The in their policy field. The calibre of the PSC is LNP Constitution states: 'There shall a resource that would be unaffordable, but it be a Policy Standing Committee comes free. Interestingly, the Policy Chairs are which shall: - largely not interested in representative politics. Their interest is contribution to policy and its (a) co-ordinate the activities of the respective development, and as such a great resource for Policy Committees so as to ensure that the Minister’s offices. policies of the Party are consistent with one another; and Each committee has three essential functions: (b)  monitor the development of policy and 1. to provide good policy ideas to our philosophy generally'. government; The PSC is the overarching body for all the 2. to provide a warning system of potential policy committees, There are currently 27 with policy problems; and a focus on state activities (education, health, police etc.) and 7 with a federal focus (defence, 3. to consider draft legislation. foreign affairs, taxation etc.). At the last State The PSC membership includes federal, state Council, delegates approved the establishment and local representatives - these are Senator of a Research Committee; its role will be to carry Brett Mason, Sean Choat MP (Ipswich West), out primary research. Each policy committee Carl Judge MP (Yeerongpilly) and Councillor has a Policy Chair who is appointed, usually in Andrew Wines (Brisbane City Council). July of each year, for 12 months. Each person on the PSC is a volunteer. I've asked all committees to develop an activity plan for the period to next Convention. This Individual policy committees structure their plan will identify issues that are important to membership to assemble the skill sets they need. the organisation and its members. These should It's amazing the experience, qualifications and turn into party policy initiatives that can go to

| 18 | the Government for consideration or resolutions Our recent election win provides a great that can go to Convention for adoption as Party opportunity to contribute to our state’s future – policy. This is an opportunity for members to grasp it! contribute to setting this agenda of work and attached at the end of Dialogue is a list of all committees and their chairs. If you have an issue you'd like considered or you would like to make a contribution please see the list of Policy Chairs on page 20. I've been asked what happens to resolutions that are passed by delegates at Convention: passed resolutions become Party policy. State-related resolutions are referred to the parliamentary Best Wishes team for consideration as possible Government policy. The parliamentary team is required to Richard Williams – report back to State Council on what action is Chair Policy Standing Committee taken in relation to each resolution. Federal- email: [email protected] related resolutions are referred to the federal team for action. The policy committees monitor the progress of these resolutions. The resolutions submitted for the last Convention showed a high level of thought by party units. There is always scope for improvement and I encourage party units to work with the relevant policy committee in shaping up a resolution.

This is an opportunity for members to contribute to setting the agenda.

| 19 | COMMITTEE STRUCTURE and POLICY CHAIRS FOR THE POLICY STANDING COMMITTEE – 2012-2013

COMMITTEE CHAIR E MAIL Policy Standing Committee Richard Williams [email protected] STATE State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Colin Ryan AM [email protected] Northern Development Robyn Quick [email protected] Treasury and Trade Bill O’Chee [email protected] Health Cheryle Royle [email protected] Education, Training and Employment Dr Barry Arnison OAM [email protected] Police and Corrective Services Glenn Ferguson [email protected] Emergency Services Richard Williams [email protected] Attorney-General and Justice Dr Dominic Katter [email protected] Industrial Relations Graeme Haycroft [email protected] Transport and Main Roads John Cotter [email protected] Housing and Public Works Roger du Blet [email protected] Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Terry Cleary [email protected] Environment and Heritage Protection James Mackay [email protected] Natural Resources and Mines Rod Johannessen [email protected] Energy and Water Supply Brian Restall (nominee) [email protected] Local Government John Brent [email protected] Communities Helen McAllister [email protected] Child Safety Tom Bradley [email protected] Disabilities Carol Humphries [email protected] Science, IT and Innovation James Kennett [email protected] The Arts Geoff Hines [email protected] National Parks and Recreation Michael Duff [email protected] Sport Tony Gleeson [email protected] Racing Tim Ferrier [email protected] Tourism and Major Events Michael Denton [email protected] Small Business Jim Carlile [email protected] Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Glenn Ferguson [email protected] Multicultural Affairs Tamara Foong [email protected] Research Peter Cannon [email protected] FEDERAL Foreign Affairs Ian Prentice [email protected] Defence Brig. Rod West (Rtd) [email protected] Population and Social Issues Dr Christian Rowan [email protected] Communication and Media Issues David M Russell [email protected] Taxation David Goodwin [email protected] Federalism and Decentralisation John Humphreys [email protected] Competition and Corporate Regulation Wayne Black [email protected]

| 20 | Near & FarceProfessor Kenneth Wiltshire A by Washington & Irving ... Meanwhile, at the next federal election...

The Australian people teach Labor about the carbon tax

☛ The Canadian Public Policy Forum is an independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the quality of government in Canada through enhanced dialogue among the public, private and voluntary sectors. www.ppforum.ca

☛ The Economic and Social Research Council is the UK's largest organisation for funding research on economic and social issues. www.esrc.ac.uk

☛ The Institute for Government in the UK has produced a paper suggesting open policy making by government should be the ‘default’. It’s called ‘Opening up policy making’. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publications/opening-policy- making

☛ On 5 July 2012 the Rt Hon John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand addressed the Menzies Research Centre, with a talk on ‘Reflections from New Zealand’. In it, he said “The New Zealand economy lost competitiveness in the 2000s because growth was built on all the wrong things – debt, consumption and a 50 per cent increase in government spending in just five years.” Click to read the speech in full. www.mrcltd.org.au/news/index.html Interesting Links  Interesting ☛ The Institute of Public Affairs is running an awareness campaign about the Gillard Government’s attacks on freedom of the press in Australia. To support their campaign, or to find out more, click: http://pressfreedom.ipa.org.au/

☛ On 17 August 2012 Professor Peter Shergold AC addressed the Menzies Research Centre on the subject ‘Does Australia need a Big Society?’ Here is the transcript of his address on this important topic. www.mrcltd.org.au/news/BLOND%20SHERGOLD%20BREAKFAST%20 (CORRS)%20(17%20August%202012).pdf | 21 | Interested in contributing to Dialogue?

Contact the editorial team at [email protected] and let us know your area of interest. Advertising enquiries, letters to the editor and your feedback and comments are welcome.

Does your party unit need help with policy development? The Policy Standing Committee is here to assist, and can provide information and training on how to develop effective policy motions. Let us know how we can assist your party unit via email to [email protected]

Editor: Amanda Stoker

Editorial team: Richard Williams, Wendy Armstrong, David M Russell Dr Barry Arnison OAM (Education, Training and Employment Policy Committee Chair)

Feature contributors: The Hon. John-Paul Langbroek, Senator the Hon. Brett Mason, Prof. Don Markwell, Dr John Ridd, Dr Matthew Dean, Andrew Pegler Comment by Gavin Hughes, General Manager, United Petroleum Why does Queensland need a Mandate on Ethanol? Have you got one of these stickers near the petrol cap on your car? Noticed it when you go to fill up? Heard about ethanol but not sure if it’s right for you? Read on to learn more about ethanol and what it can do for you, your car and our State.

First, what is ethanol? Is there plenty of ethanol around? Bioethanol - or ‘ethanol’ - is an alcohol made by fermenting the Despite some contrary media reports, the Queensland ethanol sugar and/or starch components of plant materials by using yeast industry has the ability to supply 140 million litres per year right now such as saccharomyces cerevisae. Ethanol can be used as a fuel for with the option to expand to 165 million litres without considerable vehicles in its pure form as a replacement for petrol, but it is usually additional investment. Future plans exist to expand production to blended with petrol as a 10% blend (eg: E10) or 85% blend (E85). 240 million litres. Almost all ethanol in Queensland is produced sustainably from either molasses (a by-product of sugar cane) or sorghum (grain). Does ethanol production impact on food After the production process has extracted the sugar/starch from production, that is do we have to choose food the feedstock for ethanol production, what remains is either recycled or fuel? as a fertilizer or as stockfeed - ensuring nothing is lost from the food One myth about ethanol production, especially from grain, is that production cycle. it negatively impacts on food production and cost. In the case of sorghum, traditionally this grain is fed to livestock as it is high in Why is ethanol good for the environment? protein. Nothing changes once the grain is processed in an ethanol The environmental benefits are significant, providing a sustainable plant, all of the protein remains and distillers’ grain is still used as alternative to fossil fuels, with lower carbon and particulate feedstock as a protein feed. emissions. A 10% ethanol blended biofuel could reduce greenhouse It is not a question of food versus fuel, rather fuel plus food. gas emissions by between 3-7% compared to unleaded petrol. What does the LNP have to do to encourage the What about health benefits? ethanol industry? The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has supported the view The LNP Convention recently voted in favour of a mandate that there are strong community health benefits from ethanol on ethanol. If this mandate is legislated it would mean certainty use, due to reduced carbon and particulate emissions. Ethanol at for the ethanol industry (which means jobs, investment and 10% in petrol reduces hydrocarbon emissions by up to 30% and industry diversity in the sugar cane and grain growing regions) and particulate emissions by up to a massive 50%. more choice for motorists. It would also mean environmental and health benefits for the entire community. It is proposed that But is it good for my car? Queensland commence with a 3% mandate with an increase to The common E10 blend in Australia provides greater combustion 5-6% in July 2014. efficiency and is sold at a reduced cost to normal unleaded (due to fuel excise exemption). According to the NRMA, E10 has been Will Queensland be the first state to introduce shown to have little to no effect on fuel economy. Car enthusiasts a mandate? commonly use higher ethanol blends. No, New South Wales has enjoyed the benefits of a similar mandate since 2007 – including massive investment in regional So is it more expensive? grain production, manufacturing and distribution infrastructure Ethanol blended fuel is the cheapest fuel type available because and the considerable flow on benefits to employment and economic ethanol is exempt from Federal Government excise duties. At today’s activity. Australia is one of the few OECD countries yet to implement average prices, motorists should purchase ethanol blend E10 for a mandate. around 3 cents per litre cheaper than unleaded petrol. Unfortunately not all of the major fuel companies and petrol retailers elect to pass Given the state of Queensland’s finances, would on the full excise benefits. an ethanol mandate cost the Government money? Ethanol blended fuels have the added advantage of environmental, A mandate has virtually no cost to the State but can deliver health and performance benefits – which are hard to put a price on. great benefits to Queenslanders. The major oil companies and retailers can deliver the 3% mandate without additional costs for infrastructure. How do I find out more? For more information please visit www.biofuelsassociation.com.au