Coding to be taught in Australian schools from primary age

[sylarspock]

I'm all for this.

Progress is good and every country should start doing this, even if it's the basics.

[soaringchicken]

Jesus we are doing something right for once?

[Trik'Stari]

You're telling me.

As a 10th grader in Alabama, I can safely say that education has gone down the toilet.

[dalekphalm]

While I agree that coding needs to be taught in school, primary school kids don't have their logical thinking all that developed yet.

Middleschool maybe, but not primary school.

I agree that actual coding shouldn't start until grades 7 or 8, but they can certainly start teaching logic puzzles and the foundations needed for programming in earlier grades.

 

middleschool??? what's middleschool??

Middleschool is the equivalent of about grades 6 to 8 (Some may include Grade 5 in this, or as high as Grades 9 and 10) - it depends on the specific region/country.

 

Middleschool can be used interchangeably with "Junior High School" sometimes, but not always.

[Muz]

My thoughts exactly. I had no idea how the education system in 'Straya works

I think that's just the header for the article, it's never going to replace them.

[dalekphalm]

....yea, because who needs history lessons, right?

 

 

I seriously hope I am misunderstanding this article...

I also read that bit and scratched my head.

 

Can anyone confirm or elaborate on what they mean by "replace" history and geography?

 

I'm assuming that they aren't replacing all history and geography classes - because that would be utterly retarded. While coding is very very important for the high tech IT industry, it's arguable that many people will hate coding, and therefore never go into that field.

 

However, basic history and geography are pretty much crucial to being an informed, free-thinking and functioning adult.

[ofr057]

you most likly see the technology sector in Australia get abit more coin since the new pm is in

[Albatross]

I also read that bit and scratched my head.

 

Can anyone confirm or elaborate on what they mean by "replace" history and geography?

 

I'm assuming that they aren't replacing all history and geography classes - because that would be utterly retarded. While coding is very very important for the high tech IT industry, it's arguable that many people will hate coding, and therefore never go into that field.

 

However, basic history and geography are pretty much crucial to being an informed, free-thinking and functioning adult.

 

Australian brothers and sisters, please give us some insight.

[Muz]

Australian brothers and sisters, please give us some insight.

A conservative party isn't going to replace history and geography with IT, so it'll still stay, somehow.

[ofr057]

I also read that bit and scratched my head.

 

Can anyone confirm or elaborate on what they mean by "replace" history and geography?

 

I'm assuming that they aren't replacing all history and geography classes - because that would be utterly retarded. While coding is very very important for the high tech IT industry, it's arguable that many people will hate coding, and therefore never go into that field.

 

However, basic history and geography are pretty much crucial to being an informed, free-thinking and functioning adult.

 

back when i was at school geography was an elective and students had to choose a type of history to learn - australian, ancient and something else i think.

 

I am guess there updating the history side (how did technology come about?) and stream lining it more - but saying that the education system is crap

[ofr057]

A conservative party isn't going to replace history and geophahy with IT, so it'll still stay, somehow.

especially since they axed science education programs with the csiro and give more money to the school chaplains etc

[Albatross]

What? Something as important as geography an elective? And choosing which history to learn?

 

That is crazy! :wacko:

[Muz]

especially since they axed science education programs with the csiro and give more money to the school chaplains etc

Well that was with Abbott, we'll see what goes with Turnbull.

[Muz]

What? Something as important as geography an elective? And choosing which history to learn?

 

That is crazy! :wacko:

In highschool you can choose most of the subjects you do besides maths, english, science and humanities.

[SkilledRebuilds]

PM<- Who needs history lessons, we're moving forward, not backwards!

I do agree about it being a little early on to start.

I can see it now, PM slaps this on the desk,....."Fuck it,... thats Good Enough"

[Albatross]

PM<- Who needs history lessons, we're moving forward, not backwards!

I do agree about it being a little early on to start.

I can see it now, PM slaps this on the desk,....."Fuck it,... thats Good Enough"

 

If you don't learn about the past, you are bound to repeat it.

[CommandMan7]

And the US slips further back in the education department.

 

Good for you Australia.

You're telling me.

As a 10th grader in Alabama, I can safely say that education has gone down the toilet.

common core is total shit. i see no fucking point in it.

honestly i feel bad for anybody born after 2001, being guinea pigs for this stupid standard. i was the last generation, for example, who took the old route of math in high school (geometry, algebra 2, pre calc, etc.)

This June, I went to DC for an advocacy conference for high schoolers that was meant to help push the lawmakers to pass the new ESEA bill (no child left behind but less shit and fixed) that was supposed to be rewritten in 2004, and it was really an eye opener on how little most people there care about education. It needs to be reauthorized - at the moment, most states that don't comply with the outdated and unrealistic goals set in the "No child left" act get a waiver which allows them access to federal money, but only if they comply to federal education mandates (common core).  My senators, Stabenow and Peters, were supportive enough, but my representative in the house essentially said he didn't want to do shit until it was rewritten. The senate passed it without much debate, the house didn't want to without rewriting (takes years but we need ASAP). At the end of July, they got it passed by just 5 votes before summer recess. Since then absolutely nothing has happened... they have not even formed the conference committee yet. Please write your congresspeople - this bill is supposed to be renewed every 3 years. It's been 15 years. 

 

House Bill H.R.5. - https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5

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http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll423.xml

 

Senate Bill S.1177 - https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1177

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http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?&congress=114&session=1&vote=00249#position

[sylarspock]

so is this move attributed to Abbot's term of government or Turnbull ?

[ThomasD]

While I agree that coding needs to be taught in school, primary school kids don't have their logical thinking all that developed yet.

Middleschool maybe, but not primary school.

Agreed.  Not just logic thinking, but also the ability to build purposeful arguments.  If you cannot write a multiple paragraph essay - that makes sense - in your native tongue then you are simply not going to grok coding. 

 

A feelgood waste of time and effort. And the kids will be the ones who lose the most.

[JAKEBAB]

There replacing history and geography? seriously?! Why couldn't i go to school these days

 

"new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's heavy focus on innovation and preparing for the jobs and economies of the future." I lol'd, this is the guy that was in charge of us just now getting anywhere from 50mbps - 100mbps kinda a 50/50 chance of getting one or the other great way to spend $53b just go buy some old copper and call it a day.

[Yog]

This June, I went to DC for an advocacy conference for high schoolers that was meant to help push the lawmakers to pass the new ESEA bill (no child left behind but less shit and fixed) that was supposed to be rewritten in 2004, and it was really an eye opener on how little most people there care about education.

 

Well, technically Education is a state issue, not a federal one. I'm sure at least a portion of the feeling you got that they didn't care was due to that...it's technically not their job to be involved...not that that stops them from getting involved in popular issues. The problem is when most people see a problem they complain to the federal government when they should be complaining to their state and local governments...and since locally nobody is held accountable they don't bother to actually do anything except make sure everyone gets paid (and even that they often fail to do). I haven't seen any numbers on this but I would bet the states with the most locally-involved citizens have the best school systems. Really if you're a US citizen you should get your friends and family to become more locally aware and active because that's where the actual change has a chance of happening.

[Bouzoo]

First of all, I don't know how the education system in Australia works so I may not understand this quite well. It sounds cool, but I don't think kids at the age of 5 will understand the concept of computer coding. Programming at the age of 7, I'm not sure about that as well, it sounds cool, but I think it's too early. Kids also aren't good at problem solving at that age. And it's replacing history and geography? 

[CommandMan7]

Well, technically Education is a state issue, not a federal one. I'm sure at least a portion of the feeling you got that they didn't care was due to that...it's technically not their job to be involved...not that that stops them from getting involved in popular issues. The problem is when most people see a problem they complain to the federal government when they should be complaining to their state and local governments...and since locally nobody is held accountable they don't bother to actually do anything except make sure everyone gets paid (and even that they often fail to do). I haven't seen any numbers on this but I would bet the states with the most locally-involved citizens have the best school systems. Really if you're a US citizen you should get your friends and family to become more locally aware and active because that's where the actual change has a chance of happening.

I know, and that's why this bill needs to be passed. It gives much of the power back to the states, so that the states don't have to jump through regulatory hoops just to get federal funding. The power to regulate the specifics of education largely lies in the states, but a major portion of money comes from the federal government.