Number 26


 

Here is the latest edition of YouthMoves – a news-sheet for people interested in youth issues in Australia

Written and Produced by Kirrilie Smout, Psychologist, Speaker and Youth Specialist

 

 

WELCOME

 

Welcome to the latest edition of YouthMoves, a news-sheet that gives ‘snatches’ of youth news, info & resources relevant to busy people relating to teens.  

What’s in this issue?

 

-         Myths about Australian Education

-         Tips for how to deal with fights between teen siblings

-         PLUS find out about useful youth resources

-         PLUS find out about upcoming youth events

-         Our contact details

-         How to unsubscribe OR join up friends and colleagues to this newsletter

 

If you would like to see the back issues of Youth Moves log onto our website www.innovateonline.net

 

If I can assist your work with young people in any way (by offering counselling services, speaking/training or just answering a question about youth issues), please feel free to phone me on 8357 1711, or email kirriliesmout@innovateonline.net.

 

P.S. I am often asked about reprints:  Please feel free to reprint articles in school newsletters providing the following acknowledgement is made:  Kirrilie Smout, Innovate Psychology and Education, www.innovateonline.net.

 

 

 

MYTHS ABOUT AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION

 

As someone who works in hundreds of schools throughout Australia, I am frustrated by a number of myths about education perpetuated by some commentators in the media.  For the record, here are at least three myths I feel need debunking!

 

MYTH 1: Our students are becoming less capable academically. 

The research on Australian literacy and numeracy student standards is complex. Results depend on the age of students tested, kinds of tests used and who students were compared to.   While one study indicates falling standards, another concludes that standards have remained stable, and yet another reports that Australian students are amongst the most highly capable worldwide.  Irrespective, an important, often neglected point is this:  basic literacy and numeracy skills (eg spelling, knowledge of grammar, mathematical calculations) are only one aspect of academic achievement.  In our schools, students are also taught more abstract, complex skills such as problem solving, learning how to research, becoming aware of global issues, knowing how to analyse information on a webpage, learning to critique a newspaper article and so much more.  While not denying the importance of basic literacy and numeracy, there are many other worthwhile and important life skills at which most Australian students are becoming admirably proficient.

 

MYTH 2: Students in our schools are not graded and therefore not prepared for “real life”. 

First, students in Australia are graded.  Just because work is not always labelled “A” or “F” does not mean students are not receiving categorical feedback.  Even the youngest students know the difference between “High Achievement” and “Unsatisfactory Achievement”.  I have never worked with a school that does not give ongoing assessment to students.  Second, how exactly does constantly failing a struggling 7 year old student prepare them for real life anyway?  When a young student receives ongoing negative feedback about their work they learn to give up and stop trying.  Some commentators’ obsessions with grading students at every opportunity show a lack of knowledge about young people’s learning process.  Students learn significantly better when affirmed for what they can do, and then shown how to improve than by simply giving them feedback about their shortcomings.

 

MYTH 3: Our schools don’t cater for “non-academic students” – there are no “technical schools” anymore.

In actual fact, our school system is better equipped to assist “non-academic” students than ever before.  Unlike past times, these students are not separated from their peers and put into specific technical schools, but instead stay within their own familiar and supportive school environment and have many learning options.  Students are able to start apprenticeships while still at school.  They can use part-time work to count towards their senior school achievement.  They can take a hobby (eg a sport), complete a major project on it, and count their hours spent in this hobby towards their senior school achievement.  Trained teachers help “non-academic” students to map out a school pathway which specifically suits their abilities and hopes for the future.

 

Every system can be improved.  But as a close observer of our Australian education system, I believe it is first rate.

 

 

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK FROM ARISTOTLE

 

“Youth is easily deceived, because it is quick to hope.”

 

STATS and FACTS: Teenagers have 600 less hours of physical activity in a year than their counterparts 30 years ago.                 

Queensland University of Technology, 2006

 

 

NEWS AND EVENTS

 

The National Careers & Employment Expo, 25th-26th May 2007, Adelaide: This Expo provides the opportunity for students, graduates, skilled and mature age workers, and those looking for a change, to meet face to face with Australia’s leading organisations, government bodies, educational and training providers. At the expo, anyone can receive free career advice and find out about jobs on offer. Admission is FREE. For further information, Ph: 1300 66 71 21, email: info@eoc.com.au; or go to www.eocexpo.com.au. 

 

National Youth Week 2007 ‘Launch Yourself’, 14th-22nd April 2007, All Over Australia: There are numerous events happening in South Australia during National Youth Week, including an exhibition showcasing young artists, an aerosol art showcase and a skateboarding competition. For information about events in SA: Ph: (08) 8207 0609 (SA’s Office for Youth), email: parker.michelle@saugov.sa.gov.au or go to http://www.youthweek.com/index.html.

 

What has Kirrilie been doing in the last term?

-          Providing seminars and training to educators and parents on cyber bullying, helping teens through tough times, communicating with and understanding teenagers.

-          Providing training to health professionals and other psychologists on working with young people in crisis.

-          Working with Year 12 students in schools locally and in rural South Australia on motivating themselves to study and organising their time.

-          Counselling clients one on one, this term particularly in the area of bullying, anxiety and disordered eating.

-          Providing comment to the media on self harm and mobile phone use

 

 

Forum: SIBLING FIGHTS

 

Dear Kirrilie,

My teenagers fight like cat and dog.  It is the bane of my life.  Any ideas? 

Fed-up Parent.

 

Dear Fed-Up Parent,

Most parents say this is THE hardest issue they face.  I have an article on my website with 13 tips about managing sibling fighting.  In the meantime, here are four ideas.

 

1. Understand that sibling fights are useful.  Your teens are learning to live with conflict, deal with anger and see that not everyone agrees with them.  If they never fought, they would miss out on a lot of life lessons.  It’s hard, but take a deep breath and try to see the advantages.

 

2. Minimise sources of the conflict.  For a week, make notes about the fights.  Do the same old fights keep happening?  For these fights, see whether some kind of system or routine can be put in place.  For example, for fights over TV/phone/computer use: draw up a regular routine that eliminates any possibility of negotiation or confusion. “Child X has the computer between4pm and 5pm and child

Y has it between 5pm

and 6pm”.  Be proactive

and don’t expect things to change by themselves.

 

3. Minimise situations where conflict occurs. Do they always fight just before tea time?  On long car trips?  Does the last week of the school holidays consist of world war three?  If you know conflict is likely to happen at certain times and in certain situations, see whether any of these situations can be avoided in the first place. 

 

4. Teach siblings conflict resolution skills – but not when they are fighting.  Just as we teach our children how to use a knife and fork, we should be teaching them how to handle conflict.  Teach and give options for what to do when they feel hard done by, for what to do when they feel frustrated.  Describe what you do when you are in a conflict situation.  This is an ongoing task of parenting – teens don’t learn these skills without help.

 

Best Wishes,

Kirrilie

 

RESOURCES

 

HOT TOPIC – COPING AT SCHOOL AND UNI

Reach Out’s website contains factsheets about various issues relating to school and university that affect young people. Topics include dealing with anxiety, bullying, transitions after leaving school, schoolies and peer pressure. To view these (and other) factsheets, go to http://www.reachout.com.au/index.asp?mci=3&mwi=2&tii=21.

 

OXYGEN - YOUTH AND TOBACCO

OxyGen is a joint effort of the Commonwealth Government, Quit SA and Quit Victoria promoting the creation of a tobacco-free generation. Go to http://oxygen.org.au/ for free factsheets, video downloads, e-cards, and curriculum resources designed to prevent teen smoking.

 

YOUTH AND THE MEDIA

Young Media Australia is an on-line resource designed to educate parents, teachers and others working with children and teenagers about the media’s impact on young people. The website contains factsheets, movie reviews, articles, the latest news and other resources on topics including the media’s influence on young people’s sexuality and levels of violence. Go to http://www.youngmedia.org.au/index.htm for more information.

 

 

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OR

 

To join up a friend or colleague send their email address and their name to kirriliesmout@innovateonline.net.