An interesting issue to be brought up:
From:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/surfing-at-school-challenged/2005/09/07/1125772568145.html
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Minister makes waves over school surfing classes
NSW Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt has asked education bureaucrats to explain why they allowed surfing to be included in the high school curriculum.
Byron Bay High School, on the northern NSW coast, runs a course in applied sport for surfing.
Ms Tebbutt said the Board of Studies-endorsed course had been developed by the school and did not count toward students' Universities Admission Index scores.
But she said she had asked for a briefing from the Board of Studies on why the surfing class was approved.
"Part of the value of having board-endorsed courses is that you can put in place creative courses for students who have no intention of going on to university and it keeps them connected to school," she told reporters.
"I wouldn't want to lose that benefit but I've got some concerns about the value of surfing as a Higher School Certificate course."
An Education Department spokeswoman said 16 students are expected to take part in the course.
They will spend four hours a week learning how to manufacture and maintain surfing equipment and about weather and sea condition forecasting.
``It's not a course about spending your time all day in the surf,'' the spokeswoman said.
``In terms of surfing, they do it in their own time before school, not during school.''
Byron Bay was the ideal location for such a course because of its strong surfing industry, she said.
``This is a multimillion dollar industry in the area where the school is and the school put this together in respect to the fact that the surfing industry is a local employer,'' she said.
The owner of one of Byron Bay's leading surf shops, Bay Action, backed the new surfing course, saying it would benefit students in the area.
``I think it's probably a good thing and appeals to lots of the kids around here. They have some interest in (surfing). Maybe it's a good thing that keeps them going on until year 12 rather than dropping out in year ten,'' Gary Timperley said.
Learning about the surfing industry, including how to design boards and clothes as well as run surf shops, would give graduates a greater chance of securing a job, Mr Timperley said.
``For the business side of things that's going to be helpful (and) it's always good to have the base of knowing how to make surfboards. In the surfing industry you get more respect and it's easier if you are a surfer,'' he said.
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Post your opinion:
An education scam or an exciting new course? What's your opinion on the latest Board Endorsed course?
From:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/surfing-at-school-challenged/2005/09/07/1125772568145.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minister makes waves over school surfing classes
NSW Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt has asked education bureaucrats to explain why they allowed surfing to be included in the high school curriculum.
Byron Bay High School, on the northern NSW coast, runs a course in applied sport for surfing.
Ms Tebbutt said the Board of Studies-endorsed course had been developed by the school and did not count toward students' Universities Admission Index scores.
But she said she had asked for a briefing from the Board of Studies on why the surfing class was approved.
"Part of the value of having board-endorsed courses is that you can put in place creative courses for students who have no intention of going on to university and it keeps them connected to school," she told reporters.
"I wouldn't want to lose that benefit but I've got some concerns about the value of surfing as a Higher School Certificate course."
An Education Department spokeswoman said 16 students are expected to take part in the course.
They will spend four hours a week learning how to manufacture and maintain surfing equipment and about weather and sea condition forecasting.
``It's not a course about spending your time all day in the surf,'' the spokeswoman said.
``In terms of surfing, they do it in their own time before school, not during school.''
Byron Bay was the ideal location for such a course because of its strong surfing industry, she said.
``This is a multimillion dollar industry in the area where the school is and the school put this together in respect to the fact that the surfing industry is a local employer,'' she said.
The owner of one of Byron Bay's leading surf shops, Bay Action, backed the new surfing course, saying it would benefit students in the area.
``I think it's probably a good thing and appeals to lots of the kids around here. They have some interest in (surfing). Maybe it's a good thing that keeps them going on until year 12 rather than dropping out in year ten,'' Gary Timperley said.
Learning about the surfing industry, including how to design boards and clothes as well as run surf shops, would give graduates a greater chance of securing a job, Mr Timperley said.
``For the business side of things that's going to be helpful (and) it's always good to have the base of knowing how to make surfboards. In the surfing industry you get more respect and it's easier if you are a surfer,'' he said.
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Post your opinion:
An education scam or an exciting new course? What's your opinion on the latest Board Endorsed course?
Last edited:
. I could think of worse ways for someone to spend their time.
