Above the fold

"There has been much agonising about teacher training and recruitment. In the “blame the..."

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:17:38 +1000

“

There has been much agonising about teacher training and recruitment. In the “blame the teacher” mentality that seems to rule in the big end of town, the growing inequality of our education system has been partly blamed on the low quality of teachers. Much has been made of their relatively low entry marks for university and the low numbers of men who go into the profession (…)

It seems those who bemoan the quality of teachers have forgotten how you attract anyone to any profession.

The rules are simple:

1. Treat teachers with respect and listen to their perspective.

2. Make sure that there is a clear career path available to teachers as they grow and learn on the job.

3. Give teachers opportunities to increase their skills and continuously gain access to formal professional development.

4. As teachers gain mastery in their practice, give them more autonomy over how they will operate in their classroom - make them accountable but not micro-managed.

5. Protect them from abuse and bullying - from staff, line management, senior management, politicians, media, students or parents.

6. Pay teachers appropriately.

”

- Jane Caro, Teacher who spurns fame the real idol: SMH

I wish I could remember the Berlin Wall coming down.

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:26:58 +1000

semisetadrift:

brentgilliard:

It is the most recent example of Big History that I can think of.

But I was only two years old in 1989.

As do I; I would have been just shy of two years at the time. In fact, I was just thinking about this the other day. Thankfully, our national broadcaster is freakishly in-tune with my interests and there’s a programme on this Tuesday, “Where Is The Wall?” which looks to be an interesting take on the dismantling of the wall.

I can’t remember the fall itself, but I have a very strong memory of watching the news on Christmas ‘92, the last day of the Soviet Union. They had a lot of news footage from the fall of the wall in the report.

The Fine Brothers spoil 100 TV series this time - quite...

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:37:23 +1000

The Fine Brothers spoil 100 TV series this time - quite different to the movie spoilers versions!

cankerbloxxom: epic win. stuff like this makes me laugh SO...

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:14:17 +1000

cankerbloxxom:

epic win.

stuff like this makes me laugh SO MUCH, and then i remember that the boy i am crushing on doesn’t watch the simpsons and i get all sadfaced. 90% of my jokes are recycled from the simpsons, he’ll never get anything that i say! :((((((((((

Are you kidding? Do you know how many witty and “original” things you’ll have in your repetoire?

Got to get back to New York sometime. Via freedomworksfilms

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:24:00 +1000

Got to get back to New York sometime. Via freedomworksfilms

tristn: lol’s

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:47:42 +1000

tristn:

lol’s

John Quiggin on Queensland's asset sales

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:25:15 +1000

John Quiggin on Queensland's asset sales:

I’m quite convinced by everything Quiggin says here, but in particular the only point that the government is interested in is the regaining of the AAA credit rating from the same ratings agencies who Brought You The Global Financial Crisis.

Whenever any government privatises anything, they make the case that the funds raised from the sale will go towards increased social infrastructure spending. These predictions haven’t been meaningfully accurate in the past (think sale of Telstra being used to fund environmental initiatives…) and Quiggin makes the case that they won’t do so now. He also provocatively offers a number of alternatives that would in fact improve Queensland’s economic situation.

Claude Levi-Strauss: Intellectual considered the father of modern anthropology whose work inspired structuralism

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:49:03 +1000

fluffynotes:

When Claude Lévi-Strauss was feted on his 100th birthday last year, the surprise for many was that he was still alive. The surprise on his death, 11 months later, is that, despite becoming the first centenarian among France’s immortels, his days had been numbered after all.

Lévi-Strauss was the quintessential man of his own culture and the global age. He was at once steeped in the ultra-rational intellectual tradition of France, while drawing universal rules from his myriad observations and experiences around the world.

Born in Belgium, persecuted in Vichy France and given refuge in the US until the war’s end, he won fame, and then reverance, as the father of structural anthropology. Structuralism has its critics; it may in time seem less revolutionary, and revelatory, than once it did. But as a great international man of letters, Lévi-Strauss bequeathes a legacy that transcends the narrow academic labels of his time.

Australian Sporting Event (noun)

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:05:16 +1000

buyhercandy:

semisetadrift:

joshdivision:

fauxjew:

an excuse to drink and gamble at 1.30pm on a tuesday.

NOUN PHRASE.

I wish I lived in America so I could vote for this man and his visionary web design.

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:26:42 +1000

I wish I lived in America so I could vote for this man and his visionary web design.

Moon

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:47:16 +1000

I saw this film on the weekend, not only because I like the title (it’s so fun to say!), or the poster.

Overall it’s great. Sam Rockwell does very well with challenging material. And it’s engaging not so much because it’s original, but because it makes its homages in ways that make you feel worldly :).

But there are still so many unanswered questions! Sort of like the opposite of Lost in Space, I hope someone fulfils the setup and makes a sequel soon.

PS. Moon moon moon moon moon moon moon!

rocketboom: big bigger biggestsmall smaller smallest

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:27:11 +1000

rocketboom:

big bigger biggestsmall smaller smallest

freedomtodither: christopher walken performs lady gaga

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:28:17 +1000

freedomtodither:

christopher walken performs lady gaga

"If my ups and downs, our ups and downs in our marriage can help young couples sort of realize that..."

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:01:17 +1000

“If my ups and downs, our ups and downs in our marriage can help young couples sort of realize that good marriages take work… [The image of a flawless relationship is] the last thing that we want to project… It’s unfair to the institution of marriage, and it’s unfair for young people who are trying to build something, to project this perfection that doesn’t exist.”

- Michelle Obama, “The Obamas’ Marriage,” NYT (via somethingchanged)

bowfolk: robotlove: bowfolk: thousandflowerettes: (via...

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:58:27 +1000

bowfolk:

robotlove:

bowfolk:

thousandflowerettes:

(via moonrat)

this is what i’ve got: “i am the very big (something) of the village because i (collaborate?) with the gemans! the croats!! and (something) the swiss!!!(?)”

I am the fattest pig of the city/town/village because I collaborate with Germans! Croats! (And now the Swiss!!!)

I could read it, but I don’t understand it!

bowfolk: thousandflowerettes: (via moonrat) What the hell?...

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:50:28 +1000

bowfolk:

thousandflowerettes:

(via moonrat)

What the hell? The Swiss?

"Instead of comparing this year’s rate to previous years (e.g., five boats arrived during 2007), here..."

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:46:05 +1000

“

Instead of comparing this year’s rate to previous years (e.g., five boats arrived during 2007), here is my reaction: so what? Even if there is an increase in the number of boats carrying unauthorised arrivals to Australian waters, why should I be so concerned about that?

In particular, why should I think it is better to have a policy with mandatory detention for all – even kids – that reduces the number of arrivals than to have a policy that treats people reasonably and humanely, even if it did mean that some more people might attempt to come here illegally?

For any unauthorised arrivals who have a legitimate claim to asylum, then I am happy if they find safety, security and prosperity in Australia. For unauthorised arrivals who do not have a legitimate claim, then they will be returned to their place of origin. For unauthorised arrivals who are a genuine security risk, they should be detained while their claims are assessed. I would prefer a system that achieves these appropriate outcomes over one that achieves the absolute minimal number of unauthorised arrivals.

My primary concern about the number of boats that attempt to bring people to Australia illegally is the safety of the passage – I would imagine that the last thing anyone wants to see is another SIEV-X. But attempting to prevent it by adopting a policy of locking up every man, woman and child who survives the trip makes no sense to me.

”

- Notahedgehog about a year ago. The arguments against welcoming asylum seekers always seem to rest on seriously shaky assumptions to me.

A hiatus. Or maybe a lull.

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:12:41 +1000

squashed:

My post volume has been down a lot.

I’ve been … busier. And, most importantly, I’ve been busier in ways with funding that restricts (for much of my time) anything that could be considered political lobbying, religious proselytizing, and certain unauthorized legal practice. What have I got left?

Anyway, I’m not dead yet. But I haven’t figured out how to use this space going forward.

Sorry to hear that Dan. I thought something was odd when you posted a piece on Afghanistan that looked half-finished.

I recommend you just post your material as extended comments on other blogs and news sites :).

"A person of good intelligence and of sensitivity cannot exist in this society very long without..."

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:22:00 +1000

“A person of good intelligence and of sensitivity cannot exist in this society very long without having some anger about the inequality - and it’s not just a bleeding-heart, knee-jerk, liberal kind of a thing - it is just a normal human reaction to a nonsensical set of values where we have cinnamon flavoured dental floss and there are people sleeping in the street.”

- George Carlin (via crowth) (via soupsoup) (via asprettyasasong)

I think we are all upset about this. At least, most of us. Many of us have different ways of coping. And different possible solutions. I think that bleeding heart liberals often think they’re the only ones who care about inequality. It’s simply not true.

(via mikehudack)

Of course not; but the people against whom the criticism “bleeding-heart liberals” are often levelled are often the only people advocating a solution that directly addresses the cause of concern. Too often the concern expressed by compassionate people is weighed against the structural factors that may prevent the best resolution.

“Moderation in all things” is fine as far as it goes, but it’s certainly not the only ethical precept that any person should follow. And in fact it’s completely incompatible with the ethical system advocated by Jesus, as well as others.

Platitudes cost nothing; it’s when you start showing the consequences of a given change that people really start getting upset or uneasy.

Suicide leads death cause for under 35s

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:03:00 +1000

Suicide leads death cause for under 35s:

Please support Lifeline and other organisations that help people who are contemplating suicide. The Senate is holding an inquiry into suicide in Australia and Lifeline is encouraging any people who have personal experience dealing with suicide or suicide loss to make a submission.