C
Contrarian
Students lacking in life skills
Bethany Hiatt Education Editor, The West Australian
Updated June 25, 2013, 2:50 am
Concerns that children are not being taught basic social and practical skills at home have prompted some public schools to ask parents to help them make sure students have the life skills to cope with high school.
Willetton Senior High School, one of WA's top public schools, gives incoming Year 8 students a brochure with a checklist of skills it found many were lacking.
They include practical skills such as being able to write and address a letter, iron a shirt, use a broom and being able to tie a bow on an apron.
They also include social skills such as remembering to say please and thank you, being aware that bad language could be offensive and understanding the difference between slang and formal language.
Willetton deputy principal Dave Bonner said teachers created the brochure a few years ago as part of its orientation program for Year 7 students.
He said the list was "basic common sense" but it could serve as a useful reminder for some parents who might not be aware their children had not picked up necessary life skills.
"We're not saying all parents need that," he said.
Ellenbrook Secondary College principal Bill Mann sent a letter home to all parents this year after he realised they needed clearer advice about what they could do to support their child's learning.
His letter spelt out the necessity for students to come to school each day on time, in uniform and ready to learn.
"Being ready for learning means students have had a good night's sleep, a regular breakfast (not a chocolate bar and a can of soft drink on the way to school) and their bag is packed with the necessary tools for learning," he wrote.
Mr Mann told The West Australian schools also had to do more to teach students socially appropriate behaviour because youth culture had changed.
"The social media intrusion now means that kids don't spend as much time as they did before with their families, or have those kitchen table discussions during the evening meal in the way they used to," he said.
Bethany Hiatt Education Editor, The West Australian
Updated June 25, 2013, 2:50 am
Concerns that children are not being taught basic social and practical skills at home have prompted some public schools to ask parents to help them make sure students have the life skills to cope with high school.
Willetton Senior High School, one of WA's top public schools, gives incoming Year 8 students a brochure with a checklist of skills it found many were lacking.
They include practical skills such as being able to write and address a letter, iron a shirt, use a broom and being able to tie a bow on an apron.
They also include social skills such as remembering to say please and thank you, being aware that bad language could be offensive and understanding the difference between slang and formal language.
Willetton deputy principal Dave Bonner said teachers created the brochure a few years ago as part of its orientation program for Year 7 students.
He said the list was "basic common sense" but it could serve as a useful reminder for some parents who might not be aware their children had not picked up necessary life skills.
"We're not saying all parents need that," he said.
Ellenbrook Secondary College principal Bill Mann sent a letter home to all parents this year after he realised they needed clearer advice about what they could do to support their child's learning.
His letter spelt out the necessity for students to come to school each day on time, in uniform and ready to learn.
"Being ready for learning means students have had a good night's sleep, a regular breakfast (not a chocolate bar and a can of soft drink on the way to school) and their bag is packed with the necessary tools for learning," he wrote.
Mr Mann told The West Australian schools also had to do more to teach students socially appropriate behaviour because youth culture had changed.
"The social media intrusion now means that kids don't spend as much time as they did before with their families, or have those kitchen table discussions during the evening meal in the way they used to," he said.
