Comment
  1. Home
  2. Comment
COMMENT

I was told I was lucky to be in 'the zone' - but it was a load of hot air

I'm probably not the only parent duped by a school's ATAR score and website – and it's not just private schools that try to weed out students with low academic grades, but also reputable public secondary schools.

Like many parents, I believed all the hype circulating about a zoned local secondary school that parents were anxious to enrol their children into. Even parents outside the zone would buy into or rent in the area and I was told how lucky I was to be in "the zone".

Up Next

NSW's first virtual selective high school

null
Video duration
01:09

More Education News Videos

null
Video duration
01:32

VCE students pushed out
null
Video duration
01:09

NSW's first virtual selective high school
null
Video duration
01:41

HSC overhaul announced
null
Video duration
01:44

Why I'm teaching ethics classes
VET Disaster
Video duration
02:44

The vocational education disaster

null
Video duration
00:51

Local engineers struggling to find work
More videos

VCE students pushed out

Concerns that schools are pushing non-academic students out of VCE to boost their rankings.

When the school talked about its strong academic performance at a parent information night, providing all sorts of percentages and statistical information regarding the number of students completing VCE, attaining the top ATAR results, gaining entry to university - to name a few - it seemed to reinforce the hype. I assumed they must have great teachers who could engage students, develop their love of learning and get the best out of them. But I found they were full of hot air.

I have come across many parents, like myself, who have learnt that if your child is the academic, studious type who is self-motivated and keen, they will do well. But if they are a lot of hard work because they are struggling or have intelligence but need a good kick up the rear to do their work, then they'll be left behind.

Related Content

Granted, there are students who are challenging and just don't want to learn, but I've seen through my children what a difference a good teacher can make when they really care about their students' achievements, reaching their potential, handing in homework and improving their grades. But when a child can get away with doing the minimum, they will, and when the teacher doesn't care, neither will the student.

I know of parents who complained about their child being approached by co-ordinators several times and encouraged to undertake VCAL, eager for them to move on. My eldest wanted to do a trade anyway, so went on to VCAL no problem, but I couldn't get over the delight expressed by the co-ordinator.

I soon learnt this school cares more about its ATAR than getting the best out of its students. Parents shouldn't just look at a school's ATAR score and website, they should also ask what the school does to get the best out of students, how they deal with those struggling, getting low grades or lacking motivation. You don't want a school that takes the easy option of keeping excellent performers while weeding out the poor performers.

It saddens me to think of the number of students who are denied the opportunity to do VCE and reach their potential. Instead they have had their self-esteem destroyed by misguided teachers and co-ordinators who insist they will not be able to cope or pass their VCE exams. How many would have passed and gone on to further studies or do well in life regardless?

You want a school that encourages your child to reach their potential. To all those students, all I can say is your success in life isn't determined by teachers and grades. Years ago, while cleaning out my late parent's garage, I stumbled across my brother's high school report from the 1980s. One of the teachers wrote: "He's lazy." We laughed in disbelief, because he is "so not lazy". This guy cannot sit still and works hard running a successful small business for over 25 years.

8 comments