Economics seems likely to be brought into the primary curriculum.
But whose economics?
Not Julia Gillard's surely? Not Wayne Swan's?

"Now children, this is a deficit. This is good for you."

..

Primary students to learn economics
By Timothy McDonald | ABC – 31 minutes ago.. .


School principals have raised concerns over a Government plan that could see students learning the basics of economics and business before they leave primary school.

School Education Minister Peter Garrett says an early start is vital because students need to be financially literate and have a basic understanding of how the economy works.

"For young Australians not to be aware of the basics of economics and business [is] for young Australians not to be aware of the potential in terms of their employment, the subject choices that they might make in high school and young Australians not to be able to manage their personal finances, which even at that age can be an important issue in someone's life," Mr Garrett said.

"We need to move past that and that's why having these subjects provided for in the national curriculum I think is generally seen as a positive." The basics of the economics and business curriculum have been laid out by the Australian Curriculum Reporting and Assessment Authority.

The exact details will be released after consultation with education departments, schools, businesses, universities, teachers and parents.

Mr Garrett says in broad terms, the focus will be on resource allocation and making choices, the business environment, financial literacy and the changing workplace.

"I think the key thing here is to make sure that we have a provision of subjects at a high learning level to give kids a foundation for learning and then an opportunity to make choices whatever their choices might be," he said.

But school principals are concerned that adding a subject to an already packed curriculum for years five and six could take away from other subjects.

The Australian Primary Principals Association says it is a good idea, but the devil is in the detail.

President Norm Hart says the curriculum is already quite full and he worries that by adding to it, other subjects might have to be dropped.

"There are four areas that are the core business of primary schools - literacy and numeracy, science and social education, if you like," he said.

"Now these subjects, business and economics, probably fit under the banner of social education and if they can be integrated into existing work and used in a way that makes that more meaningful to students and helpful for them later in life then that would be a good thing to do in my opinion.

"If we are to have it as an add-on to an already extremely busy working week for primary school students then I think we need to ask some questions around what goes instead."

How can teachers 'teach' fiscal reponsibility when they are trying to send the States further into debt with their irresponsible wage demands? :-?

Quote:

The Australian Primary Principals Association says it is a good idea, but the devil is in the detail.

That's the key here - the details

We've seen Labor buggered up so many details so that it's not funny

Will the school hours be extended? This year the school curriculum has already included an Asian language and now another subject.

How about reading and writing? that would be a good start.

Economics???? teach the kids how it's a good thing to give bailouts and that house prices double every seven years ha!

Will the school hours be extended?

That's a good point pansi. They are cramming so much into curricula these days it's like information overload.
My grandson, 7 going into year 3, has been getting homework every week since year 1. What with swimming one day, tennis another day, being stuffed by Wednesday, he just gets exhausted.
"Back in my day" we didn't get/need homework in primary school.

maybe they could start by teaching the little rascals. where the money comes from to pay for all the excursions they have... seems to me they have a high priority these days.

hadrian_now wrote on Jan 9^th, 2013 at 2:29pm:

Will the school hours be extended? That's a good point pansi. They are cramming so much into curricula these days it's like information overload. My grandson, 7 going into year 3, has been getting homework every week since year 1. What with swimming one day, tennis another day, being stuffed by Wednesday, he just gets exhausted. "Back in my day" we didn't get/need homework in primary school.

I think the kids are lucky to have three qtrs of an hour per subject..and its all rush rush rush..if the kids are a little slow at picking up the basics.. they are lost souls.. they really are..

but as you say they go to swim classes or golf or tennis... what happened to music??? that doesnt seem to happen these days..

we give them computers and think thats enough.

what kid wouldnt want to spend their day on a computer... LOL..

Swagman wrote on Jan 9^th, 2013 at 11:50am:

How can teachers 'teach' fiscal reponsibility when they are trying to send the States further into debt with their irresponsible wage demands? :-?

Swaggy, lol: only a crack smoking tryhard could make such a comment! Cracksmokers pretend they are beer drinkers but we all know they aren't!

Maqqa wrote on Jan 9^th, 2013 at 12:14pm:

Quote: The Australian Primary Principals Association says it is a good idea, but the devil is in the detail. That's the key here - the details We've seen Labor buggered up so many details so that it's not funny

I think you'll find that is the key everywhere!

Jeebus, let us all bow down to the clown!!  ::) ::) ::) ::)  :-?  ;D ;D

hadrian_now wrote on Jan 9^th, 2013 at 2:29pm:

Will the school hours be extended? That's a good point pansi. They are cramming so much into curricula these days it's like information overload. My grandson, 7 going into year 3, has been getting homework every week since year 1. What with swimming one day, tennis another day, being stuffed by Wednesday, he just gets exhausted. "Back in my day" we didn't get/need homework in primary school.

The homework is ridiculous: my nephew gets 100% everytime just for telling me he needs to read his book for school!

"YOU CAN READ ALREADY," I TELL HIM but he doesn't want to get into trouble.

So I always tell him he gets 100% no matter what!!

Freaking ridiculous: a bunch of nervous nellies is what they're going to make our kids... ah, but that's it isn't it: fear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bloody bunch of fascist dictators we are- 9-11 happened for a reason I tells ya!!
  :-? :-?

cods wrote on Jan 9^th, 2013 at 5:38pm:

hadrian_now wrote on Jan 9th, 2013 at 2:29pm: Will the school hours be extended? That's a good point pansi. They are cramming so much into curricula these days it's like information overload. My grandson, 7 going into year 3, has been getting homework every week since year 1. What with swimming one day, tennis another day, being stuffed by Wednesday, he just gets exhausted. "Back in my day" we didn't get/need homework in primary school. I think the kids are lucky to have three qtrs of an hour per subject..and its all rush rush rush..if the kids are a little slow at picking up the basics.. they are lost souls.. they really are.. but as you say they go to swim classes or golf or tennis... what happened to music??? that doesnt seem to happen these days.. we give them computers and think thats enough. what kid wouldnt want to spend their day on a computer... LOL..

exactly mate: speed chess makes no sense unless a world full of chaos is the modus of intention!