http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/11/26/graduation-day-in-wadeye/ now with extra source Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:01:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/11/26/graduation-day-in-wadeye/#comment-13765 Frank Baarda Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-13765 A moot point to what extent the mentioned bilingual programme at Wadeye contributed to the laudable academic success. The article does not mention whether any politicians or officials from the Education Department were present at the graduation ceremony. One suspects they were conspicuous by their absence. <br />Bilingual programmes are being scrapped by the NT Education Department.<br />Strictly speaking 4 hours of English-only in the morning is what the Minister decreed, but all of us that are familiar with these communities know that that is tantamount to scrapping. <br /> Last night on NITV (National Indigenous TV) an item mentioned that Chief Minister Paul Henderson was standing by Minister Scrymgeour in that he agreed that "bilingual programmes didn't work". Yesterday on the ABC News her policy was endorsed by Julia Gillard. Terry Mills the NT Leader of the opposition on the other hand is asking Ms.Scrymgeour to show the evidence she is basing her policy decision on.<br />Its well known that internal (leaked?) Education Department reports demonstrate that bilingual schools are no worse than English-only schools and in fact tend to be better.<br />Its ironic that this battle was fought a decade ago when the then CLP Government tried to scrap bilingual education and the then Labour opposition (notably Peter Toyne) sprung to its defence. Such role reversals are described in George Orwell's 1984. <br />And we thought the ALP were our friends! More fools we. A moot point to what extent the mentioned bilingual programme at Wadeye contributed to the laudable academic success. The article does not mention whether any politicians or officials from the Education Department were present at the graduation ceremony. One suspects they were conspicuous by their absence.
Bilingual programmes are being scrapped by the NT Education Department.
Strictly speaking 4 hours of English-only in the morning is what the Minister decreed, but all of us that are familiar with these communities know that that is tantamount to scrapping.
Last night on NITV (National Indigenous TV) an item mentioned that Chief Minister Paul Henderson was standing by Minister Scrymgeour in that he agreed that “bilingual programmes didn’t work”. Yesterday on the ABC News her policy was endorsed by Julia Gillard. Terry Mills the NT Leader of the opposition on the other hand is asking Ms.Scrymgeour to show the evidence she is basing her policy decision on.
Its well known that internal (leaked?) Education Department reports demonstrate that bilingual schools are no worse than English-only schools and in fact tend to be better.
Its ironic that this battle was fought a decade ago when the then CLP Government tried to scrap bilingual education and the then Labour opposition (notably Peter Toyne) sprung to its defence. Such role reversals are described in George Orwell’s 1984.
And we thought the ALP were our friends! More fools we.

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