Historical Issues

Unit 4: Challenges and Injustices

Cultural Aspects Historical Issues Race Relations Contemporary Issues

Unit 1: 18thC Britain Unit 2: Contact History Unit 3: Perceptions & Stereotypes Unit 4: Challenges & Injustices

2006 L. R. Standard English?

Notes made while assessing written scripts by NSW school children

The NSW government recently commissioned an inquiry into the literacy levels of its children. In July 2006 all NSW school children from ages 8 to 12 were presented with writing tasks. These were based on certain genres of English writing including the Report, Essay and Review. Rules for writing in such genres are taught in schools. Student's scripts were assessed according their adherence to those rules, as well as other criteria including use of clause pattern, sentence structure, tense and punctuation. There were 13 criteria in all.

The literacy levels of students were rated by number, and the scores returned to schools for teachers and parents to review and act upon.

How challenging are these tests for the growing numbers of people from other countries who come to live in Australia, as well as for our Aboriginal English speakers?