| 'SKEWED SELECTION IN SCHOOLS' |
| Do you think some ethnic groups have the unfair advantage in our schools? This letter of complaint was taken from The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday, July 24, 2002. Here is what this lady has to say: 'It was reported on the weekend that the Chinese Australian Forum is opposed to the inclusion of a seperate written English test in the selection process for entry in selective high schools or, one presumes, into opportunity classes. 'Current selection procedures lead us to two conclusions: either Asian children are much more intelligent than all others, or the selection process is strongly biased towards them. How else can we explain the stronghold that Asian students have on places in selective classes and schools? 'Balance must be restored. The Chinese Australian Forum needs to understand that opportunity classes and selective high schools were established to meet the curriculum needs of academically gifted students within the public school system, and it is not happening that way. Instead, scant public resources are being swallowed up by professionally prepared students who can afford to pay for their opportunities elsewhere. 'We must not confuse dilligence with brilliance'. While I have nothing against any individual (Asians included) going to whatever schools and classes they wish, anyone else with exceptionally talented children but with not much money has to scrimp and save to send these children to good schools to ensure that their special needs are met. Because they weren't rich, both my parents had to work and save hard to send me, my brother and sister to private schools, and it was a relief (financially and emotionally) when my sister was admitted into the same selective state school my mother went to during her teens. Luckily for her (my sister), she topped the year in Geography. |
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