Geology and Science dropping off the SACE curriculum

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by Greg Bryant

A friend of mine in my year dropped all maths and science after Yr 10 and focused on English and Economics ...

What's wrong with this picture...

Originally Posted by Greg Bryant

He went on to become speech writer for Kim Beazley when he was Opposition leader, and economics advisor and speech writer for Kevin and for Julia when they were PM.

Oops... sorry! All makes sense now.

[kinetic (Steve)]

Carl,

I knew you would chime in with a passionate response.
I tend to agree with your sentiment re: politicians taking hold
of an issue like this, adding spin, and somehow making a bad
situation for all somehow good

Here's a thought re: the mining boom:

I worked on several mines. I've seen boom times and quiet times.
Mines always work on profit margins with a close eye kept on world metal
prices.
When mines experience a world minerals oversupply, or a recession, they go into care
and maintenance shutdown....sometimes for years.
It's a great way to lay off thousands of jobs too, under dubious
reported circumstances.
What happens when all of the people employed by these mines hit
a retrenchment phase due to a global oversupply/slump in base metal prices/recession?
It does happen...I've seen several of these cycles in my years on mines.
They will be out of a job with a day's notice (contractors) and have to
meet the mortgage repayments for the next week.
Then they will fall back on their fantastic education to find the next job.

Steve

[Terry B]

Originally Posted by renormalised

What does he intend to do after school??. If he goes to uni, what field does he want to get into??

His ambition is to go to the aust film and television school and become a screen writer. I reluctantly support this but think he will need to do a barista course so he doesn't starve.

[renormalised (Carl)]

Originally Posted by kinetic

Carl,

I knew you would chime in with a passionate response.
I tend to agree with your sentiment re: politicians taking hold
of an issue like this, adding spin, and somehow making a bad
situation for all somehow good

Here's a thought re: the mining boom:

I worked on several mines. I've seen boom times and quiet times.
Mines always work on profit margins with a close eye kept on world metal
prices.
When mines experience a world minerals oversupply, or a recession, they go into care
and maintenance shutdown....sometimes for years.
It's a great way to lay off thousands of jobs too, under dubious
reported circumstances.
What happens when all of the people employed by these mines hit
a retrenchment phase due to a global oversupply/slump in base metal prices/recession?
It does happen...I've seen several of these cycles in my years on mines.
They will be out of a job with a day's notice (contractors) and have to
meet the mortgage repayments for the next week.
Then they will fall back on their fantastic education to find the next job.

Steve

I know what you mean, Steve, having worked in the industry as well. You know, that's the whole problem with the way things are. This insane economic and political system we have now is only driving us to the wall. Why should anyone, anywhere, have to be put in the situation where if they lose their job for whatever reason, they get punished for it by having to face all the financial and familial stresses that they end up having to deal with. It's wrong and always has been. The big boys that run these companies and the governments that take their dirty cash off of them don't have to suffer all the heartache and such. We're getting done over to keep the tiny few at the top knee deep in caviar and champagne, so to speak. All the while, we get the rough end the stick. The system isn't working...in reality it probably never really did. But now it's at a crucial tipping point.

Things need to change, mate.

[renormalised (Carl)]

Originally Posted by Terry B

His ambition is to go to the aust film and television school and become a screen writer. I reluctantly support this but think he will need to do a barista course so he doesn't starve.

It's good to see the young fella doing what he wants to do. But as you say, it's not what you would call a steady line of employment. Then again, what is these days.

[OICURMT]

Originally Posted by Education Minister Jay Weatherill

The State Government would invest $194 million to create an extra 100,000 training places over the next six years.

Holy cr*p-o-la Batman... that's one training center for every 220 people in Australia... or one for every 16 South Australians ... talk about OVERKILL... or am I reading this wrong?

What are these politicians thinking anyway?

[renormalised (Carl)]

Originally Posted by OICURMT

Holy cr*p-o-la Batman... what's one training center for every 220 people in Australia... or one for every 16 South Australians ... talk about OVERKILL... or am I reading this wrong?

What are these politicians thinking anyway?

Think???!!!!.....never known one to do that