'We don't need no education
We don't need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone.'
We don't need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone.'
Roger Waters, Pink Floyd – The Wall (1979)
Two of my most favourite composers of classical music, Roger Waters and David Gilmour released this album over 40 years ago. [Classical? Yes, Henrietta, of course I’m serious! - - OK, let’s compromise: ‘modern classical’. Crikey! Must be getting old..!]
September is Rotary International’s ‘Basic Education and Literacy Month’. You now have an image in your mind, don’t you? And I bet that that image is something like a “developing country” classroom full of highly attentive, smiling kids with perfect teeth, sitting on the floor, or at best on old school benches and an early 20th Century style blackboard (possibly donated by Rotary). Correct? Last week, Vandy S Kamara demonstrated to us that just one man with serious determination can make a massive difference (see report above).
Now, I don’t for a moment suggest that those Rotary programs, which supply material, financial support and sometimes human resources, are not worthwhile. Are they ever! There is only one way to improve the lives of the impoverished people regardless of where they live and that’s Education. Starting with basic literacy and numeracy, it is indeed the only way. With Rotary’s concept of having a partner at the recipient’s end, our efforts also have a much higher chance of success. This generally is the policy of The Rotary Foundation, as well as – closer to home – the rule of Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS).
But what about right here? the largest national peak body for adult and community education, Adult Learning Australia, published an OECD survey that found some 44% of adult Australians “lack the literacy skills required in everyday life. Of these, 1 in 7 (14% !!) have literacy levels which are so low they struggle with everyday tasks.” With numeracy skills, it is even worse. Is it because we are not spending enough of our taxes on Education? Personally, I don’t really think so. It goes much deeper than that. [Disclaimer: This is the author’s personal view and may not represent that of Rotary. Ed.]
It is not Rotary’s task to set Education Policy. But perhaps we could become involved in old fashioned Community Service. Remember? "In the olden days", Community Service used to be a Club Directorship all by itself. And perhaps we could arrange (or cooperate with) local adult learning projects, to the benefit of (now) adults who recognise the errors of their younger days?