Parent-teacher partnerships critical for school success

These results certainly reflect disadvantage (“NSW students failing NAPLAN tests”, August 14). Sadly, there are numerous reasons for them. The obvious one is the lack of funding in public schools and cuts to education support services for students with learning difficulties, to behavioural issues. Now public schools in NSW have been trying to do more with less.

The second issue is the curriculum, which until recently was in the hands of so-called experts who came up with ideas that only worked for a select few. However, because teachers have to teach the curriculum, they are forced by law to use it.

There is also parental responsibility. Unfortunately, some parents are unable to help their children for various reasons – one certainly is income. Sadly, these students miss out. Just as sad are the parents who are offloading some of their responsibilities to schools and then attacking teachers and principals for their failings. Fortunately, some common sense is beginning to prevail, with new syllabuses being introduced with better content and a better approach.

There is so much that should be done in public schools, but it has to be done with the partnership of teachers, governments and parents. Augusta Monro, Dural

How would teachers perform on a NAPLAN test? Andrew Scott, Pymble

Why the surprise about no improvement in NAPLAN results, especially in literacy? How many parents do much reading at home (even a newspaper) these days? Important role models. With both parents working often they don’t have the time. Fair enough, but this does undermine literacy as a daily skill. The impact of new technology hasn’t helped, many kids now linked to iPhones and social media (and TV) also resulting in a decline in overall literacy.

As for numeracy. I remember reciting times tables every morning in primary school, only for about 10 minutes, which over five years wasn’t much of a chore, and we were doing 12 times table by grade six. It gave us a good background to understanding maths. Then, the “powers that be” decided this was not a good idea, learning by rote. Well, they haven’t come up with a better plan. It is not poor teaching, the problem lies with constant changes to syllabus and methodology. Glenys Quirk, Forster

The first thing both state and federal governments should do is to address the scandalous misallocation of resources in education. The ludicrous over funding of private schools at the same time as public schools are severely underfunded is outrageous. Australia is unique among OECD countries in public funding of private schools. Tony Simons, Balmain

Grammar grounding

Congratulations must go to Glenwood High for swimming against the educational tide, but why isn’t grammar of this calibre on the curriculum for all schools (“Top schools for HSC English, maths and science revealed”, August 14)?

Results in all subjects improve when students are taught how to understand what they read and how to structure their written work so they can express themselves and be clearly understood. In the culture wars that permeate our education system, it is seen as repressive and elitist, yet understanding how grammar and punctuation work is the basis of all education. It gives us the ability to express and understand complex scientific and moral principles, poetry, literature, philosophy and the law, and also detect the latest fake news. We would not expect a builder to work without tools or a surgeon without instruments, yet we are happy to let our children struggle through life without this most rudimentary foundation. Elisabeth Goodsall, Wahroonga

The annual NAPLAN breast-beating is ominously like the annual Closing the Gap flagellation. For years, these two issues have continued to be significant problems dealt with by throwing more and more money at them. The lack of improvement would strongly suggest that increased funding per se is not the solution. It may make successive governments feel good about being seen to do something, but it is proving to be ineffectual.

It was of interest in your report that Glenwood High has brought back a former English teacher to “build literacy skills and teach our new graduate teachers”. Neil Buchanan, Waitara

I note that Glenwood High recalled their retired head of English to build literacy skills in students and new teachers. With arts and humanities degrees costing $50,000, where will the expert English teachers of tomorrow come from? Gayle Davies, Armidale

Why is anyone impressed by selective schools producing good results at the HSC (Letters, August 14)? I would suggest that any selective high school that didn’t should lose its “selective” designation. If selective high schools work, how do numerous non-selective comprehensive schools, many in country areas, still manage to top subjects at the HSC? Kevin Farrell, Beelbangera

Musing on music

Music is a universal language which has long been shown to improve learning in other areas (“We’re out of tune, but music teacher crisis can be fixed”, August 14). It has immediate benefits to one’s sense of well-being. Sadly, your writer does not mention the late Richard Gill, who, for over 50 years, worked tirelessly to introduce music education into all primary schools’ curricula. Specialist teachers have the experience needed to make this activity fun, engaging and inclusive. A few will achieve stardom, most will have confidence in their newly learned skills. Felicite Ross, Vaucluse

Free swimming lessons

A campaign by “influencers”, notably Olympic gold medallists would no doubt encourage far more non- swimmers to become proficient but the provision of free swimming lessons is essential (“Pool paradox: we can’t swim well”, August 14). Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent by governments on sport but a considerable proportion goes to elite sports believed to produce the best medal prospects. The hoard of Olympic gold may make is feel proud, but soon forgotten. Meanwhile, particularly in a cost of living crisis, many families cannot afford the fees necessary for their children to participate in weekend sport. The health and academic performance of many children could be improved by increased physical activity so it is a no-brainer that a greater proportion of sports funding should be directed to children’s sport. Geoff Harding, Chatswood

A timely reminder about water safety. Water safety lessons must be in the school curriculum, starting in primary school and refreshed every year. An essential reminder is to always carry a flotation device if spending time near water. My husband grabbed a child’s boogie board to assist in a successful rescue. Our granddaughter raced into a treacherous surf with her boogie board and kept several people afloat until rescue boats arrived. Always take a flotation device is an effective way to reduce drowning in Australia. Bea Hodgson, Gerringong

I couldn’t agree more with Jenna Price. I, too, have failed the national identity test as I am sadly water repellent: swimming remains a spectator sport, I’m buoyed with patriotic pride watching the extraordinary efforts of our Olympic swim team while genuinely terrified of water, a sentiment at odds with my origins. Surely all Australians are born with a love of swimming? Reading Price’s column has thrown me a lifeline – maybe it’s not too late. I should follow her lead, embrace the fear and earn my late life water wings. I just have to overcome that sinking feeling. Janet Argall, Dulwich Hill

Blame soaps for slipping standards

While teaching in the UK in 2002, the head of my school lamented the increasing number of his students wearing their shirts out (Letters, August 14). He blamed it on the influence of the Australian TV soapies, then popular with teenage Brits. Robert Hickey, Green Point

My wonderful bright-eyed and bushy-tailed primary schoolboys used to wait in line after recess and lunch. If I forgot my usual garment readjusting protocol, they’d remind me: “Alright now, boys, tuck your shirts in and make yourselves handsome!” Pauline McGinley, Drummoyne

At Parramatta High in the ’50s the deputy would demand: “Every boy must wear a tie and a badge”. At one assembly the senior boys turned up wearing a tie and a badge, and just gym shorts. Josephine Piper, Miranda

Same deal when it comes to gambling advertising

I spent 17 years working at a research clinic at the University of Sydney that focused on supporting those struggling with gambling (“TV companies launch last-minute bid to block total gambling ad ban”, August 14). In 2013, I was asked to make a submission to a federal government inquiry on sports betting, where I noted that all the available research and clinical evidence clearly showed that limited restrictions on gambling advertising were unlikely to be effective. The government of the time’s response to this inquiry was … limited restrictions on gambling advertising. In 2023, alongside colleagues, I made another submission to a federal government inquiry into gambling harm, where I again noted that the research and clinical evidence only supports a total ban on gambling advertisement. And the government of today’s response is: limited restrictions on gambling advertising. I guess the more things change … Christopher Hunt, Redfern

It’s good to see that Chris Minns has his priorities right (“MP calls out ‘cowards’ over poker machines”, August 14). Apparently it’s dishonouring to the Diggers to be able to buy milk at a supermarket on Anzac Day, so that’s been banned, but losing thousands of dollars to an electronic poker machine that’s programmed to ensure gamblers can’t win is somehow a tradition that honours their legacy. Cath Henshall, Bungonia

Gambling addiction is a problem for people of all ages, and results in the breakdown of relationships, loss of employment, financial ruin and sometimes conviction and incarceration. Labor insists that commercials on TV continue, implying commercial TV will go broke without gambling ads. Is this more important than people’s lives and the misery caused to them and their families? I recall the tobacco industry pushed a similar line when smoking ads were banned, but somehow commercial TV coped with that and I think they would cope without the revenue from gambling ads. Peter Purches, North Balgowlah

While I agree with those who advocate a ban on gambling advertising, care should be taken in comparing the situation with big tobacco. There is no such thing as a good cigarette, but gambling is more nuanced. While clearly a public health hazard for many, the majority who gamble do so responsibly, enjoyably and with little material effect. I am sure, however, that they would still have an occasional flutter in spite of the absence of advertising. Lewis Kaplan, Birchgrove

Regardless of whichever way Labor goes with its gambling advertising ban – partial or total – you can be sure they’ll cop a hiding from the gambling industry and the television networks. So, prime minister, why not just bite the bullet, be brave and do what the overwhelming majority of Australians want and ban all gambling advertisements. It’s the right thing to do. Jonathan Crosby, Dubbo

Capital letters

Ross Gittins nails the problem of modern capitalism; an absence of capitalists and, in their place, a managerial system that avoids responsibility, is poorly over-sighted and whose practitioners seek to feather their own nests (“Capitalist ship’s lost its rudder”, August 14). We look to government to regulate but, sadly, one side wants to give them carte blanche while the other is too timid to take them on. Poor fellow, my country. Wayne Duncombe, Lilyfield

When I travelled to and from Africa and Europe in the ’70s to ’90s the Qantas service was first class and fares were competitive. I was proud of “our” airline and never thought of flying with any other. It is so sad to be told how Qantas has become the worst type of capitalism. I fear reputation over profits will never return. Andrew Macintosh, Cromer

Gittins says that “in legal theory, the job of company boards is to represent the interests of the shareholders”. Not so. The Corporations Act obliges directors to act in the best interests of the company, which is a separate legal entity from the changing body of shareholders. The interests of the company and the shareholders will not always coincide. Greg McCarry, Epping

Australia decides

Nancy Pelosi’s uncalled-for intervention into Australia’s domestic political debate is, unfortunately, reflective of the attitude of the US towards Australia (“Keating and Pelosi at loggerheads over Taiwan”, August 14). With AUKUS, US troop rotation and home porting facilities, Paul Keating is absolutely correct on Australia’s potential loss of national sovereignty. Australia has a right to determine its own foreign policy positions without being pressured by a representative of a foreign government. Paul Pearce, Bronte

It was oddly surprising to see that it was the Australian politician (former), not the American, making the dumb comment. Isobel Lanesman, Cremorne

Judge dread

I propose a new weekly Herald column, with comments moderated by a guest lawyer each week: Justice or ass? (You be the judge.) A list of the most contentious justice/police decisions of the week (“Suppression orders are a blight on our judicial framework”, August 4). Dorothy Kamaker, Whale Beach

Car trouble

Along with the embrace of Trumpian tactics, deployed successfully during the Voice campaign and now the nuclear “debate”, Australians have adopted American-style SUVs and utes (“Don’t let those Musk trucks overrun our roads”, August 14). These behemoths represent all 10 bestselling models this year, and more than half of all new car sales are SUVs. Riding high on the idea that wowsers wanted to “spoil the weekend”, the former Coalition government beefed up a nice little SUV tax write-off for tradies. And while the federal government has overhauled that costly instant asset write-off scheme, there are still no real incentives to buy safer, smaller cars. Leadership is needed to ensure large, heavy, carbon-unfriendly cars are taxed accordingly. Alison Stewart, Riverview

Hot break take

Raygun’s performance at the Olympics in breaking will be legendary (Letters, August 14). She is an academic with a good understanding of the historical, social and cultural aspects of the genre. Breakdancing was originally an unusual, slightly subversive, individual and very personal expression of movement. It sent a message. Modern breaking is quite different. Most proponents are clones of each other – same attitude, same moves, same clothes, same peer pressure – much like teenage girls. I think Raygun deliberately wanted to pay homage to the original concept. I think she knew exactly what she was doing. And the world loved it. Susan Haylock, Mosman

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