AUSTRALIAN education levels drop, page-73

Why would you want to be a teacher? You get poor pay, abused by kids and parents and little support from your employer.
High school should be getting kids ready for the next stage of their adult life. Starting at year 7 the hours at school should be increased and finally reaching 8am to at least 4:30pm by year 9. No homework for kids or teachers and no long holidays in years 9 forward - just like the real world. At uni if you don't turn up to a class you fail! If you don't get 60% you fail!
FWIW kids in most Asian countries don't all start at 9 and finish at 3:30 as they have a 2 and sometimes 3 shifts a day system including Saturday. Seeing young kids at school in the evening is quite an eye opener. In oz we complain about child care but in Asia this is usually done by the grand parents or family members. But before denouncing all education and things Australian as crap just remember you can leave Australia at anytime and shift to China or Singapore at your pleasure. I have a feeling there won't be a mass exodus of HC posters on boats turning up in Singapore looking for a better education for their kids. It's still not a bad joint to live and grow up in despite its little irritations sitting in Canberra and Spring st.