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Cal Burrant, writing the Forward in Connect Only:  English teaching, schooling and community writes that [Australian] national literacy standards testing “… found that 90% of students are reaching agreed literacy standards” in the 15 year old age group.

Now here’s the weird thing, though.  There are no national benchmarks for this ’15 year old’ age group, only the Year 3 (approx 8yo), the Year 5 (approx 10 yo) and Year 7 (approx 13 yo).   

Also, the document above states that the benchmarks represent only the minimum acceptable standards as agreed by various bodies.  Who knows what the Finnish ones represent? Or how the other OECD countries conduct their testing? Or indeed what how the other benchmarks are determined?

OK, it’s probably being surley of me, but personally I don’t think the fact that 90% of a significant section of the population (who notably within the next decade or so will be controlling the country) are able to understand only 20% of what they read, and be able to communicate in writing only 20% of what they think, is anything much to crow about.

Now here’s a curly one to ponder … what to do if you and a colleague have identical roles in different sub-parts of the same organization - but!  “one of you” is doing twice the work for half the salary.  Ask for more pay? Do less work?  Change workplaces for somewhere more equitable, but a huge increase in travelling time and inconvenience? Sigh.  Open for comment.

On this morning’s commuter train, a Generation Xer was spotted wearing a Guevara t-shirt.  Which gave much food for thought for the walk from the station to The Office.
 Possibly many would disagree, but it seems that those who murder people for being rich are no better than those who exploit people for being poor.