The dumbed down syllabus trope

Further to yesterday’s post, see:

• HSC English Paper 2 Advanced 2006 03Nov06.
• Julie Bishop’s third-hand knowledge of English teaching 08Oct06.
• Three magazines and an amazing AIDS story… 11Jul06.
• Right-wing non-news story #20563 10Jun06.
• Dumbed down syllabuses 30Apr06.
• My past catches up 25Apr06.
• Reactionary myth-makers and education 22Apr06.
• Literacy.

And just one item from my old blog on Blogspot (if you can see it) [now on WordPress]:

History debate rages over loss of narrative – Top stories – Breaking News 24/7 – NEWS.com.au. Posted soon after Australia Day 2006. “Yes, there you go. A school that teaches Australian history. Isn’t that amazing to think about with Australia Day (Survival Day?) happening? John Howard, who has obviously been talking to Kevin again, doesn’t think it happens, but it does you know. And not just at The Mine.”

See too Jim Belshaw’s kind response. That blog of his is a goldmine of background information on public administration, very revealing on the broader context from which current administrative approaches to accountability in education have sprung.