The Hothouse: Education to Year 12 is not for everyone in Tasmania …

• Clemenger: We changed thinking into an event

Education to year 12 is not for everyone in Tasmania – or at least, that’s the message we are sending to students, according to University of Tasmania Adjunct Professors Michael Rowan and Eleanor Ramsay.

“The structure of our schooling is denying Tasmanians and Tasmania a bright future by making students change schools after year 10 – and in many cases, move away from their homes or travel for hours on buses each day to continue and finish their education to year 12,” the Professors point out.

“It sends the message that year 12 is not for everyone, when in the 21st century, year 12 completion is universally recognised as the bare minimum preparation for a successful, healthy and productive adult life.”

Tasmania’s educational attainment rates are some of the worst in the country. The percentage of Tasmanians completing their TCE (or equivalent) is lower than the poorest 30 per cent of students in all the other states, and the ACT. Tasmania’s rate of year 12 attainment is even lower than students in remote areas everywhere else, except the Northern Territory.

This is despite the fact that in primary school (grade three specifically), our NAPLAN results are on par with WA, SA and QLD, and only in Victoria do year three students always do better. It’s despite the fact that right up to year nine, our students’ NAPLAN performance is still keeping up with Queensland and South Australia, and on three out of five tests with NSW as well.

It’s despite the fact that 73 per cent of the thousand or so primary and high school students surveyed, even in rural and outer regional schools, think that continuing beyond year 10 is important, and half plan to go on to university. It’s despite the fact that in our private schools, students complete their year 12 certificates at about the same rate as other states.

“The problem is the structural and geographic divide between high school and college – it is the one thing about the Tasmanian schooling system that is different to everywhere else in Australia (except the ACT, which is on a different planet entirely),” according to Professors Rowan and Ramsay.

We must urgently extend schooling to the end of year 12, abolishing the gap between ‘high school’ (to year 10) and ‘college’ (years 11 and 12), assert the Professors.

“This is not about killing off our colleges. It’s about creative transformation, with leadership coming from the teaching profession itself in partnership with each local community, driven forward by confidence in our kids and ambition for their futures.”

“To realise our plans for a modern high-skill economy, we need a schooling system in which 70 plus per cent of high school students achieve their year 12 certificates before going on to on-the-job training or further study at University or TAFE.”

Professor Michael Rowan will present this idea in the Hothouse, a Dark Mofo event taking place on Salamanca Lawns in Hobart, Tasmania, from June 1-3, resulting in 4 ideas per day that rethink education in Tasmania.

These 12 ideas will be on display in the Hothouse Structure as an exhibition from June 11-13, and in discussion at the Odeon Theatre on June 11, hosted by ABC Radio National Life Matters presenter Natasha Mitchell.

www.thehothouse.net.au

EARLIER …

• EDUCATOR PROPOSES MEDICATION FOR CREATIVE EXCELLENCE

Australian teaching artist Leon Ewing, a maverick in promoting the arts and creativity in learning, believes an avenue forward for Tasmania is to build intergenerational innovation into its economy and culture, as evidenced by the successes of the Museum of Old and New Art.

As a professional artist working in educational settings, Leon Ewing quotes inspiration from Steve Jobs’ biography, in which the Apple Computers cofounder stated that “taking LSD was a profound experience, one of the most important things in my life.”

Ewing agrees. “We already prescribe amphetamine-like medications to our children for focus and docility – what if we medicated for creativity? Educational marijuana, if you will.”

Referencing the legitimacy that medicinal marijuana is receiving around the world, Ewing proposes supply in a controlled and moderated manner to our best and brightest.

“Artists and shamans have been using mind-altering substances to broaden their consciousness since the beginning of time.”

To minimize risk, Ewing envisions enlisting a voluntary control group, screened for robust mental health and latent creativity, using customised vaporisers and working in residence at Mona in collaborative relationships with some of the world’s leading contemporary artists and provocateurs.

“What genius could be nurtured, if not unleashed in such circumstances? What a transformational experience!”

This June, Leon Ewing will be participating in the Dark Mofo event the Hothouse, a 72-hour idea generation project addressing issues that affect educational attainment and retention in Tasmania.

Dark Mofo Creative Director Leigh Carmichael acknowledges that this is potentially a controversial position. “We don’t necessarily agree with this idea, but we love that it’s brave and creative – and in order for seismic change, we’ll need to think big and be open to provocative ideas.

“With the Hothouse, we want to encourage new and bold ideas about the issue. And to do this, we have to be open to the broad spectrum of creative responses that may emerge – whether we agree with them or not.”

The Hothouse takes place on Salamanca Lawns in Hobart, Tasmania, from June 1-3, resulting in 4 ideas per day that rethink education in Tasmania. These 12 ideas will be on display in the Hothouse Structure as an exhibition from June 11-13, and in discussion at the Odeon Theatre on June 11, hosted by ABC Radio National Life Matters presenter Natasha Mitchell. www.thehothouse.net.au

• The Hothouse issue announced for Dark Mofo 2015

In Hobart this June, Dark Mofo project The Hothouse will gather creative and strategic thinkers and communicators in a purpose-built temporary structure on Salamanca Lawns.

The Hothouse is a space for ideas, where relevant specialists, academics, and members of the public can imagine, argue and explore an issue.

Coinciding with the 125th Anniversary of the University of Tasmania, the key focus for the Hothouse will be ideas which aim to improve educational outcomes in Tasmania.

For 72 hours from June 1-3, 2015, The Hothouse Session will demonstrate the power of creative thinking, to explore new constructive approaches to education in Tasmania.

The Hothouse aims to demonstrate the benefits of collaboration around this complex issue, and to engage with the community at all levels and contribute to a community debate on the issues that impact on educational attainment and retention in Tasmania.

“The University of Tasmania has as one of its highest priorities addressing the issues which impact on Tasmania’s relatively low standards of educational attainment and retention,” Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor David Sadler said.

“We understand that these issues will require top-flight research and input from across a range of academic disciplines, along with enduring political commitment and a high level of community ownership. It is why we were so proud that in our milestone 125th year, we announced the establishment of the Peter Underwood Centre for Educational Attainment, which is designed to deliver just that.

“We are also thrilled to be part of the Hothouse because of the collaborative arrangements involving our students. Providing an unrivalled student experience is a key to delivering our aim of being a university of global standing and impact.

“The ideals of informed discussion and inquiry sit at the heart of the University, and we will watch with great interest what those in the Hothouse – coming as they do from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience – make of Tasmania’s educational dilemma.”

The project will incorporate public interactivity online via the Hothouse website (www.thehothouse.net.au) and in-person, collating insights from the community around the issue of Education, from May 1.

The Hothouse media partner projects include community idea generation and democratic voting via the Mercury, the Examiner, and The Advocate, resulting in four members of the community nominated by each media outlet to join in the third day of the Hothouse Session.

At the end of the 72 hours, The Hothouse will have defined 12 ideas to present at the Hothouse Forum on June 11 and in the Hothouse Ideas exhibition from June 11-13. These ideas will present new ways of looking at the issues that impact upon the outcomes of education in Tasmania.

The Hothouse is a collaboration between Dark Mofo, University of Tasmania, Clemenger Tasmania/OMD, the City of Hobart and News Corp Australia. www.thehothouse.net.au

The Hothouse project components include:
– the Hothouse Structure: designed and built in partnership between the University and Cave Urban Design Collective through February to May 2015;
– the Hothouse Session: a 72-hour session in the structure from June 1-3: to creatively generate ideas in response to the issue of education in Tasmania, resulting in 12 ideas;
– the Hothouse Forum at the Odeon Theatre during Dark Mofo on June 11: presenting the 12 ideas to the public;
– the Hothouse Ideas exhibition in the Structure during Dark Mofo from June 11-13: presenting the workings, the ideas that didn’t make it, and the 12 that did.

Dark Mofo 2015: www.darkmofo.net.au

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Rebecca Fitzgibbon, Mona Events Media Manager, Jane Menzies, Mona Media Coordinator