Over four thousand young Australians have already joined Tell Us, the country’s biggest student campaign to change how the school system measures success.
Initial responses to the national Tell Us survey show that students want the Australian school system to:
• value more than just their academic achievements;
• recognise and reward a broader range of their skills and talents;
• and give them more of a say in their own education.
Overall students say that school is useful and develops important skills, but many think that what they know can’t be measured by tests or marks. Young Australians say they feel successful when they get good marks but also when they help others, get creative and build friendships.
Adam Smith, CEO at The Foundation for Young Australians (FYA), says, “There are two million young Australians who can play a crucial role in making our education system better and don’t have the right to vote. The Education Revolution will only happen when the voice of young people is heard. That’s why FYA launched Tell Us, to put the views of students front and centre of this debate, take their message to decision makers, and spark a major wave of change through the Australian education system.”
“Learning is about more than just the three R’s – reading, writing and ‘rithmetic. It’s about building creativity, confidence, and getting ready for life after school. Currently the school system doesn’t measure the full range of students’ skills and talents,” he says.
Sixteen year-old Lucinda Donaldson, Year 11 student and participant in Tell Us, thinks it’s time for schools to change how they measure success.
“Things in the real world are what should define you. Not just a mark you get at school. There’s all sorts of ways that people can be successful in life, so why don’t schools treat us the same way? We should be supported and encouraged even if we’re not getting an A+ in maths. I hope students everywhere take the survey and join this movement to change our schools.”
Tell Us is open until Wednesday 30 June and aims to amplify the views of 50,000 students across the country. The project is an initiative of FYA in partnership with the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD). All Australian secondary students aged 13-19 years can take action at www.tellus.org.au. Some students will be invited to take their views straight to Julia Gillard at an event later this year.
