Class of 2014! :D

[anna.xo]

More knowledge, ability to pursue different interests and find out what you are good at. Not everything is about an ATAR. I'm so glad I did seven subjects!!

Thank you for this..a lot of people needed to hear that.

But wouldn't you use university to broaden your knowledge? I agree, it's definitely not all about ATAR, but would you rather not devote time to 4 subjects in year 12 than 5, given that one of your subjects wont even count to your ATAR? I don't know, everyone is entitled to their own opinion regarding this matter, I just don't really get it.

I agree with you on this point - you clearly don't get it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using school to gain something. I don't know why the hell you would wait until university to grow as a person.
The purpose of school is not to get a "good ATAR" as you seem to think..but to help you grow as a person and find yourself.

But wouldn't you use university to broaden your knowledge? I agree, it's definitely not all about ATAR, but would you rather not devote time to 4 subjects in year 12 than 5, given that one of your subjects wont even count to your ATAR? I don't know, everyone is entitled to their own opinion regarding this matter, I just don't really get it.

If this is what you truly believe, then I honestly pity you very deeply for it seems you have missed the entire point of school, and for that I am sorry for you.

[evawu]

but would you rather not devote time to 4 subjects in year 12 than 5

I am doing 4 subjects in year 12
Also the only main difference between me and other students is that i did a 3/4 subject in year 10 and i'm doing 3 3/4s in year 11 (i repeat year 11) as opposed to other people doing 1-2   3/4s

I agree with you on this point - you clearly don't get it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using school to gain something. I don't know why the hell you would wait until university to grow as a person.
The purpose of school is not to get a "good ATAR" as you seem to think..but to help you grow as a person and find yourself.

If this is what you truly believe, then I honestly pity you very deeply for it seems you have missed the entire point of school, and for that I am sorry for you.

Tbh I understand where you are both coming from! But sometimes people may feel that they can't afford to 'indulge' in education until they can actually get into a university...?? I'm not sure, but everyone has reasons for their opinions. So maybe you two will just differ on this topic all cheery though



EDIT: sorry my first reply is really hard to understand LOL
basically
2014: i did health as a 3/4 (as opposed to year 10 subjects)
2015: i do PE, BIO and ENGLANG 3/4 (as opposed to some people doing 1-2) + general methods (spesh) & chem 1/2
2016: CHEM, ENGLISH, PSYCH, METHODS (like alot of people)

[fareseru]

The purpose of school is not to get a "good ATAR" as you seem to think..but to help you grow as a person and find yourself.

If this is what you truly believe, then I honestly pity you very deeply for it seems you have missed the entire point of school, and for that I am sorry for you.

Regardless of what they try to tell you, the schooling system IS ultimately about getting a 'good ATAR' these days. We're all taught to be afraid of failure, regardless of whether or not it will benefit later (which it almost always does). Why is it that the exams have a massive influence upon our study/SAC scores? VCAA couldn't care less about how much we've grown throughout year twelve, nor could they care less about kids who get really anxious during exams and can't think etc etc. If they did, exams would count for a lot less and VCAA would at least still have midyears for the sciences etc.

I'm not saying that the ATAR is the most important thing in the world - because it isn't - but VCAA makes it seem as though it is. I mean, at the end of it all, which students are rewarded? Who wins? Don't say everyone because 'everyone grows and everyone learns'. Essentially, those with their names in the paper for study scores above 40 are the ones who 'win'. Although everyone else might get into their degrees, the ones who are told they did a 'great job' for getting over 90 are the ones who beat the system.

The problem is that growing and learning ends at the beginning of the VCE. The arts/humanities subjects are made unattractive because almost all of them are scaled down. Even though there's a reason, this crushes creativity and promotes the idea of doing what you 'should do' as opposed to what you would 'like' to do. What kind of a world do we live in when the purpose of school is no longer to 'grow as a person' but to get the best score possible? 

[AmericanBeauty]

Regardless of what they try to tell you, the schooling system IS ultimately about getting a 'good ATAR' these days. We're all taught to be afraid of failure, regardless of whether or not it will benefit later (which it almost always does). Why is it that the exams have a massive influence upon our study/SAC scores? VCAA couldn't care less about how much we've grown throughout year twelve, nor could they care less about kids who get really anxious during exams and can't think etc etc. If they did, exams would count for a lot less and VCAA would at least still have midyears for the sciences etc.

I'm not saying that the ATAR is the most important thing in the world - because it isn't - but VCAA makes it seem as though it is. I mean, at the end of it all, which students are rewarded? Who wins? Don't say everyone because 'everyone grows and everyone learns'. Essentially, those with their names in the paper for study scores above 40 are the ones who 'win'. Although everyone else might get into their degrees, the ones who are told they did a 'great job' for getting over 90 are the ones who beat the system.

The problem is that growing and learning ends at the beginning of the VCE. The arts/humanities subjects are made unattractive because almost all of them are scaled down. Even though there's a reason, this crushes creativity and promotes the idea of doing what you 'should do' as opposed to what you would 'like' to do. What kind of a world do we live in when the purpose of school is no longer to 'grow as a person' but to get the best score possible?

Your perspective is coming from someone who wants to do well. Some people just care about finishing school and going onto the next chapter of their life. Whilst I would like to go to Monash and do an Arts degree, I think finishing school is a feat in itself.

With that being said, the whole VCE system is a joke.

[Mieow]

While I'm inclined to agree that ATAR isn't that important, I'm fairly certain I'm just telling myself that because I know I'm going to do poorly.

#chemistry

literally same. But also for english language...and spesh...and methods... and japanese...

[evawu]

Regardless of what they try to tell you, the schooling system IS ultimately about getting a 'good ATAR' these days. We're all taught to be afraid of failure, regardless of whether or not it will benefit later (which it almost always does).

I'm not saying that the ATAR is the most important thing in the world - because it isn't - but VCAA makes it seem as though it is. I mean, at the end of it all, which students are rewarded? Who wins? Don't say everyone because 'everyone grows and everyone learns'. Essentially, those with their names in the paper for study scores above 40 are the ones who 'win'. Although everyone else might get into their degrees, the ones who are told they did a 'great job' for getting over 90 are the ones who beat the system.

Maybe I'm just being naive... but I feel like their is A LOT more to life than your ATAR and who 'wins'. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you seem to view 'winning' as getting a high ATAR. And yes, doing well could very much make your life easier but I don't feel that doing well in vce (which is quite subjective) and growing/learning as a person is mutually exclusive.

[fareseru]

Maybe I'm just being naive... but I feel like their is A LOT more to life than your ATAR and who 'wins'. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you seem to view 'winning' as getting a high ATAR. And yes, doing well could very much make your life easier but I don't feel that doing well in vce (which is quite subjective) and growing/learning as a person is mutually exclusive.

Yeah of course there is but that's not what I'm saying. You'll see when you have to do year twelve. I don't think that one 'wins' by getting a high ATAR, instead it is society and our current education system that rewards people who get high ATARs. That's the point. The other point is that the system ultimately teaches kids that failing is bad because there's no going back once it's happened, especially during exams.

[Zealous]

so glad i'm done :')

Yeah it feels awesome. Glad to have finished off my exams (reasonably well)! No more VCAA, VCE subjects, exams, teachers, school or anything...

... until December 15th...

[sjayne]

Essentially, those with their names in the paper for study scores above 40 are the ones who 'win'. Although everyone else might get into their degrees, the ones who are told they did a 'great job' for getting over 90 are the ones who beat the system.

This is your interpretation. Yeah a ss of 40 would be nice but getting one doesn't make anyone a winner? And what are we competing against? You might want people to praise you for being intelligent and for doing well in your exams, but I know that not everyone is good at exams and there are plenty of smart people who don't do well in VCE. It doesn't mean they lost though. The 'winners' are the people who go on to do something they love and are happy with their lives not the ones who spent all year so focused on this number that they forgot that other things are important as well. Eg compassion, friendship, equality. If you think that getting over 90 means that you have 'beat the system' then okay. But not every needs a 90 and not everyone is looking for praise. In a years time, your ATAR isn't going to matter and nobody is going to care that much because we will have all moved on to other challenges.
Sorry if this sounded rude, that's not my intention. I just don't think that suggesting that all of those who don't get their names published in the newspaper are losers is fair. Everyone puts in a lot of effort and I don't think it's right to just ignore that. i just read your other posts and I understand where you are coming from just maybe be careful about how word that.

[fareseru]

This is your interpretation. Yeah a ss of 40 would be nice but getting one doesn't make anyone a winner? And what are we competing against? You might want people to praise you for being intelligent and for doing well in your exams, but I know that not everyone is good at exams and there are plenty of smart people who don't do well in VCE. It doesn't mean they lost though. The 'winners' are the people who go on to do something they love and are happy with their lives not the ones who spent all year so focused on this number that they forgot that other things are important as well. Eg compassion, friendship, equality. If you think that getting over 90 means that you have 'beat the system' then okay. But not every needs a 90 and not everyone is looking for praise. In a years time, your ATAR isn't going to matter and nobody is going to care that much because we will have all moved on to other challenges.
Sorry if this sounded rude, that's not my intention. I just don't think that suggesting that all of those who don't get their names published in the newspaper are losers is fair. Everyone puts in a lot of effort and I don't think it's right to just ignore that. i just read your other posts and I understand where you are coming from just maybe be careful about how word that.

Why are people who get over 40 put in the papers? Because they're being praised. They're being told that they've done well when everyone else gets pretty much no recognition at all. I said this just before, it makes them winners in the eyes of the system. I couldn't care less about what people get because someone's intelligence is so much more than a stupidly determined number. I don't think that the ATAR/a study score over 40/whatever means anything at all. I'm just saying that the system sucks because it sets people up to hate failure and praises those who do well under their arbitrary set of examinations/assessment tasks. That's what I'm criticizing, I'm not trying to say that people who don't get into the paper have failed. I'm criticizing the system that has reduced human intelligence to a number that is twisted and manipulated into being some kind of 'overall result'.

I was on exchange, I've lived life out of Australia, and that's why I'm saying all of this stuff. In Switzerland you get a grade for your exam and a grade for your internal assessments and that's it. Scaling doesn't exist. Kids do what they love and are rewarded for doing it, unlike here where although people get into uni the ones who are truly praised are the ones who performed well on the exams and SACs and not the ones who did what they loved and sacrificed doing well because the system doesn't allow for certain types of intelligence/learning/whatever. Either way, this is my opinion and you're free to disagree (naturally).

Edit: ultimately I was disagreeing with anna.xo's comment that

The purpose of school is not to get a "good ATAR" as you seem to think..but to help you grow as a person and find yourself.

Although you grow as a person, I think that these days there is a much higher value placed upon achieving good academic results than finding yourself.

[Reus]

You beat the system when you get into your course.

[evawu]

Yeah of course there is but that's not what I'm saying. You'll see when you have to do year twelve. I don't think that one 'wins' by getting a high ATAR, instead it is society and our current education system that rewards people who get high ATARs. That's the point. The other point is that the system ultimately teaches kids that failing is bad because there's no going back once it's happened, especially during exams.

Oh okay, I see where you are coming from. Serious question though- does that mean next year I should basically get rid of my social life and solely focus on VCE? (since I'm not naturally smart I kinda feel like it's necessary)

opinions? :p

[Yacoubb]

Look I personally love learning, please don't get me wrong. Most certainly I'm not all about getting the ATAR. I just think that for me personally, I needed to be more economical with my time because I know my abilities, & I know that I would struggle with doing >6 subjects in VCE.

Oh okay, I see where you are coming from. Serious question though- does that mean next year I should basically get rid of my social life and solely focus on VCE? (since I'm not naturally smart I kinda feel like it's necessary)

opinions? :p

Most certainly not!! VCE should not overtake your life. But obviously prioritise where necessary

[fareseru]

You beat the system when you get into your course.

By speaking about 'beating the system' we are dissecting its failures. Someone who drew some of the most beautiful art, acted incredibly during their prac drama exam or spoke a LOTE fluently during the oral exam isn't always rewarded, because those same people are the ones who may not be good at analysing information/writing under time constraints/whatever. I know that unis look at folios but that isn't the point. The point is that the system is built for people who can perform well under VCAA's set curriculum and not as a means of encouraging creativity and personal/intellectual growth.

[evawu]

Most certainly not!! VCE should not overtake your life. But obviously prioritise where necessary

No idea how that would look though! I literally had to argue with my parents to let me continue my duke of ed (1 hour of volunteering, sport & skill for 12 months)
And I also have a blog that I'm planning to continue running (so that i can start getting paid to post)
other than that... do i even have time for friends LOL

Not sure how i should prioritize vce, tbh i don't want to regret not working harder... and i guess my blog can wait until uni?