❓ Opposition questions if novels will be omitted from new English courses. Minister Ravlich denies this, blaming inaccurate media reports and affirming novels will be included with teacher flexibility in text selection.
AnsweredQoN 653Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Mr President - Opposition members: surprise, surprise! The PRESIDENT : Order! Members may be surprised at the question, but they should give Hon Graham Giffard a chance to ask it. Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD : Is it correct that novels will not be studied as part of the new English courses for years 11 and 12? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for such a brilliant question. I am happy to put on record - Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Members may be surprised at the answer, but they should give the Minister for Education and Training a chance to speak. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : It is not the case that novels will be omitted from the new years 11 and 12 English and texts, traditions and cultures courses to be introduced in 2006 and 2007. Hon Kim Chance just said to me that the newspaper reported that novels will be omitted. The headlines and the accompanying story on the front page of The West Australian last Saturday were surprisingly inaccurate and misleading, and ignored information sent to it by the Curriculum Council. In fact, in the new English course students will study a range of texts, including novels, non-fiction books, short stories, poems and plays. I hope members on the other side of the house understand that the Curriculum Council will continue to produce a list of recommended texts. In addition, the Department of Education and Training’s web site contains a database of resources, including a list of the recommended novels and other books that are accessible by all teachers and anyone else who may be interested. Teachers will have the flexibility to choose texts within the canon and, in order to keep the federal minister Hon Brendan Nelson happy so that he can sleep at night, these will include the great novels by Dickens - how appropriate that is for the federal minister - Hardy, Melville and others. Students doing the English course will be assessed 50 per cent on school work and 50 per cent on external examination, as is currently the case. I ask for something very simple: that the facts be recorded correctly. It is an absolute nonsense for the only daily newspaper in this state to imply on its front page that students will not be expected, directed or allowed to read novels. Hon Kim Chance : I am sure we will see an apology in tomorrow’s issue. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
Opposition members: surprise, surprise! The PRESIDENT : Order! Members may be surprised at the question, but they should give Hon Graham Giffard a chance to ask it. Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD : Is it correct that novels will not be studied as part of the new English courses for years 11 and 12? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the honourable member for such a brilliant question. I am happy to put on record - Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Members may be surprised at the answer, but they should give the Minister for Education and Training a chance to speak. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : It is not the case that novels will be omitted from the new years 11 and 12 English and texts, traditions and cultures courses to be introduced in 2006 and 2007. Hon Kim Chance just said to me that the newspaper reported that novels will be omitted. The headlines and the accompanying story on the front page of The West Australian last Saturday were surprisingly inaccurate and misleading, and ignored information sent to it by the Curriculum Council. In fact, in the new English course students will study a range of texts, including novels, non-fiction books, short stories, poems and plays. I hope members on the other side of the house understand that the Curriculum Council will continue to produce a list of recommended texts. In addition, the Department of Education and Training’s web site contains a database of resources, including a list of the recommended novels and other books that are accessible by all teachers and anyone else who may be interested. Teachers will have the flexibility to choose texts within the canon and, in order to keep the federal minister Hon Brendan Nelson happy so that he can sleep at night, these will include the great novels by Dickens - how appropriate that is for the federal minister - Hardy, Melville and others. Students doing the English course will be assessed 50 per cent on school work and 50 per cent on external examination, as is currently the case. I ask for something very simple: that the facts be recorded correctly. It is an absolute nonsense for the only daily newspaper in this state to imply on its front page that students will not be expected, directed or allowed to read novels. Hon Kim Chance : I am sure we will see an apology in tomorrow’s issue. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Members may be surprised at the question, but they should give Hon Graham Giffard a chance to ask it. Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD : Is it correct that novels will not be studied as part of the new English courses for years 11 and 12? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the honourable member for such a brilliant question. I am happy to put on record - Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Members may be surprised at the answer, but they should give the Minister for Education and Training a chance to speak. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : It is not the case that novels will be omitted from the new years 11 and 12 English and texts, traditions and cultures courses to be introduced in 2006 and 2007. Hon Kim Chance just said to me that the newspaper reported that novels will be omitted. The headlines and the accompanying story on the front page of The West Australian last Saturday were surprisingly inaccurate and misleading, and ignored information sent to it by the Curriculum Council. In fact, in the new English course students will study a range of texts, including novels, non-fiction books, short stories, poems and plays. I hope members on the other side of the house understand that the Curriculum Council will continue to produce a list of recommended texts. In addition, the Department of Education and Training’s web site contains a database of resources, including a list of the recommended novels and other books that are accessible by all teachers and anyone else who may be interested. Teachers will have the flexibility to choose texts within the canon and, in order to keep the federal minister Hon Brendan Nelson happy so that he can sleep at night, these will include the great novels by Dickens - how appropriate that is for the federal minister - Hardy, Melville and others. Students doing the English course will be assessed 50 per cent on school work and 50 per cent on external examination, as is currently the case. I ask for something very simple: that the facts be recorded correctly. It is an absolute nonsense for the only daily newspaper in this state to imply on its front page that students will not be expected, directed or allowed to read novels. Hon Kim Chance : I am sure we will see an apology in tomorrow’s issue. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD : Is it correct that novels will not be studied as part of the new English courses for years 11 and 12? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the honourable member for such a brilliant question. I am happy to put on record - Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Members may be surprised at the answer, but they should give the Minister for Education and Training a chance to speak. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : It is not the case that novels will be omitted from the new years 11 and 12 English and texts, traditions and cultures courses to be introduced in 2006 and 2007. Hon Kim Chance just said to me that the newspaper reported that novels will be omitted. The headlines and the accompanying story on the front page of The West Australian last Saturday were surprisingly inaccurate and misleading, and ignored information sent to it by the Curriculum Council. In fact, in the new English course students will study a range of texts, including novels, non-fiction books, short stories, poems and plays. I hope members on the other side of the house understand that the Curriculum Council will continue to produce a list of recommended texts. In addition, the Department of Education and Training’s web site contains a database of resources, including a list of the recommended novels and other books that are accessible by all teachers and anyone else who may be interested. Teachers will have the flexibility to choose texts within the canon and, in order to keep the federal minister Hon Brendan Nelson happy so that he can sleep at night, these will include the great novels by Dickens - how appropriate that is for the federal minister - Hardy, Melville and others. Students doing the English course will be assessed 50 per cent on school work and 50 per cent on external examination, as is currently the case. I ask for something very simple: that the facts be recorded correctly. It is an absolute nonsense for the only daily newspaper in this state to imply on its front page that students will not be expected, directed or allowed to read novels. Hon Kim Chance : I am sure we will see an apology in tomorrow’s issue. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the honourable member for such a brilliant question. I am happy to put on record - Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Members may be surprised at the answer, but they should give the Minister for Education and Training a chance to speak. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : It is not the case that novels will be omitted from the new years 11 and 12 English and texts, traditions and cultures courses to be introduced in 2006 and 2007. Hon Kim Chance just said to me that the newspaper reported that novels will be omitted. The headlines and the accompanying story on the front page of The West Australian last Saturday were surprisingly inaccurate and misleading, and ignored information sent to it by the Curriculum Council. In fact, in the new English course students will study a range of texts, including novels, non-fiction books, short stories, poems and plays. I hope members on the other side of the house understand that the Curriculum Council will continue to produce a list of recommended texts. In addition, the Department of Education and Training’s web site contains a database of resources, including a list of the recommended novels and other books that are accessible by all teachers and anyone else who may be interested. Teachers will have the flexibility to choose texts within the canon and, in order to keep the federal minister Hon Brendan Nelson happy so that he can sleep at night, these will include the great novels by Dickens - how appropriate that is for the federal minister - Hardy, Melville and others. Students doing the English course will be assessed 50 per cent on school work and 50 per cent on external examination, as is currently the case. I ask for something very simple: that the facts be recorded correctly. It is an absolute nonsense for the only daily newspaper in this state to imply on its front page that students will not be expected, directed or allowed to read novels. Hon Kim Chance : I am sure we will see an apology in tomorrow’s issue. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
I thank the honourable member for such a brilliant question. I am happy to put on record - Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Members may be surprised at the answer, but they should give the Minister for Education and Training a chance to speak. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : It is not the case that novels will be omitted from the new years 11 and 12 English and texts, traditions and cultures courses to be introduced in 2006 and 2007. Hon Kim Chance just said to me that the newspaper reported that novels will be omitted. The headlines and the accompanying story on the front page of The West Australian last Saturday were surprisingly inaccurate and misleading, and ignored information sent to it by the Curriculum Council. In fact, in the new English course students will study a range of texts, including novels, non-fiction books, short stories, poems and plays. I hope members on the other side of the house understand that the Curriculum Council will continue to produce a list of recommended texts. In addition, the Department of Education and Training’s web site contains a database of resources, including a list of the recommended novels and other books that are accessible by all teachers and anyone else who may be interested. Teachers will have the flexibility to choose texts within the canon and, in order to keep the federal minister Hon Brendan Nelson happy so that he can sleep at night, these will include the great novels by Dickens - how appropriate that is for the federal minister - Hardy, Melville and others. Students doing the English course will be assessed 50 per cent on school work and 50 per cent on external examination, as is currently the case. I ask for something very simple: that the facts be recorded correctly. It is an absolute nonsense for the only daily newspaper in this state to imply on its front page that students will not be expected, directed or allowed to read novels. Hon Kim Chance : I am sure we will see an apology in tomorrow’s issue. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Members may be surprised at the answer, but they should give the Minister for Education and Training a chance to speak. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : It is not the case that novels will be omitted from the new years 11 and 12 English and texts, traditions and cultures courses to be introduced in 2006 and 2007. Hon Kim Chance just said to me that the newspaper reported that novels will be omitted. The headlines and the accompanying story on the front page of The West Australian last Saturday were surprisingly inaccurate and misleading, and ignored information sent to it by the Curriculum Council. In fact, in the new English course students will study a range of texts, including novels, non-fiction books, short stories, poems and plays. I hope members on the other side of the house understand that the Curriculum Council will continue to produce a list of recommended texts. In addition, the Department of Education and Training’s web site contains a database of resources, including a list of the recommended novels and other books that are accessible by all teachers and anyone else who may be interested. Teachers will have the flexibility to choose texts within the canon and, in order to keep the federal minister Hon Brendan Nelson happy so that he can sleep at night, these will include the great novels by Dickens - how appropriate that is for the federal minister - Hardy, Melville and others. Students doing the English course will be assessed 50 per cent on school work and 50 per cent on external examination, as is currently the case. I ask for something very simple: that the facts be recorded correctly. It is an absolute nonsense for the only daily newspaper in this state to imply on its front page that students will not be expected, directed or allowed to read novels. Hon Kim Chance : I am sure we will see an apology in tomorrow’s issue. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Members may be surprised at the answer, but they should give the Minister for Education and Training a chance to speak. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : It is not the case that novels will be omitted from the new years 11 and 12 English and texts, traditions and cultures courses to be introduced in 2006 and 2007. Hon Kim Chance just said to me that the newspaper reported that novels will be omitted. The headlines and the accompanying story on the front page of The West Australian last Saturday were surprisingly inaccurate and misleading, and ignored information sent to it by the Curriculum Council. In fact, in the new English course students will study a range of texts, including novels, non-fiction books, short stories, poems and plays. I hope members on the other side of the house understand that the Curriculum Council will continue to produce a list of recommended texts. In addition, the Department of Education and Training’s web site contains a database of resources, including a list of the recommended novels and other books that are accessible by all teachers and anyone else who may be interested. Teachers will have the flexibility to choose texts within the canon and, in order to keep the federal minister Hon Brendan Nelson happy so that he can sleep at night, these will include the great novels by Dickens - how appropriate that is for the federal minister - Hardy, Melville and others. Students doing the English course will be assessed 50 per cent on school work and 50 per cent on external examination, as is currently the case. I ask for something very simple: that the facts be recorded correctly. It is an absolute nonsense for the only daily newspaper in this state to imply on its front page that students will not be expected, directed or allowed to read novels. Hon Kim Chance : I am sure we will see an apology in tomorrow’s issue. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : It is not the case that novels will be omitted from the new years 11 and 12 English and texts, traditions and cultures courses to be introduced in 2006 and 2007. Hon Kim Chance just said to me that the newspaper reported that novels will be omitted. The headlines and the accompanying story on the front page of The West Australian last Saturday were surprisingly inaccurate and misleading, and ignored information sent to it by the Curriculum Council. In fact, in the new English course students will study a range of texts, including novels, non-fiction books, short stories, poems and plays. I hope members on the other side of the house understand that the Curriculum Council will continue to produce a list of recommended texts. In addition, the Department of Education and Training’s web site contains a database of resources, including a list of the recommended novels and other books that are accessible by all teachers and anyone else who may be interested. Teachers will have the flexibility to choose texts within the canon and, in order to keep the federal minister Hon Brendan Nelson happy so that he can sleep at night, these will include the great novels by Dickens - how appropriate that is for the federal minister - Hardy, Melville and others. Students doing the English course will be assessed 50 per cent on school work and 50 per cent on external examination, as is currently the case. I ask for something very simple: that the facts be recorded correctly. It is an absolute nonsense for the only daily newspaper in this state to imply on its front page that students will not be expected, directed or allowed to read novels. Hon Kim Chance : I am sure we will see an apology in tomorrow’s issue. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
Hon Kim Chance : I am sure we will see an apology in tomorrow’s issue. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
Opposition members: surprise, surprise! The PRESIDENT : Order! Members may be surprised at the question, but they should give Hon Graham Giffard a chance to ask it. Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD : Is it correct that novels will not be studied as part of the new English courses for years 11 and 12? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the honourable member for such a brilliant question. I am happy to put on record - Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Members may be surprised at the answer, but they should give the Minister for Education and Training a chance to speak. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : It is not the case that novels will be omitted from the new years 11 and 12 English and texts, traditions and cultures courses to be introduced in 2006 and 2007. Hon Kim Chance just said to me that the newspaper reported that novels will be omitted. The headlines and the accompanying story on the front page of The West Australian last Saturday were surprisingly inaccurate and misleading, and ignored information sent to it by the Curriculum Council. In fact, in the new English course students will study a range of texts, including novels, non-fiction books, short stories, poems and plays. I hope members on the other side of the house understand that the Curriculum Council will continue to produce a list of recommended texts. In addition, the Department of Education and Training’s web site contains a database of resources, including a list of the recommended novels and other books that are accessible by all teachers and anyone else who may be interested. Teachers will have the flexibility to choose texts within the canon and, in order to keep the federal minister Hon Brendan Nelson happy so that he can sleep at night, these will include the great novels by Dickens - how appropriate that is for the federal minister - Hardy, Melville and others. Students doing the English course will be assessed 50 per cent on school work and 50 per cent on external examination, as is currently the case. I ask for something very simple: that the facts be recorded correctly. It is an absolute nonsense for the only daily newspaper in this state to imply on its front page that students will not be expected, directed or allowed to read novels. Hon Kim Chance : I am sure we will see an apology in tomorrow’s issue. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Members may be surprised at the question, but they should give Hon Graham Giffard a chance to ask it. Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD : Is it correct that novels will not be studied as part of the new English courses for years 11 and 12? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the honourable member for such a brilliant question. I am happy to put on record - Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Members may be surprised at the answer, but they should give the Minister for Education and Training a chance to speak. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : It is not the case that novels will be omitted from the new years 11 and 12 English and texts, traditions and cultures courses to be introduced in 2006 and 2007. Hon Kim Chance just said to me that the newspaper reported that novels will be omitted. The headlines and the accompanying story on the front page of The West Australian last Saturday were surprisingly inaccurate and misleading, and ignored information sent to it by the Curriculum Council. In fact, in the new English course students will study a range of texts, including novels, non-fiction books, short stories, poems and plays. I hope members on the other side of the house understand that the Curriculum Council will continue to produce a list of recommended texts. In addition, the Department of Education and Training’s web site contains a database of resources, including a list of the recommended novels and other books that are accessible by all teachers and anyone else who may be interested. Teachers will have the flexibility to choose texts within the canon and, in order to keep the federal minister Hon Brendan Nelson happy so that he can sleep at night, these will include the great novels by Dickens - how appropriate that is for the federal minister - Hardy, Melville and others. Students doing the English course will be assessed 50 per cent on school work and 50 per cent on external examination, as is currently the case. I ask for something very simple: that the facts be recorded correctly. It is an absolute nonsense for the only daily newspaper in this state to imply on its front page that students will not be expected, directed or allowed to read novels. Hon Kim Chance : I am sure we will see an apology in tomorrow’s issue. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD : Is it correct that novels will not be studied as part of the new English courses for years 11 and 12? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the honourable member for such a brilliant question. I am happy to put on record - Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Members may be surprised at the answer, but they should give the Minister for Education and Training a chance to speak. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : It is not the case that novels will be omitted from the new years 11 and 12 English and texts, traditions and cultures courses to be introduced in 2006 and 2007. Hon Kim Chance just said to me that the newspaper reported that novels will be omitted. The headlines and the accompanying story on the front page of The West Australian last Saturday were surprisingly inaccurate and misleading, and ignored information sent to it by the Curriculum Council. In fact, in the new English course students will study a range of texts, including novels, non-fiction books, short stories, poems and plays. I hope members on the other side of the house understand that the Curriculum Council will continue to produce a list of recommended texts. In addition, the Department of Education and Training’s web site contains a database of resources, including a list of the recommended novels and other books that are accessible by all teachers and anyone else who may be interested. Teachers will have the flexibility to choose texts within the canon and, in order to keep the federal minister Hon Brendan Nelson happy so that he can sleep at night, these will include the great novels by Dickens - how appropriate that is for the federal minister - Hardy, Melville and others. Students doing the English course will be assessed 50 per cent on school work and 50 per cent on external examination, as is currently the case. I ask for something very simple: that the facts be recorded correctly. It is an absolute nonsense for the only daily newspaper in this state to imply on its front page that students will not be expected, directed or allowed to read novels. Hon Kim Chance : I am sure we will see an apology in tomorrow’s issue. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the honourable member for such a brilliant question. I am happy to put on record - Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Members may be surprised at the answer, but they should give the Minister for Education and Training a chance to speak. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : It is not the case that novels will be omitted from the new years 11 and 12 English and texts, traditions and cultures courses to be introduced in 2006 and 2007. Hon Kim Chance just said to me that the newspaper reported that novels will be omitted. The headlines and the accompanying story on the front page of The West Australian last Saturday were surprisingly inaccurate and misleading, and ignored information sent to it by the Curriculum Council. In fact, in the new English course students will study a range of texts, including novels, non-fiction books, short stories, poems and plays. I hope members on the other side of the house understand that the Curriculum Council will continue to produce a list of recommended texts. In addition, the Department of Education and Training’s web site contains a database of resources, including a list of the recommended novels and other books that are accessible by all teachers and anyone else who may be interested. Teachers will have the flexibility to choose texts within the canon and, in order to keep the federal minister Hon Brendan Nelson happy so that he can sleep at night, these will include the great novels by Dickens - how appropriate that is for the federal minister - Hardy, Melville and others. Students doing the English course will be assessed 50 per cent on school work and 50 per cent on external examination, as is currently the case. I ask for something very simple: that the facts be recorded correctly. It is an absolute nonsense for the only daily newspaper in this state to imply on its front page that students will not be expected, directed or allowed to read novels. Hon Kim Chance : I am sure we will see an apology in tomorrow’s issue. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
I thank the honourable member for such a brilliant question. I am happy to put on record - Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Members may be surprised at the answer, but they should give the Minister for Education and Training a chance to speak. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : It is not the case that novels will be omitted from the new years 11 and 12 English and texts, traditions and cultures courses to be introduced in 2006 and 2007. Hon Kim Chance just said to me that the newspaper reported that novels will be omitted. The headlines and the accompanying story on the front page of The West Australian last Saturday were surprisingly inaccurate and misleading, and ignored information sent to it by the Curriculum Council. In fact, in the new English course students will study a range of texts, including novels, non-fiction books, short stories, poems and plays. I hope members on the other side of the house understand that the Curriculum Council will continue to produce a list of recommended texts. In addition, the Department of Education and Training’s web site contains a database of resources, including a list of the recommended novels and other books that are accessible by all teachers and anyone else who may be interested. Teachers will have the flexibility to choose texts within the canon and, in order to keep the federal minister Hon Brendan Nelson happy so that he can sleep at night, these will include the great novels by Dickens - how appropriate that is for the federal minister - Hardy, Melville and others. Students doing the English course will be assessed 50 per cent on school work and 50 per cent on external examination, as is currently the case. I ask for something very simple: that the facts be recorded correctly. It is an absolute nonsense for the only daily newspaper in this state to imply on its front page that students will not be expected, directed or allowed to read novels. Hon Kim Chance : I am sure we will see an apology in tomorrow’s issue. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Members may be surprised at the answer, but they should give the Minister for Education and Training a chance to speak. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : It is not the case that novels will be omitted from the new years 11 and 12 English and texts, traditions and cultures courses to be introduced in 2006 and 2007. Hon Kim Chance just said to me that the newspaper reported that novels will be omitted. The headlines and the accompanying story on the front page of The West Australian last Saturday were surprisingly inaccurate and misleading, and ignored information sent to it by the Curriculum Council. In fact, in the new English course students will study a range of texts, including novels, non-fiction books, short stories, poems and plays. I hope members on the other side of the house understand that the Curriculum Council will continue to produce a list of recommended texts. In addition, the Department of Education and Training’s web site contains a database of resources, including a list of the recommended novels and other books that are accessible by all teachers and anyone else who may be interested. Teachers will have the flexibility to choose texts within the canon and, in order to keep the federal minister Hon Brendan Nelson happy so that he can sleep at night, these will include the great novels by Dickens - how appropriate that is for the federal minister - Hardy, Melville and others. Students doing the English course will be assessed 50 per cent on school work and 50 per cent on external examination, as is currently the case. I ask for something very simple: that the facts be recorded correctly. It is an absolute nonsense for the only daily newspaper in this state to imply on its front page that students will not be expected, directed or allowed to read novels. Hon Kim Chance : I am sure we will see an apology in tomorrow’s issue. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Members may be surprised at the answer, but they should give the Minister for Education and Training a chance to speak. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : It is not the case that novels will be omitted from the new years 11 and 12 English and texts, traditions and cultures courses to be introduced in 2006 and 2007. Hon Kim Chance just said to me that the newspaper reported that novels will be omitted. The headlines and the accompanying story on the front page of The West Australian last Saturday were surprisingly inaccurate and misleading, and ignored information sent to it by the Curriculum Council. In fact, in the new English course students will study a range of texts, including novels, non-fiction books, short stories, poems and plays. I hope members on the other side of the house understand that the Curriculum Council will continue to produce a list of recommended texts. In addition, the Department of Education and Training’s web site contains a database of resources, including a list of the recommended novels and other books that are accessible by all teachers and anyone else who may be interested. Teachers will have the flexibility to choose texts within the canon and, in order to keep the federal minister Hon Brendan Nelson happy so that he can sleep at night, these will include the great novels by Dickens - how appropriate that is for the federal minister - Hardy, Melville and others. Students doing the English course will be assessed 50 per cent on school work and 50 per cent on external examination, as is currently the case. I ask for something very simple: that the facts be recorded correctly. It is an absolute nonsense for the only daily newspaper in this state to imply on its front page that students will not be expected, directed or allowed to read novels. Hon Kim Chance : I am sure we will see an apology in tomorrow’s issue. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : It is not the case that novels will be omitted from the new years 11 and 12 English and texts, traditions and cultures courses to be introduced in 2006 and 2007. Hon Kim Chance just said to me that the newspaper reported that novels will be omitted. The headlines and the accompanying story on the front page of The West Australian last Saturday were surprisingly inaccurate and misleading, and ignored information sent to it by the Curriculum Council. In fact, in the new English course students will study a range of texts, including novels, non-fiction books, short stories, poems and plays. I hope members on the other side of the house understand that the Curriculum Council will continue to produce a list of recommended texts. In addition, the Department of Education and Training’s web site contains a database of resources, including a list of the recommended novels and other books that are accessible by all teachers and anyone else who may be interested. Teachers will have the flexibility to choose texts within the canon and, in order to keep the federal minister Hon Brendan Nelson happy so that he can sleep at night, these will include the great novels by Dickens - how appropriate that is for the federal minister - Hardy, Melville and others. Students doing the English course will be assessed 50 per cent on school work and 50 per cent on external examination, as is currently the case. I ask for something very simple: that the facts be recorded correctly. It is an absolute nonsense for the only daily newspaper in this state to imply on its front page that students will not be expected, directed or allowed to read novels. Hon Kim Chance : I am sure we will see an apology in tomorrow’s issue. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
Hon Kim Chance : I am sure we will see an apology in tomorrow’s issue. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I am sure we will.
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