NSG Senate Chamber [NSG Senate]

[Free South Califas]

Friendly Amendments to Public Education Act for Students with Disabilities and Different Needs
I. Declaring solidarity with the general purpose and most specific goals of Public Education Act (PEA),
II. I move for the following friendly amendments to be made:
a. Change article "2." as such:

• after "school missed" and before "3 months of jail", add ", and either 3,000 hours of community service to begin as soon as feasible or"
• after "3 months of jail", add "to begin as soon as the parent's obligation to directly care for, support the care of, or raise funds for the child has ended or as soon as it becomes impossible for the parent to reasonably provide same".

b. Between article "2." and "3.", add the following in (a) new line(s): "2a. The minimum number of hours required for each particular student may be reduced by consensus of at least two professionals, currently licensed in fields relevant to evaluating that student's individual medical or ability-related needs, who have a substantial history of working directly with the student, as necessary to prevent the student's needless suffering. To the greatest legally and medically possible extent, the same minimum standards of academic achievement must be retained in any case."
c. At the end of article "9.", add "described as such in this Act"
d. Between article "15." and "16.", add the following in (a) new line(s): "15a. The following exceptions shall be provided on an individual basis as necessary to prevent that student's needless suffering, by consensus of at least two professionals currently licensed in fields relevant to evaluating that student's individual medical- or ability-related needs who have a significant history of working directly with the student. To the greatest legally and medically possible extent, the same minimum standards of academic achievement must be retained in any case.
15a1. The minimum number of days attended in each week may be reduced to no fewer than three (3).
15a2. The minimum number of instruction hours attended in each week may be reduced as little as required to achieve this goal.
15a3. More frequent breaks may be allowed which might not be subtracted from the number of instruction hours reported, although it is recommended that this only be used in cases of autism, developmental disorders, attentional or post-traumatic stress conditions being treated, chronic pain conditions, emotional dysfunctions which could otherwise disrupt the learning environment, etc."

I motion for the Public Education Act to be added to queue:

Public Education Act

Proposed by: Greater Pokarnia (C)
Co-sponsored by: Costa Algeria (PC), The Realm of God (PC), Geilinor (LD), Zweite Alaje (NI)

1. A public educational system will be formed under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, which will provide free enrollment to people between the age of 5-18.
2. It will mandatory for children to attend at least 10,500 instructional hours of school, be it at either public, private, or home school. Parents who knowingly prevent their children from meeting this requirement may be subject to fines of up to $10,000 for each 1,500 hours of school missed and 3 months of jail for each 1,500 hours of school missed.
3. Private schools and home schools must register with the Ministry of Education.
4. Public schools will be funded by the state, and it's employees are to be considered state employees.
5. The Ministry of Education shall be in charge of deciding the curriculum of all public schools.
6. A minimum curriculum shall be drafted by the Ministry of Education for private schools and home schools. Private schools and home schools may teach whatever they want so long as they teach the minimum curriculum. Subdistricts may expand upon this minimum curriculum.
7. The Ministry of Education shall monitor private schools to ensure they are teaching the minimum curriculum. If they fail to do so they will lose recognition by the Ministry of Education and students may not meet their mandatory number of instructional by attending that school.
8. Employees of the Ministry of Education shall administer tests to home-schooled children every 3 months to ensure that they are being taught the minimum curriculum sufficiently. If they fail to pass these tests the home school will lose recognition from the Ministry of Education and student may not meet their mandatory number of instructional hours from that home school.
9. Nobody above the age of 20 may attend a public school.
10. Students attending public schools must enroll with the public education system before age 8.
11. No age restrictions are to be placed by the state onto private or home schools.
12. All recognized schools, be they public, private, or home schools, shall have 10 grade levels comprised of at least 1,050 instructional hours.
13. The Ministry of Education shall administer a Grade Advancement Test (GAT) at all recognized schools based on the minimum curriculum, which a student must pass before advancing to the next grade level.
13. The Ministry of Education shall provide funding to to public schools as they see fit, but there may never be larger than a 15% funding gap per student enrolled at public schools.
15. There shall be 5 days in the school week, each comprising of 7 hours of instruction per day. Lunch and recess don't count towards this number of hours. Schools must have at least 30 school weeks per year. This shall only be enforced at public schools.
16. Hereby allows students to avoid attending school for national and religious holidays that will not be counted against a students attendance. This shall only be enforced at public schools.
17. Hereby places a 3 month interval between schooling years to occur at the beginning of June, to carry through the end of August. This shall only be enforced at public schools.
18. Subdistricts may enforce their own educational standards so long as they do not conflict with the national standards and the minimum curriculum is still taught.
19. Subdistricts may enforce their own restrictions on private or home schools.

[Bleckonia]

I. Declaring solidarity with the general purpose and most specific goals of Public Education Act (PEA),
II. I move for the following friendly amendments to be made:
a. Change article "2." as such:

• after "school missed" and before "3 months of jail", add ", and either 3,000 hours of community service to begin as soon as feasible or"
• after "3 months of jail", add "to begin as soon as the parent's obligation to directly care for, support the care of, or raise funds for the child has ended or as soon as it becomes impossible for the parent to reasonably provide same".

b. Between article "2." and "3.", add the following in (a) new line(s): "2a. The minimum number of hours required for each particular student may be reduced by consensus of at least two professionals, currently licensed in fields relevant to evaluating that student's individual medical or ability-related needs, who have a substantial history of working directly with the student, as necessary to prevent the student's needless suffering. To the greatest legally and medically possible extent, the same minimum standards of academic achievement must be retained in any case."
c. At the end of article "9.", add "described as such in this Act"
d. Between article "15." and "16.", add the following in (a) new line(s): "15a. The following exceptions shall be provided on an individual basis as necessary to prevent that student's needless suffering, by consensus of at least two professionals currently licensed in fields relevant to evaluating that student's individual medical- or ability-related needs who have a significant history of working directly with the student. To the greatest legally and medically possible extent, the same minimum standards of academic achievement must be retained in any case.
15a1. The minimum number of days attended in each week may be reduced to no fewer than three (3).
15a2. The minimum number of instruction hours attended in each week may be reduced as little as required to achieve this goal.
15a3. More frequent breaks may be allowed which might not be subtracted from the number of instruction hours reported, although it is recommended that this only be used in cases of autism, developmental disorders, attentional or post-traumatic stress conditions being treated, chronic pain conditions, emotional dysfunctions which could otherwise disrupt the learning environment, etc."

I motion for the Public Education Act to be added to queue:

Public Education Act

Proposed by: Greater Pokarnia (C)
Co-sponsored by: Costa Algeria (PC), The Realm of God (PC), Geilinor (LD), Zweite Alaje (NI)

1. A public educational system will be formed under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, which will provide free enrollment to people between the age of 5-18.
2. It will mandatory for children to attend at least 10,500 instructional hours of school, be it at either public, private, or home school. Parents who knowingly prevent their children from meeting this requirement may be subject to fines of up to $10,000 for each 1,500 hours of school missed and 3 months of jail for each 1,500 hours of school missed.
3. Private schools and home schools must register with the Ministry of Education.
4. Public schools will be funded by the state, and it's employees are to be considered state employees.
5. The Ministry of Education shall be in charge of deciding the curriculum of all public schools.
6. A minimum curriculum shall be drafted by the Ministry of Education for private schools and home schools. Private schools and home schools may teach whatever they want so long as they teach the minimum curriculum. Subdistricts may expand upon this minimum curriculum.
7. The Ministry of Education shall monitor private schools to ensure they are teaching the minimum curriculum. If they fail to do so they will lose recognition by the Ministry of Education and students may not meet their mandatory number of instructional by attending that school.
8. Employees of the Ministry of Education shall administer tests to home-schooled children every 3 months to ensure that they are being taught the minimum curriculum sufficiently. If they fail to pass these tests the home school will lose recognition from the Ministry of Education and student may not meet their mandatory number of instructional hours from that home school.
9. Nobody above the age of 20 may attend a public school.
10. Students attending public schools must enroll with the public education system before age 8.
11. No age restrictions are to be placed by the state onto private or home schools.
12. All recognized schools, be they public, private, or home schools, shall have 10 grade levels comprised of at least 1,050 instructional hours.
13. The Ministry of Education shall administer a Grade Advancement Test (GAT) at all recognized schools based on the minimum curriculum, which a student must pass before advancing to the next grade level.
13. The Ministry of Education shall provide funding to to public schools as they see fit, but there may never be larger than a 15% funding gap per student enrolled at public schools.
15. There shall be 5 days in the school week, each comprising of 7 hours of instruction per day. Lunch and recess don't count towards this number of hours. Schools must have at least 30 school weeks per year. This shall only be enforced at public schools.
16. Hereby allows students to avoid attending school for national and religious holidays that will not be counted against a students attendance. This shall only be enforced at public schools.
17. Hereby places a 3 month interval between schooling years to occur at the beginning of June, to carry through the end of August. This shall only be enforced at public schools.
18. Subdistricts may enforce their own educational standards so long as they do not conflict with the national standards and the minimum curriculum is still taught.
19. Subdistricts may enforce their own restrictions on private or home schools.

WAIT A SECOND. I just found a major problem: many high school seniors are 18. Does up to 18 include 18? If not, it should.

[Free South Califas]

Yes, but that isn't anywhere in the bill or my amendments

I suppose that's... California?

Yup. Figured me out

Here's a map:

OOC: you live extremely close to me

[Slazliyka]

Friendly Amendments to Public Education Act for Students with Disabilities and Different Needs
I. Declaring solidarity with the general purpose and most specific goals of Public Education Act (PEA),
II. I move for the following friendly amendments to be made:
a. Change article "2." as such:

• after "school missed" and before "3 months of jail", add ", and either 3,000 hours of community service to begin as soon as feasible or"
• after "3 months of jail", add "to begin as soon as the parent's obligation to directly care for, support the care of, or raise funds for the child has ended or as soon as it becomes impossible for the parent to reasonably provide same".

b. Between article "2." and "3.", add the following in (a) new line(s): "2a. The minimum number of hours required for each particular student may be reduced by consensus of at least two professionals, currently licensed in fields relevant to evaluating that student's individual medical or ability-related needs, who have a substantial history of working directly with the student, as necessary to prevent the student's needless suffering. To the greatest legally and medically possible extent, the same minimum standards of academic achievement must be retained in any case."
c. At the end of article "9.", add "described as such in this Act"
d. Between article "15." and "16.", add the following in (a) new line(s): "15a. The following exceptions shall be provided on an individual basis as necessary to prevent that student's needless suffering, by consensus of at least two professionals currently licensed in fields relevant to evaluating that student's individual medical- or ability-related needs who have a significant history of working directly with the student. To the greatest legally and medically possible extent, the same minimum standards of academic achievement must be retained in any case.
15a1. The minimum number of days attended in each week may be reduced to no fewer than three (3).
15a2. The minimum number of instruction hours attended in each week may be reduced as little as required to achieve this goal.
15a3. More frequent breaks may be allowed which might not be subtracted from the number of instruction hours reported, although it is recommended that this only be used in cases of autism, developmental disorders, attentional or post-traumatic stress conditions being treated, chronic pain conditions, emotional dysfunctions which could otherwise disrupt the learning environment, etc."

I motion for the Public Education Act to be added to queue:

Public Education Act

Proposed by: Greater Pokarnia (C)
Co-sponsored by: Costa Algeria (PC), The Realm of God (PC), Geilinor (LD), Zweite Alaje (NI)

1. A public educational system will be formed under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, which will provide free enrollment to people between the age of 5-18.
2. It will mandatory for children to attend at least 10,500 instructional hours of school, be it at either public, private, or home school. Parents who knowingly prevent their children from meeting this requirement may be subject to fines of up to $10,000 for each 1,500 hours of school missed and 3 months of jail for each 1,500 hours of school missed.
3. Private schools and home schools must register with the Ministry of Education.
4. Public schools will be funded by the state, and it's employees are to be considered state employees.
5. The Ministry of Education shall be in charge of deciding the curriculum of all public schools.
6. A minimum curriculum shall be drafted by the Ministry of Education for private schools and home schools. Private schools and home schools may teach whatever they want so long as they teach the minimum curriculum. Subdistricts may expand upon this minimum curriculum.
7. The Ministry of Education shall monitor private schools to ensure they are teaching the minimum curriculum. If they fail to do so they will lose recognition by the Ministry of Education and students may not meet their mandatory number of instructional by attending that school.
8. Employees of the Ministry of Education shall administer tests to home-schooled children every 3 months to ensure that they are being taught the minimum curriculum sufficiently. If they fail to pass these tests the home school will lose recognition from the Ministry of Education and student may not meet their mandatory number of instructional hours from that home school.
9. Nobody above the age of 20 may attend a public school.
10. Students attending public schools must enroll with the public education system before age 8.
11. No age restrictions are to be placed by the state onto private or home schools.
12. All recognized schools, be they public, private, or home schools, shall have 10 grade levels comprised of at least 1,050 instructional hours.
13. The Ministry of Education shall administer a Grade Advancement Test (GAT) at all recognized schools based on the minimum curriculum, which a student must pass before advancing to the next grade level.
13. The Ministry of Education shall provide funding to to public schools as they see fit, but there may never be larger than a 15% funding gap per student enrolled at public schools.
15. There shall be 5 days in the school week, each comprising of 7 hours of instruction per day. Lunch and recess don't count towards this number of hours. Schools must have at least 30 school weeks per year. This shall only be enforced at public schools.
16. Hereby allows students to avoid attending school for national and religious holidays that will not be counted against a students attendance. This shall only be enforced at public schools.
17. Hereby places a 3 month interval between schooling years to occur at the beginning of June, to carry through the end of August. This shall only be enforced at public schools.
18. Subdistricts may enforce their own educational standards so long as they do not conflict with the national standards and the minimum curriculum is still taught.
19. Subdistricts may enforce their own restrictions on private or home schools.

As the author (under a different account), I approve of each of these amendments, and prefer the first suggestion for amending section 2.

[Free South Califas]

As the author (under a different account), I approve of each of these amendments, and prefer the first suggestion for amending section 2.

Thanks for your flexibility, and your show of solidarity with students who have different needs. Dropping the second one ("to begin as soon...") is a compromise I can stomach if necessary, since judges will presumably choose community service if imprisoning a parent would be detrimental to the student.

[Slazliyka]

As the author (under a different account), I approve of each of these amendments, and prefer the first suggestion for amending section 2.

Thanks for your flexibility, and your show of solidarity with students who have different needs. Dropping the second one ("to begin as soon...") is a compromise I can stomach if necessary, since judges will presumably choose community service if imprisoning a parent would be detrimental to the student.

I somehow misread it as an either/or suggestion, I'd actually like both to be included or even dropping prison time altogether in favor of community service. You could also remove the fine or change it to a progressive fine rather than a flat payment. In retrospect I'm not sure what I was thinking with the punishments I added to the bill- I merely wanted to establish an education system and that was the first thought that came to my head as a way to deal with those that deny their children a proper education. Nobody contested it at the time so I forgot about that section and focused more on the other portions of the bill.

[Free South Califas]

As you might expect, I'd happily agree on the progressive-fine and/or community-service approach. If that change is made and my other amendments are added, I'll be totally behind PEA.

EFEA I'm not positive about, but I would have no reason to bend anyone's ear about it at this stage, since Sen. Nepal and I are in agreement about the needed amendments.

As always, I am grateful for being allotted some of the nation's limited time to help get these bills right.

[Great Nepal]

Are you unable to calculate anything that does not start in January and end in December senator?

Thats not the point, senator. Point is having different calendar for school is silly.

It would be a silly idea to have a different school year to that of our neighbors.

Academic years vary by nations, that is nothing new.
Australia: January to December.
Austria: September to June
Brazil: February to December
Belgium: September to June
Cambodia: October to August
Canada (universities): September to April
Chile: February to December
Costa Rica: February to November
Denmark: August to June
Denmark (universities): September to June
Estonia: September to June
Ethiopia: September to June
Finland: August to June
France: September to June
Germany: September to July
Germany (universities): October to March
Guyana: September to July
Honduras: February to November
Hong Kong: August to June
Hong Kong (universities): October to May
Indonesia: July to June
Israel: August to June
Japan: April to July
South Korea: March to July
Malaysia: January to November
Mexico: August to July
New Zealand: January to December
Pakistan: August to May
Philippines: June to March
Portugal: September to June
Romania: September to June
Singapore: January to November
Slovenia: September to August
South Africa: January to December
Thailand: May to February

To suggest by going with sensible idea of having same calendar for normal use and academic use will make us somehow stand out from the world is ignorant at best and plain lie at worst.

Plus having a three month gap in the middle of the school year decrease attainment as pupils forget what they learnt about before the summer break and waste time re-learning things.

I dont think we should have three month summer holiday. Here's what I am suggesting:-
First term: 2^nd January to 2^nd April
Second term: 2^nd May to 2^nd August
Third term: 2^nd September to 2^nd December
Total long holidays: 3 months.

Conventional wisdom is in this case better than your selective dysfunction.

Are you suggesting education board of Australia, South Africa, Singapore, New Zealand, Malaysia suffers from selective dysfunction? Oh and expect my lawyer to contact you for libel.

[Fulflood]

Conventional wisdom is in this case better than your selective dysfunction.

Are you suggesting education board of Australia, South Africa, Singapore, New Zealand, Malaysia suffers from selective dysfunction? Oh and expect my lawyer to contact you for libel.

Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are in the Southern Hemisphere, so it's hottest in Dec-Jan. Therefore it actually makes sense for them to have a holiday then. For us, it's a bloody stupid idea which'll put us out of sync with everyone around us and basically prevent any foreign students coming here or Aurentines studying abroad.

[Great Nepal]

Are you suggesting education board of Australia, South Africa, Singapore, New Zealand, Malaysia suffers from selective dysfunction? Oh and expect my lawyer to contact you for libel.

Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are in the Southern Hemisphere, so it's hottest in Dec-Jan. Therefore it actually makes sense for them to have a holiday then.

In the system I suggested , we will have identical amount of holiday in summer and winter.

For us, it's a bloody stupid idea

Last time I heard, Singapore has quite good education system... much better than any European education system.

which'll put us out of sync with everyone around us and basically prevent any foreign students coming here or Aurentines studying abroad.

Its not like people from UK go to Australia to study or there is variation in school year within Europe or anything.

Give me one reason apart from "everyoen does it!!!!11!!" (which is not true) that justifies starting school year in middle of the year.

[Pesda]

Friendly Amendments to Public Education Act for Students with Disabilities and Different Needs
I. Declaring solidarity with the general purpose and most specific goals of Public Education Act (PEA),
II. I move for the following friendly amendments to be made:
a. Change article "2." as such:

• after "school missed" and before "3 months of jail", add ", and either 3,000 hours of community service to begin as soon as feasible or"
• after "3 months of jail", add "to begin as soon as the parent's obligation to directly care for, support the care of, or raise funds for the child has ended or as soon as it becomes impossible for the parent to reasonably provide same".

b. Between article "2." and "3.", add the following in (a) new line(s): "2a. The minimum number of hours required for each particular student may be reduced by consensus of at least two professionals, currently licensed in fields relevant to evaluating that student's individual medical or ability-related needs, who have a substantial history of working directly with the student, as necessary to prevent the student's needless suffering. To the greatest legally and medically possible extent, the same minimum standards of academic achievement must be retained in any case."
c. At the end of article "9.", add "described as such in this Act"
d. Between article "15." and "16.", add the following in (a) new line(s): "15a. The following exceptions shall be provided on an individual basis as necessary to prevent that student's needless suffering, by consensus of at least two professionals currently licensed in fields relevant to evaluating that student's individual medical- or ability-related needs who have a significant history of working directly with the student. To the greatest legally and medically possible extent, the same minimum standards of academic achievement must be retained in any case.
15a1. The minimum number of days attended in each week may be reduced to no fewer than three (3).
15a2. The minimum number of instruction hours attended in each week may be reduced as little as required to achieve this goal.
15a3. More frequent breaks may be allowed which might not be subtracted from the number of instruction hours reported, although it is recommended that this only be used in cases of autism, developmental disorders, attentional or post-traumatic stress conditions being treated, chronic pain conditions, emotional dysfunctions which could otherwise disrupt the learning environment, etc."

I motion for the Public Education Act to be added to queue:

Public Education Act

Proposed by: Greater Pokarnia (C)
Co-sponsored by: Costa Algeria (PC), The Realm of God (PC), Geilinor (LD), Zweite Alaje (NI)

1. A public educational system will be formed under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, which will provide free enrollment to people between the age of 5-18.
2. It will mandatory for children to attend at least 10,500 instructional hours of school, be it at either public, private, or home school. Parents who knowingly prevent their children from meeting this requirement may be subject to fines of up to $10,000 for each 1,500 hours of school missed and 3 months of jail for each 1,500 hours of school missed.
3. Private schools and home schools must register with the Ministry of Education.
4. Public schools will be funded by the state, and it's employees are to be considered state employees.
5. The Ministry of Education shall be in charge of deciding the curriculum of all public schools.
6. A minimum curriculum shall be drafted by the Ministry of Education for private schools and home schools. Private schools and home schools may teach whatever they want so long as they teach the minimum curriculum. Subdistricts may expand upon this minimum curriculum.
7. The Ministry of Education shall monitor private schools to ensure they are teaching the minimum curriculum. If they fail to do so they will lose recognition by the Ministry of Education and students may not meet their mandatory number of instructional by attending that school.
8. Employees of the Ministry of Education shall administer tests to home-schooled children every 3 months to ensure that they are being taught the minimum curriculum sufficiently. If they fail to pass these tests the home school will lose recognition from the Ministry of Education and student may not meet their mandatory number of instructional hours from that home school.
9. Nobody above the age of 20 may attend a public school.
10. Students attending public schools must enroll with the public education system before age 8.
11. No age restrictions are to be placed by the state onto private or home schools.
12. All recognized schools, be they public, private, or home schools, shall have 10 grade levels comprised of at least 1,050 instructional hours.
13. The Ministry of Education shall administer a Grade Advancement Test (GAT) at all recognized schools based on the minimum curriculum, which a student must pass before advancing to the next grade level.
13. The Ministry of Education shall provide funding to to public schools as they see fit, but there may never be larger than a 15% funding gap per student enrolled at public schools.
15. There shall be 5 days in the school week, each comprising of 7 hours of instruction per day. Lunch and recess don't count towards this number of hours. Schools must have at least 30 school weeks per year. This shall only be enforced at public schools.
16. Hereby allows students to avoid attending school for national and religious holidays that will not be counted against a students attendance. This shall only be enforced at public schools.
17. Hereby places a 3 month interval between schooling years to occur at the beginning of June, to carry through the end of August. This shall only be enforced at public schools.
18. Subdistricts may enforce their own educational standards so long as they do not conflict with the national standards and the minimum curriculum is still taught.
19. Subdistricts may enforce their own restrictions on private or home schools.

Could you put those amendments into a new draft of the bill, in the same format that Nepal did earlier? I could use that to put my amendments in too.

[Fulflood]

Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are in the Southern Hemisphere, so it's hottest in Dec-Jan. Therefore it actually makes sense for them to have a holiday then.

In the system I suggested , we will have identical amount of holiday in summer and winter.

That's completely pointless; in Winter it's nicest for school, being pleasantly cool, while in Summer it's roasting hot. Having as much time off during the pleasantly cool season as the scorching hot season is a borderline insane idea.

For us, it's a bloody stupid idea

Last time I heard, Singapore has quite good education system... much better than any European education system.

(Shh. Don't tell him that Finland rank better in 2 out of 3 areas). Also Singapore (Finland too) isn't in the same geographical position. It's the same temperature in Singapore all year round, so they can go to school whenever.

which'll put us out of sync with everyone around us and basically prevent any foreign students coming here or Aurentines studying abroad.

Its not like people from UK go to Australia to study or there is variation in school year within Europe or anything.

But there barely is variation within Europe. They overwhelmingly go Aug/Sep/Oct to Jun/Jul/Aug.
And the amount of students exchanged between the UK and Europe (not to mention N. America) vastly dwarfs that between the UK and Australia.

Give me one reason apart from "everyoen does it!!!!11!!" that justifies starting school year in middle of the year.

It's hottest in the Summer, so children will be most distracted from learning and find it hardest to concentrate.
This is ignoring the fact that in setting things like this, 'because everyone else does it' is a valid reason. That's why Sweden now drives on the right, the UK lines DST up with the rest of the EU, etc...
Give me one reason apart from "but it maches with mah calinder!!!11!1" that justifies starting school year at the beginning of the year.

[Great Nepal]

That's completely pointless; in Winter it's nicest for school, being pleasantly cool, while in Summer it's roasting hot. Having as much time off during the pleasantly cool season as the scorching hot season is a borderline insane idea.

Winter is pleasant and one of few times when outdoors is pleasant, therefore kids should be free to actually enjoy the outdoors

(Shh. Don't tell him that Finland rank better in 2 out of 3 areas). Also Singapore (Finland too) isn't in the same geographical position. It's the same temperature in Singapore all year round, so they can go to school whenever.

We are most likely going to be between France and Spain, which means we can experience Cool-summer Mediterranean climate so temperature is pretty same all year round.

But there barely is variation within Europe. They overwhelmingly go Aug/Sep/Oct to Jun/Jul/Aug.

Indeed, there is barely variation within the world. They overwhelmingly go Jan/Feb/Mar/Aug/Sep/Oct to Nov/Dec/Jan/Feb/Mar/Jun/Jul/Aug.

And the amount of students exchanged between the UK and Europe (not to mention N. America) vastly dwarfs that between the UK and Australia.

That would be something to do with the distance between two nations.

It's hottest in the Summer, so children will be most distracted from learning and find it hardest to concentrate.

Difference between temperature in Cool-summer Mediterranean is minimal. Maximum in June minus Maximum in December in San Francisco (cool summer Mediterranean) is 5 degrees.

This is ignoring the fact that in setting things like this, 'because everyone else does it' is a valid reason. That's why Sweden now drives on the right, the UK lines DST up with the rest of the EU, etc...

No, its not. Just because every other nation does one thing doesn't mean we have to follow them.

Give me one reason apart from "but it maches with mah calinder!!!11!1" that justifies starting school year at the beginning of the year.

Because there is no point in starting year in middle of the year and temperature difference is negligible.

[Great Nepal]

nvm, I am withdrawing from the previous agreement with FSC and sticking with original version of the bill.

[The Nihilistic view]

Are you unable to calculate anything that does not start in January and end in December senator?

Thats not the point, senator. Point is having different calendar for school is silly.

It would be a silly idea to have a different school year to that of our neighbors.

Academic years vary by nations, that is nothing new.
Australia: January to December.
Austria: September to June
Brazil: February to December
Belgium: September to June
Cambodia: October to August
Canada (universities): September to April
Chile: February to December
Costa Rica: February to November
Denmark: August to June
Denmark (universities): September to June
Estonia: September to June
Ethiopia: September to June
Finland: August to June
France: September to June
Germany: September to July
Germany (universities): October to March
Guyana: September to July
Honduras: February to November
Hong Kong: August to June
Hong Kong (universities): October to May
Indonesia: July to June
Israel: August to June
Japan: April to July
South Korea: March to July
Malaysia: January to November
Mexico: August to July
New Zealand: January to December
Pakistan: August to May
Philippines: June to March
Portugal: September to June
Romania: September to June
Singapore: January to November
Slovenia: September to August
South Africa: January to December
Thailand: May to February

To suggest by going with sensible idea of having same calendar for normal use and academic use will make us somehow stand out from the world is ignorant at best and plain lie at worst.

Plus having a three month gap in the middle of the school year decrease attainment as pupils forget what they learnt about before the summer break and waste time re-learning things.

I dont think we should have three month summer holiday. Here's what I am suggesting:-
First term: 2^nd January to 2^nd April
Second term: 2^nd May to 2^nd August
Third term: 2^nd September to 2^nd December
Total long holidays: 3 months.

Conventional wisdom is in this case better than your selective dysfunction.

Are you suggesting education board of Australia, South Africa, Singapore, New Zealand, Malaysia suffers from selective dysfunction? Oh and expect my lawyer to contact you for libel.

No they don't because why? In the southern hemisphere their summer is from November to February so it make perfect sense and follows the rule. How could you not realize this?

[Great Nepal]

Thats not the point, senator. Point is having different calendar for school is silly.


Academic years vary by nations, that is nothing new.
Australia: January to December.
Austria: September to June
Brazil: February to December
Belgium: September to June
Cambodia: October to August
Canada (universities): September to April
Chile: February to December
Costa Rica: February to November
Denmark: August to June
Denmark (universities): September to June
Estonia: September to June
Ethiopia: September to June
Finland: August to June
France: September to June
Germany: September to July
Germany (universities): October to March
Guyana: September to July
Honduras: February to November
Hong Kong: August to June
Hong Kong (universities): October to May
Indonesia: July to June
Israel: August to June
Japan: April to July
South Korea: March to July
Malaysia: January to November
Mexico: August to July
New Zealand: January to December
Pakistan: August to May
Philippines: June to March
Portugal: September to June
Romania: September to June
Singapore: January to November
Slovenia: September to August
South Africa: January to December
Thailand: May to February

To suggest by going with sensible idea of having same calendar for normal use and academic use will make us somehow stand out from the world is ignorant at best and plain lie at worst.


I dont think we should have three month summer holiday. Here's what I am suggesting:-
First term: 2^nd January to 2^nd April
Second term: 2^nd May to 2^nd August
Third term: 2^nd September to 2^nd December
Total long holidays: 3 months.


Are you suggesting education board of Australia, South Africa, Singapore, New Zealand, Malaysia suffers from selective dysfunction? Oh and expect my lawyer to contact you for libel.

No they don't because why? In the southern hemisphere their summer is from November to February so it make perfect sense and follows the rule. How could you not realize this?

I am pretty certain neither Singapore nor Malaysia is in southern hemisphere, perhaps you need refresher course in world geography senator. I am sure I can arrange a primary school in my constituency to fit you in their geography lessons for free, would you like the address of the school?

[The Nihilistic view]

Private schools are charities, nobody makes any money from them.

Secondly private schools provide about 2000% more help to disabled pupils than the state sector. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Private schools are not always charities. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For-profit_education OOC: As a disabled student in a public school, I feel adequetely supported. It highly depends on the school, which we can easily avoid by providing enough funding.

I have yet to come across one in the UK that is not a charity, my own school was as was all the schools in our leagues or in the Rugby group. I Even think you have to be a charity to be part of the independent schools council. Yes in the public sector depends it depends on the school but my experience of private school from a friend who was epileptic to someone in my year who was autistic to my own dyslexia is that there provision was five star and they cared an awful lot. Same at all my schools for that matter.

[The Nihilistic view]

No they don't because why? In the southern hemisphere their summer is from November to February so it make perfect sense and follows the rule. How could you not realize this?

I am pretty certain neither Singapore nor Malaysia is in southern hemisphere, perhaps you need refresher course in world geography senator. I am sure I can arrange a primary school in my constituency to fit you in their geography lessons for free, would you like the address of the school?

They are right on the boundary of the hemisphere so in effect can choose, we are not right on the boundary and have clearly defined seasons.(boundary goes straight through Singapore, take your own classes witch)

[Great Nepal]

I am pretty certain neither Singapore nor Malaysia is in southern hemisphere, perhaps you need refresher course in world geography senator. I am sure I can arrange a primary school in my constituency to fit you in their geography lessons for free, would you like the address of the school?

They are right on the boundary of the hemisphere so in effect can choose, we are not right on the boundary and have clearly defined seasons.(boundary goes straight through Singapore, take your own classes bitch)

There is no such boundary, I believe word you are looking for is "equator", which is an imaginary line another thing taught in that primary school I was telling you about. And, we dont have that much of variation in temperature here either. ±8 degrees change isn't much which is less than that experienced in Kuala Lumpur which is located in Malaysia.

[The Nihilistic view]

They are right on the boundary of the hemisphere so in effect can choose, we are not right on the boundary and have clearly defined seasons.(boundary goes straight through Singapore, take your own classes bitch)

There is no such boundary, I believe word you are looking for is "equator", which is an imaginary line another thing taught in that primary school I was telling you about. And, we dont have that much of variation in temperature here either. ±8 degrees change isn't much which is less than that experienced in Kuala Lumpur which is located in Malaysia.

That is not realistic, we are level with Spain and Italy and so have there climate, both of them have a difference of around +- 15 degrees between extremes. Who was in charge of this cock up?

And Singapore have a difference of +- 1 degree so we have 800% more variance then they do between the two extremes. Where do you get your shit info from, Kuala Lumper also has a difference of 1 degree!

http://www.holiday-weather.com/kuala_lumpur/averages/
http://www.holiday-weather.com/country/spain/
http://www.holiday-weather.com/country/ ... es_sidebar
http://www.holiday-weather.com/singapore/averages/

[Great Nepal]

That is not realistic, we are level with Spain and Italy and so have there climate, both of them have a difference of at least +- 15 degrees between extremes. Who was in charge of this cock up?

We are also south of France and east of north east Spain which means we can have Csb same as San Francisco which has average yearly variation of ±7.3 Celsius.

And Singapore have a difference of +- 1 degree so we have 800% more variance then they do between the two extremes.

Kuala Lumper which is not located in Singapore.

Where do you get your shit info from, Kuala Lumper also has a difference of 1 degree!

No, it doesn't.
Average annual high: 32.4
Average annual low: 23.2
32.4-23.2=9.2.

[Darmen]

snip

And Singapore have a difference of +- 1 degree so we have 800% more variance then they do between the two extremes. Where do you get your shit info from, Kuala Lumper also has a difference of 1 degree!

Add a zero on the end of that one, and you're right. Look at the graphs again.

[The Nihilistic view]

That is not realistic, we are level with Spain and Italy and so have there climate, both of them have a difference of at least +- 15 degrees between extremes. Who was in charge of this cock up?

We are also south of France and east of north east Spain which means we can have Csb same as San Francisco which has average yearly variation of ±7.3 Celsius.

And Singapore have a difference of +- 1 degree so we have 800% more variance then they do between the two extremes.

Kuala Lumper which is not located in Singapore.

Where do you get your shit info from, Kuala Lumper also has a difference of 1 degree!

No, it doesn't.
Average annual high: 32.4
Average annual low: 23.2
32.4-23.2=9.2.

1) Are you really that stupid? climates don't work like that, we will not suddenly have summers 8 degrees colder than the nations around us when we are right in the middle of the med and 30-40 miles from their shores, same applies for the winter.
2) its about 100 miles away so not going to create such a large variation of temp changes when they are both in the same climate.
3)That is the average monthly low and monthly high. which is not the same as the monthly average temp. see my link above.

[The Nihilistic view]

And Singapore have a difference of +- 1 degree so we have 800% more variance then they do between the two extremes. Where do you get your shit info from, Kuala Lumper also has a difference of 1 degree!

Add a zero on the end of that one, and you're right. Look at the graphs again.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
°C 27 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 27 27 27 27
°F 81 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 81 81 81 81

averages for Kuala lumpur. So you really trying to tell me they have an average June temp of 280 degrees Celsius?

[Great Nepal]

1) Are you really that stupid? climates don't work like that, we will not suddenly have summers 8 degrees colder than the nations around us when we are right in the middle of the med and 30-40 miles from their shores, same applies for the winter.
2) its about 100 miles away so not going to create such a large variation of temp changes when they are both in the same climate.
3)That is the average monthly low and monthly high. which is not the same as the monthly average temp. see my link above.

1. You seriously need to look up links provided.
2. Obviously it does as shown by the data which can be seen if you click on the links provided.
3. We are not looking at monthly average temperature because we haven't set that data out here. Best way to calculate will be to calculate average for their summer and winter but thats long and I really dont want to do that now.