The Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations have begun for this year’s graduating year 12 high school students. The Eden Magnet asked people on the street whether they thought the HSC was still relevant, and if it was too stressful for our kids?
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Amy Taylor
Tura Beach,
I did the HSC last year, and from my personal experience I think it’s too stressful.
There was so much stress that wasn’t needed.
Since then I’ve visited universities who’ve said it doesn’t need to be like that, there are other options of ways to enter courses, like TAFE or studying a course which has a lower entrance level, but is basically the same course you want to do anyway.
Janet Wright
Eden,
I think the HSC is still relevant, but stressful.
I’m thinking that rather than do the HSC in one hit, they should split it up a bit.
I think the stress is caused by doing too many subjects at once, in a tight period of time.
The students have to go through it, but maybe some should be done at the start of the year, or every three months.
You can see on the TV how stressed the kids are, with the parents pushing them to study.
They need to have a life as well.
Elwyn Walker
Sydney,
The HSC is relevant if you want to get a higher qualification, and get into university.
I predate the HSC but our children went through it.
One wanted to study music so used the HSC to get into uni.
The other wanted to be florist, so didn’t need it.
Our grandkids already know what they want to be.
They’re 11, 12 and 13 years old, and want to be a pharmacist, engineer, and teacher.
They’re just entering high school and already focused.
And that focus on career and HSC is important.
David Henson,
Eden,
I’m 17, and in year 11 at Eden Marine High School.
I think the HSC will be stressful but hopefully I’ll manage.
I’ve got through the rest of school so far, so hopefully luck will be on my side.
I’m mostly nervous about not knowing the subjects yet, or what the tests will be.
I think we should know what the testing is all about, ahead of year 12.
I could start studying now.
Veronica Radford,
Eden,
I think there is a lot of stress, but I think the HSC is important.
Education is everything.
It launches people into future careers, and without a good education today you are pretty lost.
I think the HSC is an important part of that process.
Effie Castrissios,
Eden
I’m in year 12 at Lumen Christi, and doing my HSC now.
I’ve just finished trials, with the proper HSC testing in October.
I think they could be fairer.
I don’t agree with the system.
It’s not to our advantage the way it should be.
I’m under pressure, and stressed.
The hardest thing is going back over the content of courses, to the end of last year, and trying to remember it all. There’s a lot of study to do, and if you haven’t got your notes in order it makes it even harder.
Ian Johnston
Wonboyn Lake
I used to be a teacher years ago.
I recently saw a Foreign Correspondent story of a Taiwanese maths teacher who taught online, in costumes, using things like sword fights to explain maths.
I’ve also seen a student who excelled via debate with professors online, and kids using tablets doing classes in a cafe.
Traditional models like the HSC only cater to a quarter of the population in terms of how kids learn; for example, visually, auditory, kinesthetic, or right versus left brained.
The HSC is good for technical skills towards university, but we should ask ourselves what we’re doing for just simple self esteem and resilience?