本期导读（No.103）
临近岁末，酝酿已久的澳洲中小学校绩效报告，亦即俗称的“排名表”即将公布。对于这种做法，人们一直议论纷纷，很多业内人士更是忧心忡忡。孰是孰非，患得患失，本期主题新闻作了较为全面的报道，请读者朋友、特别是广大学生家长参与到这场讨论中来。
数据显示，全澳25岁青年中有12%是在9至10年级退学的，这将严重影响劳动大军的素质，同时增加了就业市场的压力。为此，联邦和各州政府将修改义务教育政策，强制性地要求所有学生完成高中教育。如果要达到这个目标，政府首先要在教育预算上做好充分准备，改善中小学办学条件已成澳洲的当务之急。
网络教育是随着网络技术日益普及而来的新型教育模式，但其中的弊端不容忽视。首先是网络教育的质量问题如何才能得到保证？有报道说，美国的一只猫用它的前爪按键盘，居然通过了高中毕业考试，此事或许过于夸张，但是网络考试的“无限试错法”和“暗示法”，与考场作弊已经没有什么两样，这怎么能保证学生能通过网络教育真正掌握知识呢？网络欺凌猖獗同样是网络在青少年中普及后出现的严重问题，本报曾多次报道过此类事件。澳洲政府近期将举行一个学生峰会，专门讨论这个问题，但恐怕一时也拿不出什么好办法来。
华人家庭注重子女教育，很多华人孩子都会被家长安排学习某种乐器。调查显示，儿时学习乐器益处良多，不仅能提高孩子的阅读与写作能力，而且会在他们未来生活中扮演重要角色。但是，还有另一项调查显示，华裔学生大多会经过一段迷茫后再奋起的演变过程，这或许与年轻人的心理发育成长过程有关，但与华人家庭过于逼迫孩子学习也有关系。本报本期专文介绍一位四岁随父母赴美，今年荣获“美国总统奖”，受到奥巴马亲自接见的华裔学生张舸（Andy Zhang）的事迹，也许会对那些望子成龙的华人家长们有所启发。
郎咸平，又一个在华人圈里越来越熟悉的名字。经济学界的很多人为他叫好，但他也使很多人头痛不已。他究竟有哪些高论，又有些怎样的学术和生活体验呢？本报转载了“郎咸平：四两怎么可以拨千斤”一文，虽然全文较长，需分两期载完，但可读性很强，本来是可以一口气读完的。本报的另一篇连载文章题目是“子女教育先从提高母亲素质做起”，一看标题，就知道作者的观点了。
本期的学习园地发表的是新金山东区中文学校和新金山未来中文学校的部分师生作品。与新金山中文学校的其他分校一样，11月21、22日是学校的开放日，欢迎大家前往参观。
本期导读（No.103）。
Introduction（No.103） The school reports, known as “league tables” will be published by the end of this year, which has raised great concern among educators. What are the pros and cons of publishing school reports and how to get the best out of it? A special report about this topic will be presented in this issue. Readers, especially parents are welcome to join the debate.
It is reported that 12% of youngsters at the age of 25 leave school at year 9 and 10, which not only influences the quality of workforce, but also poses great pressure on the labor market. To improve the situation, the governments have decided to modify the education policies, keeping all the young Australians in school up to year 12. However, before reaching this target, governments should amend their education budget accordingly given that the first priority is to improve the teaching resources in schools.
Online teaching is a new type of education thanks to the wide spread of network technology. However its disadvantages should not be ignored, among which the most concerned issue is how to assure the quality of online education. It is said that a cat has passed the high school test by touching the keyboard with its front paw. It might be a bit exaggerated, but the ‘trial-and-error method’ and the ‘hint method’ are no other than test cheating, with which students could not be equipped with a decent education. Online bullying is another issue that brings serious consequences, which has been reported repeatedly. The Government is going to organize a student summit to discuss about this issue, but it’s hard to say what difference will be made.
Many Chinese children have been taught some musical instruments thanks to their parents who pay a lot of attention to their education. It is found that playing musical instruments in the early age could improve children’s reading and writing skills, and may also play an important role in their future life. Nevertheless, another survey concludes that many Chinese students overseas have experienced a struggling time before heading to success. It might be a part of psychological development of adolescents, and parents might also make some contribution by pushing the youngsters too hard. In this issue, you will find a story of Andy Zhang, who went to USA with his mother when he was four. This year, he was nominated the Presidential Scholarship and was granted an interview by Barack Obama. Parents who pin hopes and great expectations on their children might find the story enlightening.
Xianping Lang is a name frequently mentioned among Chinese communities recently. Many economists sing high praise for him, but he also gives many others a headache. How unusual is he and what academic and life experience he has? An article named “Xianping Lang: how come an arm be stronger than a leg” is republished in this issue. Although it has to be presented in two episodes, it is really worth reading and I believe anyone would prefer finishing it at one blast. Another article “Parenting starts with improving mothers” is also worthwhile and you can easily tell the author’s view from the title.
In the column “Study Field”, you will find the works of students and teachers from the east Doncaster and Forest Hill campuses of Xin Jin Shan Chinese Language and Culture School. November 21th and 22th are the open days for all the campuses of XJS, and you are welcome to join us and appreciate the achievements made by students and teachers.