[Oz-gifted] Ability grouping

[tony nolan]

G'day Kristy,

I remember this from Teachers College but it was an answer a long time ago 
to a slightly different question.

Thus it went,

That age classification and grouping is the most objective way to group 
students, with very little subjectivity about which classification to be 
inserted into, once the classification has already been established. It was 
a fast way of grouping without argument or confrontation, where every body 
knows the boundaries, etc.

The other reason i heard about was because of size / physical ability / 
emotional ability of the child when involved with its peers in the class 
room. It appeared that the main reason for the classification was not so 
much about learning ability, but more about Risk Reduction in the class room.

I think the age system has been in for a very very long time, and that 
these days we also use learning ability, learning disability, and even 
nationality, culture / religion to sort out classrooms. I guess this is 
because that the original schools were set up with a very limited variety 
or range of students considered, as schools were usually in towns, or 
villages, etc.

Anyway, this is what i remembered as to why Age was used as the basic 
classification system for students.

Regards
Tony



-- 
UTS CRICOS Provider Code:  00099F
DISCLAIMER: This email message and any accompanying attachments may contain
confidential information.  If you are not the intended recipient, do not
read, use, disseminate, distribute or copy this message or attachments.  If
you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately
and delete this message. Any views expressed in this message are those of the
individual sender, except where the sender expressly, and with authority,
states them to be the views the University of Technology Sydney. Before
opening any attachments, please check them for viruses and defects.