KLA News
This fortnight we hear from the HSIE, Maths and Praxis areas
HSIE
Mrs Cherie Stoessel
Legal Studies at O'Connor
A student's perspective.
The Year 11 Legal Studies class began the year looking at law reform, following our assessment at the end of term one, in which we all looked at law reform in regard to sexual assault or Native Title. In class, we have had a focus on Native Title, and looked in particular at the Mabo decision. We have since moved onto rights and responsibilities — what rights does the Australian Constitution give Australian citizens, and what responsibilities does this create. Interestingly, Australia is one of the very few democratic nations that does not have a bill of rights, rather there are rights (implicit and explicit) throughout the Constitution, but not a specific document. Additionally, we have explored the concept of moral versus legal rights, which has lead to some very interesting conversations on capital punishment and ethical responsibility.
These are some of the topics we have been through and discussed in Legal studies as of recently. We started off with our Assessment task, and went through law reforms and the benefits it can bring to society, due to the fact that some laws are completely outdated and can no longer apply to the current modern society. We then branched into different topics for our assessment, either Native Title or Sexual Assualt. I chose Native Title and navigated through the legislation, legal requirements, and beginnings of the Native Title Act (1993). I then went through the reason for this law and the different law reforms that occurred over the years, and the need for such. We then started to go through the topic of, and the difference between Moral and Legal rights, and the power the two hold, and differences they have. We are currently going through the Bill or Rights in the US, and the need for such rights, their purpose, and how effective they have shown to be. We have had many important and interesting conversations in Legal Studies that have led to a higher understanding of legal systems and how they work. Legal Studies this year has proven to be much enjoyable and quite educational.
Our new topic began with conversations surrounding the legal and moral dilemmas of rights and responsibilities. Through this new topic we have been able to see not only the similarities between legal and moral rights but also how different they are, and how personal they can be. Through this the discussion based on the facts of the law keeping up to these rights was brought up, and what we as young Australians have rights too. This topic allows us to look at the law holistically and find what the law is achieving and how it creates laws of the moral rights of australians.
At the beginning of the year, we covered the basic context of the legal system. We went through basic legal ideas, customary law, and what that may look like for Aboriginal people. We began our major topic of law reform later in the first term, reviewing why and how a reform emerged. Our first assessment was based on this issue. In-depth examination of both sexual assault legislation reform and native title. Due to this we were able to understand the importance of ethical and moral beliefs and how this can majorly impact the law.
Recently we have been looking at more of the individual and the law around it. Certain disputes, against an individual or the state, and how these disputes may be seen in court and or resolved.
Compiled by members of Mr Osborne's Legal Studies class.
ANCIENT TIMES: Year 11 hard at work in Ancient History this week.
Mathematics
Mr Mark Harris
The great learning continues in the Mathematics KLA this term.
Students and teachers working collaboratively to cover the content in each course.
I have been pleased to see the effort some students in Years 11 and 12 have been putting in.
Often seeking out their teachers and arranging extra help in study periods and before and after school. It's these extra efforts that really help in the long run. I encourage all students in Year 11 and 12 to make time to seek out this extra help.
Our highly skilled and dedicated Mathematics teachers readily give of their time to support our students in their learning.
As we near the middle of Term 2 it's a timely reminder for students to be prepared for class.
To learn in Mathematics it is essential to have a charged device, pens, pencils, ruler and a calculator for every lesson.
It is your responsibility to be prepared for class each day so make sure your bag is packed and ready the night before.
READY TO LEARN: Around the Mathematics classrooms this week.
Praxis
Mrs Jenny Roff
A team of O’Connor students participated in the Ethics Olympiad last Friday. During the day they thoughtfully discussed a variety of ethical cases with other high school students from all across NSW:
Case 1 - University Admission by Lottery
Case 2 - Anti Natalism
Case 3 - Homophobic Discrimination and Freedom of Speech
Case 4 - Statues
Case 5 - Something Fishy about the Para-Olympics
Case 6 - Wholesome discipline
Case 7 - Killer Art
Case 8- The Medical Brain Drain