Could shorter lesson times and more frequent breaks be the way forward for Orange's students?
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That was the thought coming out of Charles Sturt University as principals from seven schools across the area gathered for a day-long meeting with author Michael Lawrence.
The Melbourne author came to the city to share ideas about what the Australian education can learn from Finland.
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Melissa Campbell is the principal of Borenore Public School and said they have already started to implement different learning techniques.
"We've made changes in break time because Finland students only have 45 minutes lesson time then they have a 15 minute break and we've been doing similar things in our schools and the kids just love it," she said.
"They can concentrate better, they work better in the classroom because they know that break is coming up.
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"Even in the playground, because it's only a short break, we haven't had the issues that we normally have. That's because they get out there and they know they don't have long so they're running and playing the whole time so don't have time for the arguments."
Mr Lawrence was there to pass on his own knowledge that he had garnered from his time writing the book.
"In Finland, if they haven't helped kids find their passion then they've failed and here it doesn't seem like we care," he said.
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"We were talking in there before about how kids were trying to kill themselves during NAPLAN. We've turned it into a scary place and somewhere to fear and no wonder students aren't doing well."
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