It was reshuffle day today – slightly bittersweet because the loss of my two closest friends in caucus forced it. We’ve lost lots of intellectual grunt and experience with Helen and Michael – the good news is that the new lot are the most talented group I’ve seen – even better than the ‘84 crew of which Annie and I are the only survivours still in the Labour Party.
I’m really happy about getting Education back – I think it is one of the big three with Health and Finance and it is the one that can make the biggest long term difference to the country. I’ve had some great feedback including from people who I thought weren’t that supportive a few years ago.
I will take a variety of approaches with the current Minister – if I support what she is doing I won’t hesitate to say so – even if that makes me unpopular with some in the sector and my mates. If I think Nat policy can be tweaked to make it work then I will work with her to tweak it so we will have less to change when Labour regains the Ministry. And if it is just plain wrong I will oppose and propose alternatives.
It has been good reading articles and opinions over the last few weeks – thanks to those who have sent them to me – you will realise now why my interest was restimulated.
I’m not I remember all the schools you closed with rubbish consultation with the communities.
Great to have you back in education, Trevor. Get stuck in!
Congratulations on getting education, Trevor.
This might seem like a slightly arcane area to be pushing, but the New Zealand education system sorely needs Indonesian language to be taught in secondary schools and universities. Indonesia is the world’s fourth largest country, our largest near neighbour, a rapidly growing country with a rapidly growing economy, and a place of rich and varied cultures. The Indonesian language is in the Austronesian language family, and shares many similarities with Maori and Pacific languages – if you can pronounce Maori (the great majority of the population, to some degree), you can pronounce Indonesian. It is also written in latin script like English, and has “one of the simplest grammars of any natural language”. It is a language that many students can progress in far more quickly than many of the languages taught in New Zealand.
There are many reasons why Indonesian language should be taught in NZ. But at present it is not taught in a single university, and I am not aware of a single high school teaching it. (please correct me if I’m wrong) The contrast with Australia is stark, where it is a major language in the curriculum, and efforts are being made to significantly increase the number of learners. People here shake their heads in amazement when I explain New Zealand’s situation.
I have emailed the Minister about this matter, and hope she takes it seriously. This is one area on which I hope both sides can agree on however, and look forward to you supporting this initiative.
Trev, welcome back to this portfolio. I like the approach you suggest you are going to take. For better or worse we have been seen as adopting a somewhat different one in the past few years. It will be a good look as you roll it out.
Tokka tokka tokka tokka – beware the spinning Tolleycopter!
Welcome back Trevor. My daughter’s just started school so if there’s anything that annoys me I’ll let you know about it!
Welcome back Trevor – Good luck finding something she’s doing that actually makes sense. I liked how quickly you got off the block to inform her about the error of her ways with the National Testing – shame it was in urgency with the numbers going the wrong way.
It was a great debate though – that’s education though, one never actually leaves – you’re simply on a bungy gettin dragged back when the time’s right. Go hard……..
First I would like to mention the great deal of respect I have for you Trevor, especially your recent dealings with racist hotel managers. However, as a current young Labour member and secondary school student I would like to question some of your actions in Education during your term as minister:
Why did a left-wing government shut down good schools with good results just for cost saving measures with almost no community input? I recall the decision to close down Pleasant point High School, a small town with a great community spirit just outside the labour stronghold of Timaru. The ministry went back and forth with different proposals but decided to close the school none the less. The ministry also promised that every ex-PPHS student will be back at Pleasant point by 3.45 p.m, the buses are back at Pleasant point at 4.30p.m. at the earliest. Students arrive at school and return home tired as there normal school day including transport has been extended by three hours. Students results have suffered as a result of cost-cutting measures by your department in the previous government! I truly believe that this helped tremendously in turning over a labour stronghold electorate of Aoraki of 12 years, to the National MP ms Jo Goodhew.
Additionally having two parents who are teachers as well as being stanch labour supporters for over 30 years are highly unsatisfied along with many teachers and students over the implementation over NCEA. Teachers workloads have been increased with very little extra money to show for it and has pushed many of them overseas. Finally, NCEA has lead to a huge drain on school resources a survey into the school accounts found that NCEA has cost the school an extra $26,000 while only $1500 had been provided by the ministry of education.
Public Schools in New Zealand are deteriorating with labour proudly stating that 90% of funds are paid for by the government, 90% is appalling I am a strong believer in education Trevor and believe that schools should not have to become fundraising mechanisms to get schools up to the standard. Along with labours policies on ‘elective surgery’ and the pathetic student allowances are some of the many reasons why myself and many members in the left of the labour party will be voting Green in 2011.
Mr Mallard, if you do become education minister in the next labour government, I wish you all the best and please put some of my points into policy, otherwise labour will have to face the consequences.
Trevor,
If you ever want some material from the land where everything is measured and then published and then good teachers leave, please ask.
That is a desperately short summary. Some things that the English do in education is very good. they intervene when a school is failing. Their special education. particularly working with autistic students is very very good….but their fascination with testing and measuring really gets in the way of confident teaching and learning.
Good luck with the work.
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