One of the points from Heather Roy’s Step Change report is a need for cultural competence in schools. I agree.
It would be relatively simple to introduce a Cultural Audit into all schools. A cultural audit could be incorporated as part of ERO reviews. I’ve seen an example from a First Nation tribe in the U.S.
A cultural audit could look at – what and how teachers teach their Maori students. How do they involve Te Reo, customs and culture? How do they engage with students and their families? How does the teacher and school reflect the ethnic make up of the school in the curriculum, in the school grounds, in their practices and systems?
A cultural audit could be developed for any ethnic group represented in their student body.
If a school is found wanting in the way it relates to the various ethnic groups in its student and parent bodies, then professional development specific to meeting the needs of that ethnic group should be provided.
Again, it comes back to investing in teachers.
Hi Kelvin,
I was at a forum with ECE teachers on Wednesday night and some mentioned that they had had ERO visits in the last six months where the focus had switched from how they were providing for Maori students to looking at literacy, do you know if this is widespread?
Should be widespread Julie:
from http://www.ero.govt.nz/ero/publishing.nsf/Content/NatEvalTopicsJan10
National Evaluation Topics
Early Childhood Services
Term 1 2010
# Literacy in Early Childhood Services
The ERO achieves little in the way of a genuine audit. How do we get a genuinely independent authority into this work. Should the legal profession be involved?
Higher decile schools have little to fear from the ERO. Low decile grimace as they wait for the boot to go in. As a predictive organisation they do poorly, with big flare-ups happening in schools with great reviews!
It is a game. Don’t trust the ERO or their reports.
Kelvin, is the ERO considered and independent group?
Would this include indigenous pakeha (ie pakeha of many generations and no dual-citizenship as opposed to new arrivals)?
A cultural audit in more of our schools would be a good thing – might I suggest they look at how well schools`are implementing Ka Hikitia as part of that process.
ERO usually looks at maori reponsiveness as part of the review in all schools – I would be surprised if this was changed to only look at literacy – and it would concern me. I have not heard this is the case. as for if you can trust their findings – depends on the team and which part of the country they are from. I would have a healthy reservation of their findings – but they are all we have so its better than not having an agent to hold schools accountable – warts and all.
focus changes each term, not only thing looked at though, just the main thing to have sorted. See link in my prev post above.
yes they (ero)do change focus each term but they usually look at Maori in some shape or form.