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ICT curriculum to change in UK

Posted by Trevor Mallard on January 11th, 2012

Guardian reporting major change in UK curriculum for ICT. Interesting as it appears to be a knee jerk reaction to a Guardian campaign.

Probably not that relevant here. UK curriculum generally very prescriptive and lacking flexibility and space for teacher initiative available in NZ.

Compulsory open source does seem a bit of a contradiction..

The teaching of computer science in school is to be dramatically overhauled, with the existing programme of study scrapped to make way for new lessons designed by industry and universities, Michael Gove will announce on Wednesday.

In a speech, the education secretary will say the existing curriculum in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has left children “bored out of their minds being taught how to use Word and Excel by bored teachers”.

Instead he will, in effect, create an “open source” curriculum in computer science by giving schools the freedom to use teaching resources designed with input from leading employers and academics, in changes that will come into effect this September.

The announcement follows pressure from businesses critical of a shortage of computer-literate recruits – a deficit highlighted by a Guardian campaign launched this week.

Filed under: education
15 Comments

From Charter Schools to leaky building syndrome

Posted by Raymond Huo on December 6th, 2011

Here we are again!

The charter schools being a model for experiment per se may not be that terrible – should the government have the mandate to do so. But how the agenda unfolds itself in New Zealand shortly after the general election has caused concerns.

Act Party, joyriding into Parliament on a grand total of 21,446 voters nationally (1.07%), is suddenly shaping and dictating key education policy (no pun intended). And Act did not even have an election policy of charter schools for god’s sake.

Secondly, the economy-savvy electorate of Epsom knows that Act’s old mantra of Chicago School of Economics is one of the main reasons the western world is in the doldrums.

Worse, Chicago School of Economics which advocates for unfettered free market and less government intervention (“big market, small government”), came under attack in the wake of the financial crisis we all are experiencing now. It has also been blamed for growing income inequality in Europe and the United Sates.

Unfettered free market leads to deregulation which, in the New Zealand context, caused various problems with one of the worst case scenario being felt by so many in the leaky building syndrome.

Although in a long process, leaky buildings may be repaired, revamped or reconstructed. But as Ehoa commented on Red Alert: “As for charter schools…once again South Auckland schools become lab rats for two Johns and one dunny (SIC)”.

I would be very nervous where our kids – no matter what socioeconomic status – are likely to be treated as guinea pigs. They are our future, not statistics.

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Filed under: asian, education
50 Comments

If we want to be a digital nation, we need digital Kiwis

Posted by Clare Curran on November 11th, 2011

Kids who don’t have access to computers at home and not much access at school will benefit from Labour’s education policy released yesterday by Phil Goff and Sue Moroney.

If we want a nation of digital Kiwis who make NZ a digital nation with decent paying jobs in the tech world, then all of us need access to the technology. It’s that simple.

New Zealand?s economic future lies in weightless exports. The future of the nation relies on Kiwi children becoming digital Kiwis. We can’t have kids leaving school without good digitial skills becasue they come from a  poor background where there’s no computer at home and no money to connect to the internet. Or where their school can’t afford to buy computers or mobile devices for the kids.

Access to technology can help close the gap between rich and poor. The country must not have a digital divide. Labour believes some of our greatest innovation can come out of our most deprived areas. The new broadband network must not be a tool to entrench the divide between the haves and the have nots.

Computers in Homes (2020 Communications Trust) estimates that there are 100,000 families with dependent children who do not have access to a computer at home. Around 20% of New Zealand households currently do not have a computer. They are more likely to be one-parent households and from Maori and Pasifika backgrounds where children are unable to participate equitably in digital learning and using technology.

While programs such as Computers in Homes, Computer Clubhouse and Aotearoa People?s Network do great work in increasing digital literacy, their success is sporadic because of limited funding. Labour will boost that funding.

And to increase the connectedness and literacy for many New Zealand households is to leverage the education system by ensuring every child has access to a device. Labour’s education policy announced this:
 

Labour will invest $75 million over four years in “e-learning? for low-decile schools, with priority going to schools with year 7 -13 students and the capability to deliver an effective programme . This includes Government funding for students to have individual use of a mobile device.

$19 million per year is sufficient funding to ensure 31,000 year 7 to 13 students have individual use of a mobile device. When Labour takes office we will determine which schools are best placed to benefit from e-learning based on a number of factors. Priority will be given to low-decile schools with high levels of disengagement and/or low levels of academic achievement, as well as those schools that have staff prepared to lead an effective e-learning programme.

I visited the Enderley Computer Clubhouse in Hamilton yesterday. I saw kids from poor families who turn up every day after school because they can use hi tech equipment to create online games and make their own music clips and other things. These are kids with talent, who would have no way to access this hi tech equipment and might otherwise be roaming the streets. I can see a future for them. That could benefit the nation.

New Zealand needs more young innovators. We need the pathways for them to get from school into further learning and jobs that pay well. Let’s make the most of our kids. All of them.

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Filed under: #OpenLabourNZ, #ownourfuture, comms & IT, digital, education
29 Comments

Allan Peachey … a man who put kids first

Posted by David Shearer on November 7th, 2011

It was both very sad and a surprise to hear about Allan Peachey’s death today. I worked on the Education and Science Select Committee with him, some of my family taught at Rangitoto College under his reign.

He impressed me with his deep understanding of education and real commitment to getting the best for kids. Ultimately for him that was the test. He was no friend of National Standards. For his passion and understanding alone, he should’ve been the Minister.

He chaired the Select Committee in a true spirit of bipartisanship and was unfailingly polite to those who came before us. We differed in our politcal views – sometimes quite a bit – but that’s politics. We are poorer for his parting.

Our condolences go out to his family.

Filed under: Teachers, education, select committee, students
17 Comments

Political speed dating

Posted by Trevor Mallard on November 6th, 2011

Not just another candidates’ debate – this is your chance to debate the real issues facing our communities.

Five union/community election forums will be MC’d around New Zealand by some of New Zealand’s favourite funny people, including Michele A’Court, Jeremy Elwood, Darren Ludlow and Ian Harcourt. The forums have been organised by a group of unions and community organisations joining together to bring you a fun, fast and furious evening of political debate.

There’s a serious side to this as well. Candidates will be asked the hard questions on welfare, public services, inequality and more.

Please come along by going to the Facebook event and inviting your friends in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Invercargill to join in too.

The issues: Welfare, inequality and a living wage | public services, health and early childhood education | disabled people’s issues | caring work | ACC

The format: Party spokespeople will have 2 minutes each to answer questions on these topics.

The venues:

West Auckland – Tues 8 November, 7pm. Kelston Community Centre, cnr Great North & Awaroa Rds. MC’d by Jeremy Elwood. Labour candidate – Carmel Sepuloni

Wellington – Wed 9 November, 5.30pm. St John’s on Willis St. MC’d by Ian Harcourt. Labour candidate – Grant Robertson

Invercargill – Wed 9 November, 7pm. Lindisfarne Community Centre. MC’d by Darren Ludlow. Labour candidate – Lesley Soper

Auckland Central – Tues 15 November, 7pm. Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn. MC’d by Michele A’Court. Labour candidate – Jacinda Ardern

Hamilton – Wed 16 November, 5pm. YWCA, 28 Pembroke St. MC’d by Jeremy Elwood. Labour Candidate – Sue Moroney

Filed under: ACC, disabilities, education, health, inequality, public services
9 Comments

Nek Minnit National – Students’ Associations

Posted by Trevor Mallard on November 4th, 2011

These are great – will keep putting up

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Filed under: education
16 Comments

English defends community education

Posted by David Shearer on November 1st, 2011

The government cut funding to Adult Community Education in 2009. The number of schools being funded fell from 212 to just 23. More than 150,000 New Zealanders who once attended night school now don’t have the opportunity. Great swathes of NZ no longer have schools offering courses as they once did.

The enormous value of community education was acknowledged by Bill English in 2005, while Education Spokesperson. He warned of the bureaucrats who wanted to take it away.

Here’s the first few lines and last paragraph of a speech he gave :

Community education has a long and honourable history. I recall my mother going off to night time classes in furniture restoration, a quiet space in the busy life of a household of 12 children. In a painting class I visited a few years ago a man told about how the tutor had changed his life by challenging him, teaching him and making him finish the picture. He described how he had become part of a warm community. There are thousands of stories about how human needs are met by the collective and aspirational activity of learning.

A great and warm story, experiences that many of us have also discovered … until a year or two ago that is. Now those sorts of tales are thin on the ground. All for saving $13.5 million.

Here’s how he finishes:

I support community based less formal learning opportunities. I want to work with you to retain the funding arrangement that allowed community learning to be so successful for so long, and develop new mechanisms with the same qualities if your needs can be better met. In the end community learning should be driven by the community. It is not enough just to engage your organisations in consultation. You need the authority to make the decisions that make a difference to the community and the people you know. I want to make sure you have it.

He didn’t stop Tolley putting in the boot, despite being Finance Minister. Pity he didn’t reflect on those warm memories then.

Filed under: Skills, Tertiary education, education
10 Comments

John Key and National want 100% of kids above average

Posted by Trevor Mallard on October 30th, 2011

National Party

100 per cent

Most of us know that we are amongst the leading group of OECD countries for education results.

Most of us are not satisfied and want improvement. That’s why Labour spent tens of millions of dollars financing the development of the world leading aSStle assessment system. Since abandoned by the Nats.

aSStle had a vital post assessment component. It suggested next steps for the kid. It didn’t matter whether they were average, in the top 10% or in the so called tail. It allowed us to push all kids.

Now under National standards we have a system where the standards are so low Key and the National Party expect every kid to pass.

If a standard is that low it is not worth having.

Filed under: education
21 Comments

Restoring the Refugee Study Grant

Posted by Grant Robertson on October 15th, 2011

In Labour’s tertiary education policy announced by David Shearer earlier this week was a small, but very important commitment from Labour. If elected to government we will restore the Refugee Study Grant. This grant was canned by the National Government in the 2009 Budget with effect from this year. When I was Tertiary Education Spokesperson for a while I met several people who had greatly benefited from the grant, and I am so pleased that we have committed to restoring it.

What the grant has provided is support for refugees mainly for bridging courses or other courses to meet pre-requisites. While as permanent residents refugees can access student loans, many need support to get to the level to be able to undertake tertiary study. Not having the support can mean that opportunities are missed and refugees dont get the kick start that can allow them to achieve their potential.

Mohammed Amri is one example. He was one of the Tampa boat boys. A bright guy, but with little experience of English or learning in a New Zealand environment, who took language, reading and writing skill courses that got him his start on the way to a degree. Another example is a young woman I met, who’s story is included in the publication by Changemakers Refugee Forum as part of their campaign to see refugees recognised as an equity group. She was 19 and still at school here trying to catch up with her peers. She did well, but was not ready to do tertiary study. She was losing motivation for school, doing long hours working at a supermarket, acting as an interpreter for her family, and wanted to get on with her life. She accessed the refugee study grant, got the support to lift her literacy skills, understand the pecularities of New Zealand langauge, and gain entry to a degree at Victoria University. She’s doing really well.

All of this came from a fund that used about $1.3 million a year. In the grand scheme of the Budget, not that much. But it was a lower priority for National in that particular Budget than extra funding for private schools. I am really proud that Labour is saying we will give some extra support to people who have had to flee their homes, who have endured hardship, so that they may achieve their potential, have a fair go at owning their future, and fully contribute to our society. Its the right thing to do.

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Filed under: Tertiary education, education, human rights, students
2 Comments

A note to those who supported VSM

Posted by David Shearer on October 13th, 2011

Massey Unniversity has responded to the Voluntary Student Membership Act by increasing its fees next year by an amount about equivalent to that paid by students to their Student Associations.

Just to note:
- it seems like the fees are compulsory
- the government will have a big say on what the increase can be used for – not even the university
- it looks like students through their association may be able to negotiate with the university about what services are kept – but no guarantees
- it’s likely to be the model that will spread across NZ – I was in Waikato University yesterday and they are looking at something similar

So all those who backed VSM will still pay the same, but you won’t have any real say about how your money is spent – even less if you decide not to belong to the student association. Taxation without representation it’s called.

And now you don’t even get the choice of a referendum.
What was wrong with an opt-out clause and accountability around association spending as we suggested?

Well done. Everyone loses.

Filed under: Tertiary education, education, students, young labour, youth
25 Comments

Labour’s Tertiary policy announced

Posted by David Shearer on October 10th, 2011

We have just put out Labour’s tertiary policy. It follows on the big effort that we’ve made to lift skills in our workforce. No need to remind people that times are tough and it’s tough getting any new money. But I think we’ve got a pretty solid mix here that will make a difference.

The key aim is produce the best graduates we can – and keep them in NZ – to help us grow a smart, high-value economy.

The policy has some specifics targetting some of our smartest. It puts back the post-doctoral scholarships for scientists who finished their PhDs that was canned last year. This is critical for not only keeping our best here and giving them time to consolidate their studies, but bringing some of our best back. After all, we’ve already invested massively in these people.

We’ve also put additional funding aside for funding our very best where they are world beating. The ‘brilliant scientist’ concept is simple – give sufficient funding to our best scientists and academics to employ the staff they want, buy equipment they need and then let them get on with it. Smart people attract others – from around the world. Backing our best with resources will grow expertise in core areas where our talent is top shelf. And we DO have some fantastic talent. Those researchers will receive funds personally and are free to choose the NZ institution – or business – where they want to set up.

Other parts of the policy: we must maintain and raise the levels of our universities. Recent results show we are slipping in the world rankings and there’s little doubt that funding is a key part. We run universities that are some of the most efficient in the world, where an extra dollar can really make a difference. Our policy maintains our level by inflation proofing our universities and sets our commitment to increase it.

We need to maintain the affordability of our tertiary institutions so all NZers that reach the standard can access a high quality tertiary education, no matter what background they come from. There’s aspects in the policy here for that too, fixing tuition increases at 4% and restoring $2 million to the Training Incentive Allowance to give a lift to those who want to get a tertiary education – solo mums for example – to get some support. Remember this is the one that helped Paula Bennett before this government axed it.

And we’ve put back the money for adult and community education. Cutting $13.5 million and collapsing it was a travesty. More than 150,000 people no longer access night schools who once did. This is a no-brainer for people wanting to get back into learning.

Filed under: Skills, Tertiary education, education, students, workforce, young labour
26 Comments

Allan Peachey

Posted by Trevor Mallard on October 5th, 2011

Allan Peachey has announced his retirement.

His health battles have been pretty obvious and he has made the call that he might not live through the next term of Parliament.

Allan and I had some famous battles when he was Principal of Rangitoto College, the country’s biggest school. He used school funds to lease a box at the local stadium and was a very public fan of bulk funding.

While we disagreed it was always clear that he ran a good school and worked in the best interest of students.

When he came to Parliament this approach continued. For a period he had the best technical knowledge of the administration of schools and often offered very valuable advice. I sat for a year on the select committtee he chaired. He did it well and fairly. While never forgetting his party he gave the opposition their say and adopted appropriate amendments where they helped legislation no matter who suggested them. He would have been a good Minister. Much better than the current Minister.

So I’m sorry he is going. Very sorry that he is so sick. I have offered to facilitate a valedictory and while it is unlikely that he will take up the offer I hope he will.

He deserves to say goodbye.

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Filed under: education, national
11 Comments

National MP Opposes VSM Bill

Posted by Grant Robertson on September 28th, 2011

Here is a video taken of Michael Woodhouse at a public forum at Otago University in July. He quite clearly states that he is opposed to the Bill in its current form (ie the form that it is in right now). Today, in the Third Reading Michael Woodhouse and other National MPs will vote to pass the Bill into law.

Michael also goes on to assure people that the Bill in its current form won’t pass into law this year. I have heard from other students that is the same commitment they got from other National MPs. This was misleading students and the National MPs should be ashamed of themselves. They heard the evidence at the Select Committee, and they know that tertiary institutions do not want the Bill, the vast majority of other submitters do not want the Bill, but they are still supporting the ideological crusade of their crumbling coalition partner.

Michael also suggests that Labour should promote the ‘opt out’ compromise solution. We did. It was rejected by ACT and National.

So the question for Michael Woodhouse (and other National MPs) is, why will he vote to pass a Bill today that he does not support and that he knows will destroy student services and advocacy?

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Filed under: Tertiary education, education, national, students
23 Comments

Students will lose, but still pay

Posted by David Shearer on September 26th, 2011

ACT and National will push voluntary student association bill through parliament this week on the last Members Day. We can expect a good deal of student opposition around the country. Good for them.

Next year, students won’t pay any fees to student associations. That’s inevitable, would you pay your council rates if they were voluntary? Wherever student associations have become voluntary they effectively collapsed.

What happens next?

Well, the university, polytech or institution will step in, charge students a levy, and continue some of the services through subcontracting companies or students to do it for them. It’s already been gazetted (NZ Gazette No. 138). Institutions can charge students for: advocacy and legal advice, careers advice and guidance, counselling services, employment information, financial support and advice, health servieces, childcare facilities, sports and recreation facilities.

In other words, all the stuff that supports students and makes these institutions of learning vital, interesting places.

So, voluntary student association membership will result in … money taken off students compulsorily, leaving them with no power to determine what services are kept. Taxation without representation is one way it can be represented.

The National-Act spin that student associations are the last bastions of compulsory unionism is bollocks … it’s idealogy pure and simple.

We could’ve had a good, enduring Bill with an opt out clause and some rules around accountability of student association spending. I’d spoken a number of times with Heather Roy about some possibilities. She was willing to compromise when she her Bill looked in doubt but held the hard line when she thought she’d get it through.

Too bad, fortunately it won’t last long.

Filed under: Tertiary education, Uncategorized, education, students, youth
61 Comments

Putting Kids First

Posted by Sue Moroney on September 17th, 2011

This week I had the privilege of announcing Labour’s plan to lift achievement in primary schools – or more accurately, years 1-8. We called it “Reaching for the Stars – Whakamaua Nga Whetu” and it spells out the way forward from the debacle that is National’s national standards.

Our policy ensures that parents get plain language information they require on their child’s achievement, progress and next learning steps without schools having the flawed national standards imposed on them. Labour will require schools to use recognised assessment tools and teacher judgement to assess children against the celebrated NZ Curriculum. Simple really – no major drama.

Meanwhile, the Government has resorted to having the Ministry write national standard targets for the non-compliant schools. So much for self-managing schools! As we speak, those school boards are now being threatened with the sack if they return those charters to the Ministry with the words “under duress” on them. This Government seems determined to go to war with the education sector, rather than work with them to get good outcomes. As Labour’s policy shows, its all so unnecessary.

It is telling that Mrs Tolley hasnt been able to work out how to attack our policy. She started off with ” the policy is written by the unions,” but then changed tack later on to say it was a “watered down version of national standards.” Of course, neither is true – but the contradiction in her statements demonstrates how Crosby Textor are struggling to find the attack line on our policy. Which all adds up to it being just more great policy from Labour.

I prefer for our educators and school boards to be focused on providing excellent education for our children, than going to war with the Ministry of Education. Labour’s policy lets them get on with the job, while making sure parents are kept in the loop too. After all, we know that our kids’ education thrives when parents and teachers work in partnership.

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Filed under: Teachers, children, education, students
52 Comments

oh dear another bad day for the nats

Posted by Trevor Mallard on September 7th, 2011

For those without high or even medium-speed broadband, the Hansard is below: (more…)

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Filed under: Play of the Day, education
24 Comments

In praise of… the ’school secretary’

Posted by Grant Robertson on September 2nd, 2011

IMG00185-20110902-1101

Actually the title of this post is wrong. The person we used to call “the secretary” at our local school is now rightly given other titles such as Office Administrator or School Administrator. But even those don’t capture the role that they play in the running of schools and the well-being of the staff and students.

This morning I attended the farewell for Anne Young (pictured above) the long time Office Administrator at Cardinal McKeefry School in Wellington. Anne has been the friendly welcoming face of the school for many years, and right from when I met her I always felt welcomed and included when I visited the school. As I looked around the room at her farewell today I saw all kind of representatives from the community for whom Anne is their window to the school- from the bank, the contractors, other schools, parents, staff and of course the kids.

A couple of years ago when NZEI were running their support staff pay campaign I listened to some administrators detail the scope of their work. It was vast, but they all seemed to know that the ultimate reason for them being at work was the kids. At every school I visit the office staff have a great feel for the schools and the needs of children. I have observed them playing the role of counsellor, mentor, friend, shoulder to cry on and general supporters of a range of kids. They know them, keep an eye on them and notice all the ups and downs.

Schools simply could not run without the likes of Anne. From making sure the bills get paid to making sure the kids are looked after, they are a key part of our school communities. The jobs do not pay anything like what they should, so I thank them all for their service. All the best to Anne in her retirement, but also to all the school secretaries/administrators/whatever you are called, thank you for what you do.

Filed under: education, students, wellington
17 Comments

Pickets for the Prime Minister in Botany

Posted by Raymond Huo on August 26th, 2011
Chao-Fu with Chairman of Asian Anti-Crime Group Peter Low

Chao-Fu with Chairman of Asian Anti-Crime Group Peter Low

As Prime Minister John Key enjoyed the hospitality at the Pakuranga Country Club yesterday, Labour Candidate for Botany Chao-Fu Wu joined hordes of locals who displayed their strong opposition to Thurston Place College through a picket demonstration.

The community is outraged that proper consultation has not taken place and that plans to build Thurston Place College continued despite the strong community opposition to the development.

Chao-Fu Wu proved to be a people’s candidate yesterday. He was on the front-lines representing the community and joining with them as they tried their best to make John Key understand their concerns.

The community have spoken loud and clear that they believe in a fair and transparent consultation process, yet this isn’t happening. Education Minister Anne Tolley has failed to give an assurance that consultation will be carried out independent to the Ministry of Education.

Chao Fu-Wu told me that while joining locals in the picket line, they told him that their basic democratic rights as citizens have been ignored:

When you put up a fence, you consult your neighbours; that’s basic common-sense and respect. The local resident’s deserve that same respect and have their concerns recognised.

The picket display on Thursday night was a good demonstration of the overwhelming opposition and concern from local residents. The government should not ignore these strong messages from the community.

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Filed under: asian, education
101 Comments

A Report on Progress

Posted by Grant Robertson on August 4th, 2011

Anyone tuning into Parliament yesterday afternoon and evening may have had a bit of trouble working out quite what was going on, and a few people have been in touch to ask, so, to coin a phrase, here is a report on progress.

Yesterday was Members Day, which happens every second Wednesday when we consider Private Members, Local and Private Bills ( ie not the government’s legislative programme). We began the day with further consideration by the Committee of the Whole House (what Parliament calls itself when it is debating each clause or part of a bill) of the Royal Society Bill. As those who watch Parliament closely will know this Bill is in my name, but is a Private Bill to update the Royal Society Act to reflect some changes they have made to the way they operate. It is fair to say this Bill has been getting a lot of attention in recent months!

Early in the debate Heather Roy moved that the House report progress on the Bill. This is a provision of standing orders that allows debate on a bill to stop for that day and for the Bill to be set down for further discussion the next day. With the support of National this motion was passed, effectively shutting down debate and seeing us move to the next Bill, the hotly debated Voluntary Student Association Membership Bill in Heather’s name.

What followed was some procedural argy-bargy as to whether and how a motion to report progress can be used. This included a few appearances by the Speaker to clarify points of order. The Speaker acknowledged that the use of the provision was something that needed the attention of the Standing Orders Committee, but gave an interim Speakers Ruling that said that a motion to report progress could only be put as the Committee of the Whole considered a new clause or part. ( I bet you are glad you know that!).

I know the procedural argy-bargy can look a bit unedifying, but it is, and always has been, part and parcel of Parliament. There are a lot of rules and precedents, and as seen today all sides use them from time to time.

In any case we went on to the VSM Bill, and some fairly vigorous exchanges. Labour strongly opposes this legislation, because we believe it is an ideological attempt to kill of student associations, and in fact it actually reduces the choice of student associations to decide their own destiny. For me student associations are like local government. Enrolling as a student makes you part of a community, and the student association is the organisation that helps govern that community. You can read more of Labour’s position here and in our minority report on page 5 of here.

I do not apologise for fighting hard to stop VSM. I really think it will be detrimental to students, and their welfare, and to tertiary institutions. I have always felt if you believe passionately in something you have to be prepared to fight for it.

The House rose with the Committee debating Clause 9, the final clause of the Bill. That means we have not yet completed the Committee stages. One confusion to clear up, completing Committee stages does not mean the Bill has passed. That comes with a Third Reading, a two hour debate that will occur after the Committee stages are completed, and can not be on the same day as the Committee stages are completed.

Hope that helps. The next Members Day is the 17th of August. Tune in for another exciting installment.

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Filed under: education, parliament, students
50 Comments

education leaders speak

Posted by Trevor Mallard on July 27th, 2011

Sir John Graham and John Taylor have a great column in the Herald today.

It is about creating far more respect and dignity among our teaching profession so that it can once again become the desirable and satisfying career which attracted us into it many years ago. It is about reinforcing the importance of inspiring students through their teachers’ passions for the subjects they teach, as well as the thrill of seeing another side of difficult students through their extracurricular talents.

Most importantly, it is about promoting a sea change from excessively boring, mechanistic and assessment-driven teaching, to the celebration of whole subject expertise, the inculcation of good values, and the importance of all round student involvement beyond the classroom.

I’ve worked closely with these guys in the past. They are seen as being at the conservative end of the principal spectrum but both ran very good schools. Respected by staff and students. While there are a few matters of emphasis that we would differ on this is a damn fine column.

I especially agree with their view that subject fragmentation and over assessment together lead to a major problem that we must address.

And yes I’m prepared to take responsibility for more than half of what has happened in education in the past twelve years.

Filed under: Teachers, education
20 Comments

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