Posted by: Observer
on 27, Aug, 2012
There have been more charter school meetings in the last week - one in Auckland and one in Wellington. The message that is being sent to Banks and Isaac is that people don’t want these opportunistic interlopers in their communities.
Posted by: Observer
on 20, Jul, 2012
First we have that old neo-liberal reprobate, Gary Hawke, who is responsible for the high-fees, hopelessly competitive tertiary system NZ is stuck with, being allowed to set the ideological agenda for schools via the minister's cross-sector "forum" and now look at this - the NZ charter school group gets to instruct ministry officials about what propaganda it wants in cabinet papers.
"10.30 Review of draft Cabinet paper (From minutes of June 25th meeting)
Members reviewed the revised draft of the first Cabinet paper on the New Zealand model of charter school, and provided comment for inclusion by the Secretariat.
Members commented that the Cabinet paper lacked clarity around the case for charter schools, with more focus needed on charter schools being a new approach to working with the Government’s identified target groups, and an opportunity for innovation. More meaningful context around the financial implications was also required.
Posted by: Observer
on 09, Dec, 2011
My feeling is that charter schools will be a defining issue for New Zealanders just like the tour was in the 1980s (now where was that nice Johnny Key on the issue – that’s right, he can’t remember …) and the bulk funding disputes of the 1990s. The sides are lining up and the side of the angels is clearly the opposing one. Even the Teachers’ Council has bravely (bravely because it is a crown entity) put out a release saying the introduction of American charter schools needs to be treated with some circumspection. And then there was this wonderful piece from the Wellington Wairarapa School Trustees Association (WSTA) calling on the government to put “the public” back into public education.
Posted by: Observer
on 08, Dec, 2011
.
“You would think that, being far behind our competitors, we would be looking hard at how they are managing to outperform us. But many policymakers, business leaders, educators and advocates are not interested. Instead, they are confidently barreling down a path of American exceptionalism, insisting that America is so different from these other nations that we are better off embracing unique, unproven solutions that our foreign competitors find bizarre.”
We in NZ know just what you mean Marc!
Posted by: Observer
on 07, Dec, 2011
Tamaki that is. What's the bet that Destiny Church was tipped the wink that there were going to be education tax dollars flowing into the collection plate once "honest John" got his feet under the table. Tamaki already had an application in for the taxpayers to buy Destiny an integrated school but now this is a much easier way to get into the public coffers. Bring the money grubbers into the temple!
