Posted by: PPTAweb
on 15, Mar, 2013
Will this happen in NZ?
Could New Zealand schools be forced to face a similar situation to this UK school?
Could NZ schools be forced out of community and parent control to become part of an overseas owned charter school franchise?
Posted by: PPTAweb
on 07, Mar, 2013
On Friday John Banks announced that he had appointed the board to approve applications for charter schools.
The chair of the board is charter school working group chairwoman and former Act president Catherine Isaac.
This despite the fact the charter school working group has never produced a public report on why New Zealand should consider this education model.
This despite the fact that the Education and Science Select Committee has not reported back to parliament on the legislation.
This despite the thousands of informed submissions from New Zealanders of all persuasions that express serious concerns, about the effect on our children and our education system, should charter schools be introduced.
Recently I came across an oral submission to the Social Services Select Committee, from Caritas, on the Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill.
I can relate - to the sense of despair and loss of democratic process in New Zealand - and quote:
"In 25 years of making submissions , I have never felt more disillusioned and discouraged about participating in the Select Committee process. The role of the Select Committee is not simply to rubberstamp decisions of the Executive, or to provide some kind of legal proofreading of minor details of legislation
Constitutionally the role of the Legislature is to oversee the power of the Executive branch of Government. In a country without an Upper House of Parliament or the judicial oversight of legislation, this Select Committee process provides the one of the on ly opportunities we have in Aotearoa New Zealand for formal review of policy and legislation. This is a significant duty that you have taken on.
Caritas does not expect our arguments and perspectives to prevail each time we are invited to write or speak to you. We recognise we are participating in a democratic process, in which a plurality of opinions, perspectives and experiences shape and determine policy and legislation.
However, we do not expect to feel that the contribution we make is simply incidental to the real process of decision making." |
And so as citizens of New Zealand, voters and taxpayers, as an organisation that represents thousands of teachers - like Caritas we can only ask "If anyone is still interested in seeking our advice on having their voices heard, what do you think we should tell them?"
Posted by: PPTAweb
on 25, Feb, 2013
The people who want our children to have charter schools had a little get together in the weekend. They are called the ACT party - not polling very well - but the current government seem to quite like some of their ideas.
Posted by: PPTAweb
on 21, Feb, 2013
The Teachers Council made their submission to the Education and Science select committee yesterday.
" Teachers Council chair Alison McAlpine said most, if not all, parents want their children taught by trained and registered teachers.
Mrs McAlpine said a substantial body of international evidence supports the importance of high-quality teachers."
Posted by: PPTAweb
on 14, Feb, 2013
Hekia Parata New Zealand Minister of Education drew attention to her reply to Metiria Turei's (Green party co-leader) question in the house yesterday, via a tweet this morning.
