Posted by: Michael James Stevenson
on 01, Oct, 2012
From 26 to 28 September 2012, I had the privilege of accompanying the inspirational Karran Harper - Royal during her visit to Ōtautahi (Christchurch).
Karran is a public education advocate and Hurricane Katrina survivor from New Orleans.
Christchurch was an obvious destination for Karran to visit while in New Zealand and warn the community about the attacks on public education they can expect as government attempts to find cost effective (cheaper) ways of rebuilding education after a natural disaster. In New Orleans, the federal government did this by introducing charter schools. In doing so, parents lost their democratic right to elect local education boards.
Originally, I was going to write this post as a diary of Karran's many appointments and meetings in Christchurch, but over two and half days there were simply too many to write a full narrative in this forum. So, instead, I will be reflecting on two important points I discovered during Karran's visit to earthquake devastated Christchurch - School choice and democracy in education.
Karran Harper-Royal warns the Unlimited staff not to follow the New Orleans experience of education reform.
Posted by: Tom Haig
on 01, Jul, 2012
The Charter School Working Group before it turns on itself? (aka King Ghidora, the three headed monster. http://www.giantbomb.com/king-ghidorah/94-4763/)
The charter school initiative has thrown together an unlikely and uneasy alliance. Three distinct ideologies can be discerned amongst the members of the charter school working group, and how these interact will have a major bearing on the final model that is decided on, or whether or not they can decide on one at all.
Posted by:
on 25, May, 2012
Tagged in:
vouchers ,
teachers ,
students ,
school choice ,
John Banks ,
education politics ,
charters ,
charter schools ,
Charter school working group ,
Catherine Isaac ,
ACT Party
Am just home from a Great Night Out!
I would have paid for such an entertaining evening.
We knew that it wouldn't be an ordinary debate when the "chair", Associate Prof. Peter O'Connor from Auckland Uni, nailed his anti-charters colours to the mast in the first few minutes. He later apologised that "the Minister of Education couldn't be here tonight; he had obligations in his Epsom electorate".
Posted by: PPTAweb
on 18, May, 2012
Tagged in:
Tomorrow's Schools ,
school choice ,
public education ,
privatisation ,
John Banks ,
education spending ,
education politics ,
charters ,
charter schools ,
Charter school working group ,
Catherine Isaac ,
ACT Party ,
ACT
The New Zealand Charter School Working Group tell us they are looking for a New Zealand model of charter schooling.
They tell us they need to do this because what charter schooling 'is' differs around the world.
The 'charter school' model does differ in the US, the UK, and Sweden, BUT in one fundamental aspect charter schools are the same - they privatise public education and privatise public tax dollars.
Posted by: Cynic
on 08, May, 2012
Tagged in:
school choice ,
research ,
private schools ,
politics ,
Maori achievement ,
John Banks ,
charters ,
charter schools ,
Charter school working group ,
Catherine Isaac ,
ACT Party
Charter schools - New Zealand education for sale - - you can buy anonymously 
it's a captive market, guaranteed income from the taxpayer and regulation free, ... sign up here.
'I can be objective' says Isaac - and my appointment is not political
Well tie me to an anthill and smear my ears with jam! I just couldn't maintain my zen listening to Catherine Isaac on Native Affairs. Cynic is back.
Have a listen to this paragon of virtue on Native Affairs and then tell me she's objective.
