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.
Posted by: PPTAweb
on 01, Mar, 2012
Tagged in:
school choice ,
research ,
Onehunga High School ,
National Party Education Policy ,
John Banks ,
education politics ,
Don Brash ,
Christchurch schools ,
charters ,
charter schools ,
ACT Party
Back in December 2011 John Banks announced that Onehunga High School is a charter school.
This was a surprise to Onehunga High School, it is not a charter school and neither is Bairds Road Intermediate.
We thought John, our Associate Minister of Education, might have taken the time to research this model and find out a bit more over Christmas ... but it seems not .....
Posted by: PPTAweb
on 09, Feb, 2012
Tagged in:
teaching ,
teachers ,
students ,
research ,
privatisation ,
PPTA ,
MOE ,
Ministry of Education ,
John Banks ,
Hekia Parata ,
Class size ,
ACT Party
Everyone seems to be back to their 'usual' lives. Teachers and students back at school, workers back at work, including me, so that means update the blog - as no elves updated it for me during my own summer(?) break.
Politicians are back prevaricating and obfusticating and some of their advisors advice appears to do the same. The announcements on charter schools, and class size - and the Ministry of Education briefing to the incoming Minister - are depressing examples.
So to advice from Bertrand Russell and the Skepticblog and referenced in the title of this blog - don't take people's (politicians in particular) word and check everything twice:
Posted by: Observer
on 07, Dec, 2011
...Tamihere, who has said the Waipareira Trust will take the money and set up a charter school. Ye gods! This is a man who was dismissed from cabinet for saying he was tired of hearing complaints from Jews about the Holocaust and for referring to women as "front-bums". He was investigated by the SFO about a missing $100,000 (though no charges were laid) and then there was the matter of the $195,000 golden handshake from Waipareira on which no tax was paid. At the time, the ACT Party was the loudest voice in demanding his sacking but now we are all mates together it seems. Kiwiblog too was baying for his blood back then but you can be sure all is forgiven now. As they say, there is honour amongst thieves.
In the world inhabited by John Banks and John Key, Tamihere probably passes for a paragon of virtue but surely the New Zealand public will not think he is a fitting person to be in charge of either young people or public money?
