Posted by: PPTAweb
on 23, Nov, 2011
Tagged in:
Tomorrow's Schools ,
teaching ,
teachers ,
students ,
student achievement ,
secondary schools ,
public education ,
professional learning and development ,
National Party Education Policy ,
Mrs Tolley ,
league tables ,
elections ,
education politics ,
Christchurch schools ,
Anne Tolley
Dear Anne
I have just read your party education policy. This letter is written in disappointment that National Party education policy can so blithely ignore the best evidence in education research and policy, and dismay that you appear not to have heard the education hopes, dreams and aspirations that teachers have for their students.
National takes credit for all improvements in the education sector over the past three years; some achievements - such as retention rates in school, are unlikely to have been influenced by National education policy, others are simply manipulations such as 'employed 1600 more teachers"; shuffling funding from one education area to another doesn't double it; league tables encourage some particularly unpleasant uncooperative competitive behaviours so how on earth can your policy blithely state "ensure schools make the most of their facilities and resources and they collaborate rather than compete with each other" or does this only apply to Canterbury?
We'd like you to know that all actual improvements in the secondary education sector can be attributed to school communities, the hard work of parents, boards, students, teachers and, most importantly, quality teaching.
Posted by: PPTAweb
on 21, Jul, 2011
Tagged in:
teaching ,
teachers ,
students ,
secondary schools ,
professional learning and development ,
profession ,
Principals ,
Ministry of Education ,
equity ,
education spending ,
education politics ,
change
The first sentence was too long to Tweet :) - so I thought I'd blog.
At the MIT seminar Mon/Tues there were comments that the secondary sector is 'change averse', this wasn't intended as a compliment, ... although it could be.
Being change averse can be an entirely appropriate strategy when unproven initiatives are constantly being thrown at you in an environment of continuous policy churn.
Posted by: Winged Avenger
on 03, Aug, 2010
Was Mrs Tolley starting to learn something about her portfolio?
For a moment it appeared that someone was listening...
PLD is highly valued by teachers and principals – and rightly so. Suddenly it's appeared on the government's list of things to do. Are they really listening? Is Mrs Tolley learning?
Nope.
Once again the government is adopting a once over lightly approach that smells strongly of tokenism.
MOE doesn’t have the staffing to offer this service? That’s not surprising given its regional focus on property and finance. Schools are businesses; principals are CEOs. Now, get on with it: sell your brand and balance your books.
