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.
Posted by: PPTAweb
on 11, Feb, 2013
Horror stories, especially those that bring ghouls back from the shadows of the underworld, are popular with some people. Others prefer to rob a grave or three and dig up the skeletons of bad ideas.
The 'Bulk funding' spectre is one bad idea recently dug up by Ministry of Education wonks - and hinted at by lurking Treasury boffins - as a solution to 'teachers'.
Some of ACTs shades have even suggested taking the spectre of Novopay that one step further to the full chaos of bulk funding.
Posted by: PPTAweb
on 21, Nov, 2012
Dear Ms Longstone,
Some of us who have been involved in educating students for many decades in NZ cannot understand the recent attack on NZ's education system.
It is obvious you have been appointed by some who feel that you can make some progress in bringing NZers to heel as this government is not prepared to spend money on education.
The comments by Education Ministry CEO Lesley Longstone that the NZ education system is not world class were not made in a vacuum.
The comments come in the wake of imposed policies on (a) national standards (b) charter schools and (c) the abortive attempt to increase class sizes – all of which run counter to the equity outcomes that Longstone now professes to be dead keen on promoting.
I think we can add the attack on struggling Christchurch schools to this list.
Unlike England, many members of this government and perhaps some of your advisers, NZers have a long history of egalitarianism.
To attack the fact that you say education is not equitable for all in NZ, when our education has unfailingly demonstrated its robustness even under the extreme attacks from governments is folly on your part. No-one believes you for a moment.
Just as in England, public school educated people feel that their education system is the best ever, so do most kiwis.
