PPTA News is the newsletter of the New Zealand Post Primary Teachers' Association / Te Wehengarua (PPTA).

PPTA News, volume 31 number 3, April 2010

Table of Contents
Presidents viewpoint - The price to choose p.3;
"Short-sighted" decision not irreversible (Select Committee discusses ACE) p.4;
Claiming quality (Members vote on claims package) p.5;
Education in NZ: good ideas, no strategy (Ben Levin on education in NZ) p.6;
Building healthier school communities p.7:
Polyfest on top of the world p.7;
PPPs: are they the next taxpayer rip-off? p.8-9;
Setting the standards (ICT achievement standards) p.10;
Pink shirt day - make a stand against bullying in schools p.11;
Award helps teacher "sell" science to students (Paul Lowe) p.12;
Get it in writing from the outset (Field officer advice - appointments) p.14;

Download the April 2010 issue of the PPTA News

Published in the PPTA News April 2010 Claiming quality p.5 (pdf download)

New Zealand Post Primary Teachers' Association / Te Wehengarua (PPTA) members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of an STCA claim that focuses on high quality, well resourced public education.

Paid union meetings (PUMs) were held throughout the country last month with 97% of those who voted backing the claim, PPTA president Kate Gainsford said. The proposal covers four areas – student and teacher learning conditions, professional support for teachers, remuneration and good employment conditions. It included a base scale increase of 4% for a one-year term and improvements to targeted allowances, and had widespread member support, Kate said.

Secondary teaching as a first choice career

“It’s about maintaining the value of the secondary teacher’s job. Our teachers are part of a global market and we need to ensure secondary teaching is a first choice career,” she said.

Kiwisaver increase to match Teachers' Retirement Savings Scheme (now closed to new members)

It is also proposed to seek an additional 1% employer contribution for teachers in Kiwisaver – to bring it in line with the 3% contribution of the Teachers’ Retirement Savings Scheme, which was closed with the introduction of Kiwisaver.

Reduce class sizes to no more than 30 students

Other proposals include a reduction in class sizes to no more than 30 students (or no more than 24 in practical classes where there are hazards present), greater professional support for teachers and safer working environments. Free immunisation against contagious diseases and the provision of laptops to all teachers as basic tools of the job have also been requested in the claim.

“We want all teachers to be able to concentrate on providing the best learning environment for their students.”

PPTA News, volume 31 number 2, March 2010

Table of contents

Presidents viewpoint - Step change and the national standards chimera p.3;
dimming.co.nz p.4;
March paid union meetings (PUMs) p.5;
What to do when the police come knocking p.6;
Who you gonna call? p.7;
Professional emotional support p.8;
Holding fire p.9;
NZQA sets new rules for further assessment p.9;
Shared belief in a fair deal for students p.10;
ACC cut anyway p.11;
Seeing red: pay disparity unacceptable p.11;
The simplest question in the book (resigning) p.13;
ACE collective agreement still applies p.13.

Download the March 2010 issue of the PPTA News

Rehash of tired clichés?

PPTA News February 2010 p. 7

A secretive group has been working behind the scenes as part of the National/ACT confidence and supply agreement to promote greater privatisation in education.

The brief for the Inter-Party Working Group for School Choice is to “consider and report on policy options relating to the funding and regulation of schools that will increase parental choice and school autonomy”.

PPTA president Kate Gainsford believes the outcomes are predetermined.

“It will be nothing but a rehash of the tired clichés about choice and privatisation that ACT pedals in lieu of an education policy,” she said.

The group comprises Roger Douglas, Chester Borrows, Hekia Parata, Te Ururoa Flavell and Heather Roy as chair.

“The detail of the sweeping and self-interested changes to education they recommend remain to be seen,” Kate said.