Education Archive

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  Schools should appoint their own principals - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  I am concerned by media reports that the Ministry of Education is considering taking off boards of trustees the role of hiring their school’s principal. Rumours about such a significant proposal should not be swirling around in the media without a confirmation or denial from the Ministry. School boards and parents should be formally notified [...] read more
  December 19, 2011 7:42 pm - 9 Comments
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  Childcare changes typical of Govt’s anti-child approach - by Metiria Turei

  
  
  
  Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has realised that if you’re going to work-test sole parents and force them into low-paid jobs when their children are six (or younger), someone’s going to have to look after the kids. read more
  October 3, 2011 4:39 pm - 6 Comments
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  When is civil disobedience justified? - by frog

  
  
  
  Dave Kennedy is the Green Party’s candidate for the Invercargill electorate. He has worked as a primary teacher for 30 years. Dave has his own blog site, which is well worth a regular read. I’ve decided this insightful post by Dave yesterday on how we have reached the stage that at least a quarter of schools are refusing to comply with Education Minister Anne Tolley’s National Standards deserves republishing here in full: read more
  August 18, 2011 9:04 am - 36 Comments
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  National Standards rural resistance - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Last week, I attended a meeting on National Standards in a small town in the Waikato. It was a cold Thursday evening but about 50 parents and teachers and the three candidates for the Coromandel electorate had a chance to hear Professor Martin Thrupp report from his current research on National Standards in schools. Martin [...] read more
  August 17, 2011 12:07 pm - 3 Comments
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  60,000 people are not wrong about cuts to early childhood education - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The 60,000 strong early childhood education (ECE) petition presented to Parliament this week represents a heartfelt message to the Government to invest in the best for our youngest citizens. read more
  July 15, 2011 12:06 pm - 12 Comments
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  Gifted Awareness Week - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  This week is Gifted Awareness Week – a week when we celebrate the incredible talents of young citizens who have so much to offer the country. read more
  June 16, 2011 9:27 am - 31 Comments
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  Miramar South School – Low Decile and High Quality - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  As the debate rages about the proposed merger of two Miramar schools I want to challenge the perception that these schools have a lower quality of education, teaching staff and student behaviour. For the past two years I have been a proud supporter of activities at Miramar South School, presenting books to students and attending [...] read more
  May 31, 2011 10:22 am - 2 Comments
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  National Standards – fake it till you make it? - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Some school principals have revealed that they are getting some interesting advice from the Ministry of Education about how to incorporate the National Standards into their school charters. The suggestion that they should essentially fake it – by inserting the words “national standards” into their charters, even if they are not actively using them – [...] read more
  May 18, 2011 2:30 pm - 4 Comments
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  Saints or support workers? Rodney Hide on special education - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  In the middle of his other troubles, Associate Education Minister Rodney Hide spoke at our Select Committee on Wednesday about the Review of Special Education. It was apparent that his 6 month journey with this portfolio has included some transformative moments, as documented in TVNZ’s Make the Politician Work. He has been open about the [...] read more
  May 5, 2011 5:21 pm - 2 Comments
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  Quality public education – a public good - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  I spent the weekend at the Quality Public Education Coalition (QPEC) Conference in Auckland. This conference had the strongest turn out of people from every level of the public education sector since I have been attending. There were powerful presentations from people active in early childhood issues, the compulsory sector and the tertiary sector. Everyone [...] read more
  May 3, 2011 1:25 pm - 7 Comments
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  Restoring the Kaipara Harbour - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  I was really inspired when taking part in a hui at Puatahi Marae on Sunday, an open day for the Integrated Kaipara Harbour Management Group.  The group’s title is a mouthful, but there is nothing complicated about the vision they share, which is to restore the Kaipara, its mauri, its quality and its ecosystems back to what [...] read more
  April 18, 2011 5:58 pm - 1 Comment
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  Pink Shirt Day on April 14th - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  You know you have one. Time to get it out. Russel Norman says I have to iron mine. April 14th is Pink Shirt Day, a day when everyone around the country is encouraged to make a visual display of our abhorrence of bullying. read more
  April 7, 2011 11:29 am - 5 Comments
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  Tertiary education cuts still not healing - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  The Tertiary Education Union is concerned that NorthTec is looking to cut positions in trades training at a time when there is already a serious skills shortage.   We can expect the demand for trades people will only increase when the rebuilding of Christchurch begins in earnest, and the development of infrastructure in Auckland proceeds apace, among other things.  I’m [...] read more
  March 31, 2011 1:08 pm - 2 Comments
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  Bullying in schools - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  This is a very old and a painful issue for many people. I was bullied in my primary school and I bet most people reading this have either witnessed or experienced bullying in schools. The issue of what to do with persistent bullies sounds simple: kick them out! But it’s not as simple as it [...] read more
  March 30, 2011 4:48 pm - 36 Comments
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  Community-led development – good news from the grassroots! - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  I had two very positive days last week meeting with community sector groups in Porirua and in Nelson. It was great to hear some positive stories from people who are leading change in these places, and to realise how much great work is going on despite the recession, the Government and the hard times since the earthquake. read more
  March 21, 2011 2:10 pm - 3 Comments
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  National Standards race to nowhere - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Yesterday, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard visited our Parliament and promoted free trade agreements with all the fervour of the faithful. This position was predictable, but less well known is her stance on education. Julia is the leader who imposed the Australian version of National Standards on Australian schools against the wishes of the teachers’ unions. read more
  February 17, 2011 10:31 am - 21 Comments
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  What is a real education? - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  I asked young people directly what they need from their education. Their answers are summarised in our report, ‘What is a real education’, released today. read more
  February 4, 2011 9:25 am - 12 Comments
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  No return on PPP investment - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  John Key’s Government is poised to start tendering for public private partnerships (PPPs) to build and run our schools. I’ve said before what a terrible idea this is – overseas research suggests that no matter how you cut the PPP cake, the public ends up funding the projects while the private companies cream profit off [...] read more
  February 2, 2011 10:58 am - 26 Comments
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  ECE vs motorways – which is the better investment? - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  John Key’s cuts to early childhood education come into affect today. John Key says don’t worry, it will only effect centres with the most qualified staff. Very reassuring! Meanwhile fees will go up and kids will miss out. NZEI has launched a petition today urging the Government to reverse the ECE cuts, and the Greens [...] read more
  February 1, 2011 12:46 pm - 99 Comments
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  Just when you thought girls could do anything - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The front page of today’s Dominion Post carries the story of a Newlands college pupil who was told she “looked like a slut” for wearing her school skirt short by her school dean. The verbal apology that was given notwithstanding, this incident is very disturbing. As a former girl who formerly wore very short skirts [...] read more
  November 11, 2010 3:45 pm - 122 Comments