Idiot school

August 26th, 2010 at 2:00 pm by David Farrar

Education Minister Anne Tolley is furious a Southland school put her signature on a fake letter, and officials are investigating the forgery.

Otatara Primary School pupils were given the fake letter yesterday, saying their school day was to be extended by one hour.

Written on Education Ministry letterhead, it was “signed” by Mrs Tolley, who was angry when she learned of it.

“It’s unbelievable that teachers would do this to children and I’m angry that the school has used my name,” she said. …

Otatara principal Sharon Livingstone told the Southland Times the school was uncomfortable with the news media attention, and the letter was a “mistake” that was not meant to go home to parents.

So will someone be held accountable?

Tags: Anne Tolley, Education

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 2:00 pm and is filed under NZ Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

62 Responses to “Idiot school”

burt (5,963) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Accountable… Labour party supporting union members accountable…. Oh you are funny DPF.
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grumpy (221) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Looks like a way to fool kids into writing general “anti Tolley” letters for the teachers union could claim to anti National Standards.
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RRM (7,447) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
No, IDIOT POLITICAL PUNDITS HAVING A BEAT-UP/BEAT-OFF OVER SOMETHING THAT IS ACTUALLY NOTHING:

Try reading the whole article. It does sadly not fit with the whole “teachers are all union socialists” bent.

It was part of a creative writing exercise, and children were not told it was untrue as teachers wanted the reactions to be “authentic”, she said.

Year 5 and 6 students were given the letter, which said the change was due to teachers not having enough time to bring in the New Zealand curriculum.

Students were asked to write to the Government with their reaction to the news.
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Rich Prick (1,115) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
“It was part of a creative writing exercise … ”

So the teachers think that forgery is nothing more than “creative writing”? What a great lesson for the pupils.
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mawm (211) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
RRM so what was it -a creative writing class or a letter that was given to Y 5 & 6 which was trying to make an excuse for teachers or some student indoctrination?

To me it sounds like a disobedient government employee and Ms Sharon Livingstone should be getting a DCM letter.
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andrei (2,081) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Sounds like the class was Activism 101 to me RRM

and in related idiot teacher news from Australia: Assigning students terrorist attack a mistake
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RRM (7,447) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
you’d all prefer if children were limited to writing about happy smiling Panda Bears and magic fairy dust, and weren’t pushed too hard into thinking about real-world scenarios that might actually affect them?

My god I hope mine never gets political fan-boy disease.
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MyNameIsJack (2,415) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
RRM

Best. Comment. Ever. (well, almost).

The raection to this is just as stupid as the Australian reaction to “An assignment that asked West Australian high school students to plan a terrorist attack that would kill as many innocent people as possible …”

this one was given to year 10 students and has brought out the usual howls of “inappropriate” as well as this typically arrogant and over the top remark from a man who should already be in jail for crimes against freedom.

The Australian Federal Police has confirmed a WA teacher who told her students to plot a terrorist strike on Australians as a high school assignment was exposing them to minimum jail terms of at least 10 years.

An AFP spokeswoman said it was an offence to collect or make documents preparing for or assisting a terrorist attack.

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/afp-warns-terrorism-test-was-illegal-20100825-13rzj.html?from=age_ft&autostart=1

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/students-told-to-plan-terror-attack-20100825-13qx4.html
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Crumble (61) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Of course someone will be held accountable. I’m 100% sure the Board will have directed the principal to inform the teacher/s responsible that is not appropriate.

But, in general, I agree with the concept behind it. Signing it, as the Minister, was a tad silly but it sound like a great way to get students to write by having it relate to them and their lives.
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East Wellington Superhero (1,151) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
For the sake of argument, let’s assume that it was a “creative writing” assignment. It is an entirely inappropriate topic because it begins to indoctrinate kids on issues that they are not equipped to understand. The teachers should know that – and if they didn’t then frankly, they ‘re not very smart teachers and I wouldn’t want my kids being taught be them.
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RRM (7,447) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Mine has been on class trips to the Happy Valley Landfill and the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary in recent months.

Now, apologists like me might dismiss this as mere “learning.” But obviously, this is all part of a rainbow global warming leftist indoctrination plot on the teacher’s part. Discuss.
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annie (507) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Please, guys, it’s Otatara. Cut them some slack, the exercise sounds like the quality of thinking that has come out of there for generations, nothing new, move along please.
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Inventory2 (8,898) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
So the school was “uncomfortable with the news media attention”, but wasn’t uncomfortable with an untruth being perpetuated in the name of “creative writing”, and a Minister of the Crown’s signature being forged?
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burt (5,963) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
RRM

If the kids were told they needed to wait for the next bus because the current one didn’t have a union member behind the wheel then that would be comparable. Discuss.
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kowtow (4,590) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Like so much else in modern education,it lacks common sense as do the usual apologists from the left here for whom any nonsense goes,depending on who’s pushing it. ie Tolley =bad/ anti Tolley=good.

Creative writing my arse.
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RRM (7,447) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Burt & Kowtow – do you really think 10 and 11 year olds know or care who Anne Tolley is, or know the difference between Labour & National?
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insider (960) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
As a creative writing exercise I have no problem. it would be something that directly affects children so could get some direct responses – a bit like getting 7th formers to write on the 18 yo debate on alcohol.

But it was personalised and on a very topical political issue. And that was where the lack of judgement came in.

As for the mother, rather than bleating to the media, why didn’t the parent concerned go and talk to the school? I suppose she got her 15 mins of fame out of it but she was being a bit precious, and Tolley made a real meal out of it too.

Overall it got far more attention than it deserved. But hey the media got to stand in a circle and shout ‘fight fight fight’ while Tolley et al exchanged digs. And they just love it when that happens.
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wreck1080 (2,924) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
If the leaders of our country can ‘forge’ items (see Helen Clarks paintergate), then why not teachers.

Lead by example, and the example from the top is that it’s ok to deceive.
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krazykiwi (9,188) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
do you really think 10 and 11 year olds know or care who Anne Tolley is, or know the difference between Labour & National?

RRM – you are correct – they don’t. Which is why any fictitious letter could have been signed “A Smith” and been about the proposed banning of XBox consoles.

But no, the teacher chose to use the classroom full of young minds to push a political barrow loaded with bitterness. Shame on her, and shame on you for defending her.

I can only imagine your cries if the letter carried Phil Goff’s fake signature and was proposing the drowning of all puppies.
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RRM (7,447) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
I can only imagine your cries if the letter carried Phil Goff’s fake signature and was proposing the drowning of all puppies.

lol, knock yourself out. That’s actually quite funny, I would have no problem with that.
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flipper (1,747) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
I suppose that it is on a par with the Kalgoorlie, WA teacher who last week asked her class to write an essay on how they would plan and launch a terrorist attack. Of course it was a “mistake” and it “shouldn’t have happened”.

Likely outcome in Soutfhland? Zip. The “po..leeece” are too busy chasing 56kph “speedsters” and the Min of Ed is too busy with “makework”. The NZEI and NZPPTA ? You must be joking.

Oh well, I guess that is life in NZ, circa 2010.
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Crumble (61) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
@kk In the classroom you often use real people to create a sense of reality, i.e. Imagine if the Prime Minister said all students had to come to school on a Saturday write a letter to him saying if you agree or disagree with it and why?

I’ve used this approach under both the Labour and National led govt.

Again,the concept is fine but the signing it not so much.
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Monty (871) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Of course the letter was a fake (read Lies by unionist scum) – they are too dumb to realise it – but teachers hate extra work and there is no way on earth that they would want to work more that their required 9 to 3pm hourse with 12 weeks off per annum.
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RightNow (5,465) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
RRM, even as a creative writing exercise it was outright stupidity. While it might be a small defence for the staff involved in concocting the exercise should they end up in court, the facts are that a fraudulent document was produced and passed of as real to the students. I can imagine how upset my son would be if he was told that he’d have to be at school for an extra hour per day, he’d be very upset. Then I would be upset reading the letter and believing it to be from Tolley’s office. If that’s what passes for common sense from these teachers then I hope they are tarred and feathered by the upset parents. At the very least fraud charges to be pursued against them. It shows as much common sense as walking a group of pre-schoolers through The Terrace motorway tunnel on a field trip.

However this is more than just a lack of common sense from the teachers, it is a political stunt gone wrong. There is no way in the world they did this without the ulterior motive of attempting to make Tolley and the government look bad. Using children as pawns in their game is so petty these people should be prohibited from being in any position of care of children.
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Crumble (61) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
@Monty
What teacher works 9 to 3? I’m a teacher I’m in at work between 7 and 7:30am to prep for the day. I have a meeting from 8:25am till 8:45.

Then teach most periods during that day depends on the timetable i.e. today I have non-contact last. Then 3-4 days a week meetings from 3:30 till 4:30-5pm. If I have to meet parents, I can be at school till 7pm.

Weekends, come in to do marking or maybe attend PD. In the 5 years I have been teaching I’ve yet to meet a teacher that works 9am-3pm.
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Kris K (3,570) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
RRM 2:36 pm,

Burt & Kowtow – do you really think 10 and 11 year olds know or care who Anne Tolley is, or know the difference between Labour & National?

Come on, RRM, you know damn well that most 10 & 11 year olds will believe whatever their teachers/parents tell them. This is the whole issue which most of us on the right are against – that kids are being taught (indoctrinated) WHAT to think, not HOW to think. As others have said, this is nothing more than kids being deceived by their teacher. Not to mention the issue of forging someones signature.

More evidence that schools are nothing more than socialist/progressive indoctrination centres.
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MyNameIsJack (2,415) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
More evidence that schools are nothing more than socialist/progressive indoctrination centres.

Damned sight less indoctrination here than goes on, day in, day out, in “religious” schools where children are lied to in the name of god, lied to about the punuishment that awaits them if they dare question and lied to about “it won’t hurt” as they are forced to ride the priest’s baloney pony.
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deanknight (262) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
I hate to think about the trouble I’m in for my attempts to create plausible contemporary questions for assessment in public law:

http://www.laws179.co.nz/2009/08/starter-for-40-marks.html

Sigh.

[DPF: None at all as you have made very clear it is a scenario. If the school in question ad done the same, then they would have no problems]
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Rex Widerstrom (4,971) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
krazykiwi suggests:

Which is why any fictitious letter could have been signed “A Smith” and been about the proposed banning of XBox consoles.

Agree with the second part, but I’d actually like the students to know who the Minister of Education was. I made a point of finding out when I was at school, so I could direct letters of complaint to the highest authority (yes, I was a shit, why do you ask? )

I personally don’t see a conspiracy behind this… it’s certainly something I’d do if I were teaching. But to be balanced, I’d make the next assignment something about Labour. Maybe suggest that their local Labour MP wanted them to do a bit of tiling work in return for time off school, say

The Australian example is, IMO, much worse. I was shocked when I heard it on the news… asking kids to try and get inside the mind of a terrorist and figure what motivates them is an excellent idea. Asking them to plan the killing of their fellow citizens has no education value whatsoever and is blindingly stupid and inappropriate, specially in a country which has lost hundreds of citizens to terrorist bombings.
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the deity formerly known as nigel6888 (838) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
Soo

Kids at a Primary school get given a letter that purports to tell them that school days are getting longer because of the new national curriculum, and are invited to write a response to the Minister.

They are not told it is a fake letter, or that it is an “exercise”

So just what are they smoking down there. Is this really the most “creative” writing opportunity that they could come up with? Really?

Clearly it is a total coincidence that it panders to the NZEI playbook?
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thedavincimode (4,829) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
the monumental fuckwit MNIJerk/borker with a stunning display of binary logic:

Let A=bad; B=bad, nA = number of complaints about A.

If nA = 0, then B=good.

You didn’t subscribe to Sheepbaiter’s correspondence course on the art of rational analysis did you Jerk?

Plunket’s interview with the clown chair of the school board is on the radio pinko site. Listening to it suggests that the answer to DPF’s question is “no”. Morons at the top and morons at the bottom. The kids haven’t got a chance.
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Murray (8,833) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
“My teacher the peadophile”
Exercise; write 500 words on the above subject.

Don’t worry RRM its only a creative wrting exercise!

Fucknuckle.
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Rufus (582) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 6:14 pm
MynameisJack(Troll) 3:09

you just couldn’t resist dragging your anti-religious views into the debate could you? Grow up.

Re: the creative writing exercise – it’s a shame that kids get dragged into the political games teachers/unions/governments play.

Creative writing used to be about what you wanted to be when you grew up, or visiting interesting countries on a world trip, or something such like.

Rufus
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tvb (3,357) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
To forge a Minister’s signature on forged letterhead I think is quite serious. To say there was a slip up and not inform the parents about it is just rubbish. There is a tendency to think Ministers are not that important. But to forge the signature of a member of the Executive Council I think merits a police investigation. A Minister is acting for the Crown and I believe the actions of the teachers may be some sort of contempt. And the stupid thing is there was no pressing need to forge the Ministers’ signature AT ALL. The exercise in creative writing (yeah right) was really about politicising the school children against the Government.
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Steve (3,693) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Crumble @ 2.59pm

Yes 2.59pm you were working huh? Busy teachers do not have time to read blogs.
“In the 5 years I have been teaching I’ve yet to meet a teacher that works 9am-3pm”
Right, and at 2.59pm you are knocked of, on a blog using the school computer, and ready to shoot through as soon as the bell rings.
Right Crunchy
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dad4justice (7,339) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
I thought that the title of this post was describing those pathetic leeches that sit in that cess pit parliament.
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reid (13,655) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
It was part of a creative writing exercise, and children were not told it was untrue as teachers wanted the reactions to be “authentic”, she said.

I wonder if the teacher(s) etc who did it are now enjoying the other “authentic” reactions currently befalling them?

What an unpredictable nightmare of an unforeseen scenario. We just thought it would be a bit of a giggle. Besides, the children have to know, this [standards] is wrong and Tolley is evil and nasty and wicked and just a huge all-round gweat big meanie.
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transmogrifier (491) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
I have to laugh at some of the posters here complaining about indoctrination of the little ‘uns, and yet still spewing the rightie company line regarding the job we do.

As a creative writing exercise, there is nothing wrong with asking the students to respond to the idea of extending school hours; it has personal interest and provides a true platform for the students to investigate their attitude to school and the balance with home life. However, it was stupid to politicize it by mentioning National Standards, or by bringing Tolley into it, and for this the teacher needs to be reminded that it is not a good idea to make political statements through classroom activities.

But for people to come in here and claim, in all apparent seriousness, that teachers work 9 to 3, and are lazy, is just a joke, and further evidence that many on here are complete and utter hypocrites. Why are the indoctrinated so able to spot other indoctrination, but not there own?

If I could get the clearance, I would love to invite the likes of Steve, monty or tvb into my school and walk them through a typical day. For them to see what the job involves. Not that I think it’s unmanageable or a zoo or unbelievable. But simply to see that it is a job, populated by many hard-working, caring people who are doing their best for the children.

And I’d be interested to see you take a classroom of kids and teach them something. But you can’t do it off the cuff; you have to prepare the lesson so it fits within the NZ curriculum (whether you agree with it or not), and you’ll have to go to the meetings before that to decide what aspects of the curriculum your school is going to concentrate on, and you’ll probably have to help out writing a unit for your colleagues to use, and don’t forget to write the assessment for what you have taught, and then don’t forget to mark them, and then to write the mid-term reports, while of course being sure to stay after school for an enrollment evening, not to mention keeping control of the classroom, and following up on any students that contravene the school rules, meetings with deans, calling parents……

But of course, you can do all of this, because apparently teachers are losers (tvbs words) who can’t do anything, and thus what training would you need for any of that?

I just want to repeat, I don’t particularly think that the (non-exhaustive) list of tasks above are unreasonable or unmanageable or beyond anything faced in any other job, but that’s kind of my point; it is like any other job. The only difference is the ignorant chorus on boards like these that seem to know it all with regards the teaching profession.

PS I’m not part of the union. Yet. I’m still deciding.
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reid (13,655) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
“PS I’m not part of the union. Yet. I’m still deciding.”

My advice is to infiltrate then slowly poison from within.
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Steve (3,693) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
@transmogrifier

Next thing is if you think outside school hours of 9 – 3 you should be payed for thinking in your own time.
I can charge my employer for the same? You teachers are a joke, just teach children to be teachers and us WORKERS will pay your INCOME.
Get a life bloody commies
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transmogrifier (491) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
@Steve

Heh.
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Tauhei Notts (1,296) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Has anybody noticed how the NZEI have come out against this silliness.
Of course you haven’t. That is because they are sensible as the teachers at Otatara.
I recall when our youngest child left school. I was so relieved that I was able to express, in a straight forward honest manner, what I thought of school teachers. It would have been unfair of me, and cruel to my children, if I had said such truths while they were school children.
BECAUSE THE TEACHERS WOULD HAVE VICTIMISED OUR CHILDREN AND MADE THEIR LIFE HELL.
When I attended school 45 years ago teachers were very highly respected people. Nowadays they are scum.
Their vindictiveness, illustrated by the part I put in capitals, is nauseating in the extreme.
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tvb (3,357) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
I agree Tauhei Notts – teachers are scum Once upon a time when jobs were scarce some quite competent people became teachers. Now it is a profession for the losers.
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burt (5,963) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
Some might be scum, some are bloody awesome. I don’t get why they all want to be treated the same. The competent ones know their salaries are dragged down by the incompetent ones and the incompetent teachers know they are being carried by the competent ones. Hey solution apparently is; forget about it and spend lunchtimes with your comrades discussing Labour party fund raisers.
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bc (888) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
Steve: “Yes 2.59pm you were working huh? Busy teachers do not have time to read blogs.”

Wow, Steve a teacher was reading a blog about an educational issue at 2.59pm. Call the police!
My partner works in the private sector. She still cannot believe how much time is wasted by “workers” on trade me, you tube etc, not to mention the time wasted e-mailing rubbish internet jokes to each other.

Let he who is not guilty, cast the first stone my friend. Is that the best you can come up with? Pathetic.
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krazykiwi (9,188) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
tvb chimes in with that legendary balance. All teachers are scum. Yada yada.

Listen here you A-grade dolt: Some teachers are barking mad socialist unions apologists. The operative word here is some. A few are outstanding, legendary trail blazers of the type that will be praised for years to come. The rest are distributed across the spectrum.

So tell me, notwithstanding the jollies you experience keying in “teachers are scum … it is a profession for the losers” (need a tissue?), how does your invective encourage improved performance? Hmmm?
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bc (888) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
Oh and Steve (8.05pm)

It’s “paid” not “payed”. The rest of the irrational abuse that follows doesn’t even warrant a mention.
You’re quite the intellectual aren’t you? And you expect to be taken seriously?

Really?

Come on!
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reid (13,655) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
Anyway transmogrifier, thanks for your post, it was most illuminating.
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bc (888) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Nice words transmogrifier (and very true). Sadly, some like likes of tvb, monty etc are so irrational tha tit is a waste of time dealing with them. Sad little individuals that they are.
But I hope that the time you spent writing that post will give others a bit to think about. I honestly believe that most rational people know that it’s not a 9am – 3pm, 12 week holiday job. The bigger issue is that, sadly, we don’t value education (and thus educators) in this country.
And then we wonder why New Zealand is a comparitively low wage, low productivity economy.
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bc (888) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 10:17 pm
Sorry for hogging the posts – I’ll shut up for a while (maybe!). But I want to get back to the issue and ignore tvb, steve, monty et al

Yes, I’m annoyed at the teachers of the school. It was a stupid thing to do. But I don’t believe it was some “commie conspiracy”. Rather a chance to engage students in an issue that would directly impact on them. And engaging students is the point here!

But the most sickening thing for me is watching Anne Tolley with her fake anger using it as a change to engage in a bit more teacher bashing. She couldn’t sustain it – mock anger soon turned into a pleased look at the chance (in her mind anyway) to score a few political points.
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Put it away (2,887) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 10:22 pm
When I read this I laughed out loud at the ludicrous “creative writing class” excuse and wondered what kind of feeble minded left wing apologist could possibly swallow this dog-ate-my-homework level of excuse. Should’ve known it’d be RRM and mynameisjack.
Next time you hear a teacher trying to resist having their results tested, remember it’s probably someone just like the prize clown who thought this letter was a good idea.
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reid (13,655) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 10:37 pm
“watching Anne Tolley with her fake anger”

Yes she’s certainly making it difficult for teachers to like her, isn’t she.

I wonder why?
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krazykiwi (9,188) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
reid – There are plenty of people I don’t like, but a good number of those I respect. For a leader, any leader, to try to be ‘liked’ is a fast way to achieve nothing.
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bc (888) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Yes it was a stupid idea to put Anne Tolley’s signature to the assignment ‘put it away’, but the assignment itself was a good idea – a neat way to engage students in an issue that would affects them directly.

But let’s look at the bigger picture: We have an Education Minister that has used this to make a “mountain of a molehill” to score a few polictical brownie points. How sad.

How sad that we have an Education Minister that prefers a confontrational approach with teachers rather than work with them to improve educational outcomes. Does she really think this confontational approach is good for the country? Or does she simply not care?

How said that she seems to be completely ignorant of her portfolio. For example, she still seems to be struggling with the idea that a lack of internal moderation makes National standards not worth the paper they are written on.

How sad that education is just government expenditure to her and not an investment in the future of this country. Is a politician thinking in multiples of 3 years perhaps?

How sad. Except that the damage she is doing has the potential to put our country backwards.
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krazykiwi (9,188) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
How sad that education is just government expenditure to her and not an investment in the future of this country.

You know this how?
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reid (13,655) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
“There are plenty of people I don’t like, but a good number of those I respect. For a leader, any leader, to try to be ‘liked’ is a fast way to achieve nothing.”

Yes but it’s hard to be respected when you’re actively disliked and Tolley’s achieved this, through this and other actions. The reason she’s actively disliked has nothing to do with what she’s implementing and everything to do with how she’s gone about it, which is foolishly.

Unfortunately.
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bc (888) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
Too easy, krazy:

Because she has added to the workload of schools by requring them to do an audit every term, purely as a cost-cutting exercise. How does increasing the administrative workload of schools and cutting their budgets improve educational outcomes?

Because the teachers have been offered a 1% pay rise. Is that a good way of dealing with a recognised problem of recruitment and retention?

Because while she is tinkering around with small change , suddenly a massive amount of money appears (yet there isn’t any more money according to her) on a PR exercise to sell National standards to parents.
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krazykiwi (9,188) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 11:21 pm
That, bc is easy too.

Workloads – There is an increased emphasis on the essentials of literacy and numeracy. That is good, and should mean better returns for what is invested. I’d like to see evidence of ‘cutting their budgets’. The school I was chair of the BOT at had an increase in funding just recently.. and we used it for some new technology, library refresh and a pile of new curriculum materials. Mrs kk visits 100′s of schools every year. Many of them make excellent use of their resources but could always use more. Others are completely wasteful and spend on things that are unlikely to have any positive impact on student achievement. Giving this latter group more money would be no better than flushing it. They need help, but any time this is offered the boards push back. Go figure.

Pay rises – This again. An across-the-board payrise is useless, be it 1% or 10%. Why should the useless teachers be lining up alongside the stars for the same pay increase? Why should anyone in a safe-for-life job and in the current economic environment expect more than others?

Tinkering – National standard is a small change?!? Heaven help us when a big change is suggested. Imaging the NZEI’s response! Imaging the ‘creative writing’ that would ensue! If the Victorian-era NZEI got on board with National Standards, complete with the shortcomings and worked constructively to implement them plus improvements then there would be little need to sell the idea to parents. Anything being spent on this today is a direct response to the militant pushback that is to be expected from an organisation that wants to keep NZ education in the dark ages.
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transmogrifier (491) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 11:25 pm
It’s hard to get too worked up with tvb, Notts, Stevie et al. I work daily with Year 10s at a mid-decile school after all.

I know I’m nowhere near a perfect teacher. I’ve been at this thing for less than a year, and am still making mistakes. But its a learning experience, and one that keeps you on your toes. I enjoy it. If that makes me scum or a loser in the eyes of a few people, then so be it.

I’m pretty much been a teacher straight out of uni. I went over to Korea for a year working holiday, explored Asia, never intending to teach. But turns out I was pretty good at it, and (in a private education system, of all things!) found my way into teaching academic English to freshman at a university there. Loved it. But it wasn’t New Zealand. So I came back here to do my teaching degree, and am currently getting my head around teaching younger students. Not there yet. But enjoying the process.

In Korea, I had a range of universities I could apply for, offering a range of salaries. The universities with higher salaries attracted more candidates of which they could choose the best. Conversely, we as teachers could pick and choose according to the salary on offer. If we wanted, we could go for a place with a lower salary and gain experience, develop our skills, and then go for better jobs with better pay and conditions based on what we achieved. It was fair and straightfoward.

Do we have that in New Zealand high schools?

No.

No matter where I choose to go (or to apply to, to be more correct), I will be getting the same salary. That is the way it is. The NZ government has a monopoly of sorts on the education system. This is why the union is so strong, because our only hope of better pay and conditions rests on negotiations with the government – we can’t simply apply to another school with better of both. Now, I don’t necessarily think this is an ideal system, but being what it is, industrial action is an inevitable result. Blame the teachers for unreasonable demands, sure, but you can’t really fault their right to strike under the current system.
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transmogrifier (491) Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
Also, I would like someone to figure out for me the practicalities of paying teachers a different salary at the same school (which didn’t happen in Korea, unless they had added responsibilities; the bad teachers simply didn’t have their contracts renewed – problem solved!). If 10 out of 100 qualify as “stars” and thus extra pay, then logically wouldn’t you have to be prepared to pay ALL of your teachers the star salary, whatever it may be, if they too reach that particular standard (or if you bin some of the bad teachers and bring new potential stars to the school)? Otherwise, the only way to make it work is to fix that 10% and then rank the teachers each year and have them directly compete with each other for that star salary? Does this seem like a system designed to bring out the best in a school? I don’t know, I honestly want someone to talk me through this (I don’t teach economics)
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jackp (668) Says:
August 27th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
transmogrifier, how do you feel about asking for a pay raise when one of your pupils father or mother lost their job?
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transmogrifier (491) Says:
August 27th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Seeing as I teach, what 110 students, am I then morally indebted to take a salary of the family with the least amount of money? That’s a pretty weak argument, especially since its not addressing any of my points – I’ve already stated you are more than welcome to disagree with what is being asked for, but accept the method (i.e. strikes) by which it happens.

I’m not too fussed with the pay increase, to tell the truth.
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