We need to fix teacher colleges

Michael Johnston writes:

Victoria University of Wellington wants the teachers it trains to be ‘agents of change.’ 

According to the university’s handbook for teacher education programmes, teaching graduates must be committed to “social, cultural, and ecological justice.” Decoded, that means attending protests about political causes the activists lecturers find important.

Imagine if the handbook said teaching graduates must be committed to free markets, free speech and property rights? Both are equally valid political viewpoints.

The left always try and take over institutions to indoctrinate people so that their views are the only valid ones.

Providing teachers with skills to manage a classroom is not part of the brief. Neither is ensuring they can teach their students even a modicum of knowledge. It is crucial, however, that new teachers can critique their ancestors.

Yes, you read that correctly.

Akopai 1 is one of two courses focussing on practical teaching skills. One of its assignments, worth 45% of the marks, is called Ko Tōku Tupuna Ko Au (my ancestor, myself).

For this assignment, students must critically analyse one of their forebears, living or dead. 

That’s 45% of a course on practical teaching skills!!!