Ko Tainui te waka Ko Ngāti Raukawa ki Wharepūhunga te iwi Whetu Cormick
National President, New Zealand Principals’ Federation
The start of this school term was also the start of a new the effects of a decade focused on issues that have no positive political era. A three-party coalition Government, led by the impact on children’s learning. They will welcome the release from Labour Party of New Zealand, was elected to power. It is an the national standards noose. historic moment for many reasons, Teacher shortages have now including electing Jacinda Ardern, . . .committing to taking become a serious issue in many areas who at the age of 37, is the second of the country, and most especially youngest Prime Minister ever, after national standards out Auckland. We are not surprised by Edward Stafford, who was elected New of the equation, he has this, as young teachers entering the Zealand’s Premier one hundred and profession are finding the pressures sixty years ago. are much too great. Principals are pulled the central pin and These are exciting new times as also buckling under the pressures we move forward. What is great for thus has already begun of managing a growing number of education is that all three parties, the dismantling process. young people with severe learning Labour, New Zealand First and the and behavioural challenges and the Greens party, have compatible education policies and none of them list of compliance issues they must meet seems never-ending. subscribes to the Global Education Reform Movement (GERM) To restore health to our ailing profession the GERM must The GERM has been heavily criticised by the sector and has been the centre-piece of the out-going Government’s three terms in office. GERM involves standards-based education; frequent evaluations and assessments and associated data analysis and reporting; a focus on core literacy and numeracy; it limits risk taking and alternative pedagogies; is motivated by a model of education for economic profit rather than for moral goals of ENROL human development; and success or failure of schools and teachers NOW is determined by standardised measures of student achievement. Last chance! None of these objectives has ever sat comfortably with New Zealand’s teaching profession. GERM takes no account of individual learning needs nor a child’s or school’s context. Further, Could your Teacher Aides and Support Staff by its very standardised nature it works against providing access gain from a qualification that validates and to learning through multiple options and works against the develops their skills and knowledge? development of skills like critical thinking and creativity. Chris Hipkins has now been appointed Minister of Education Certificate in Guiding Children’s Behaviour so we can expect Quality Public Education will be the driving (Level 3, 40 credits) philosophy of future policy and our young people will be located firmly at the centre of decision making. Standards and Now delivered from the new iQualify platform! achievement targets will no longer occupy the centre ground. The Tutor day after Minister Hipkins was appointed, he said on Breakfast Enrol today and we will provide you with: television that national standards will be gone quite quickly. He ✓ Strategies and skills that can be applied immediately to the students you are supporting. said he wants to see teachers doing more teaching and less testing. ✓ Tutoring from qualified & experienced staff. He agrees that parents want good clear information about their ✓ A qualification that is approved by NZQA. KERRAN children’s learning and how they are progressing but national ✓ An online programme – study where and when it suits you. BARTLEY standards are not the answer. This announcement will be music Complete GCB now, then progress to the NZ Certificate in Education Support (Level 4) to the ears of teachers and principals across the country. Find out more 0800 438 848 The relentless obsession with data collection and analysis, Email: kerran@trainingforyou.co.nz compliance, reporting and accountability has worn the profession Mobile: 027 232 4294 down. Stress levels for principals are at an all-time high and many Website: www.trainingforyou.co.nz are choosing early retirement as a result. Teachers too are suffering NZQA Category 1 Provider | Celebrating 22 years in business
go. That will mean a shift in direction and a different focus for educational investment. Minister Hipkins is well appraised of these issues and will be as anxious to rid the system of GERM as is the profession. In immediately committing to taking national standards out of the equation, he has pulled the central pin and thus has already begun the dismantling process. I am also looking forward to having more curriculum discussions with our new Minister and Associate Ministers. Like us, they want our young people to explore and develop their critical and conceptual thinking skills, develop their imaginations and curiosity and return to our key competencies that are central to our world-class curriculum. We know that these skills are vital if our young people are going to succeed in the future. The new Prime Minister has made it abundantly clear that she has a strong interest in the mental health and wellbeing needs of young people and education and schooling have their part to play in that agenda. We are expecting there will be a much stronger focus on addressing the challenging circumstances that some 30 per cent of our children face every day, 10 per cent of whom live in abject poverty. We have seen the rise in children affected by alcohol fetal syndrome, methamphetamines, family violence, sexual abuse, trauma and deprivation. These increases coincide with an increase in the rates of poverty, homelessness and poor health care. As new Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, has already said, we can’t boast that we have a successful economy when we have so many children living in poverty. I agree. There is much work to turn all this around, but I believe we as a profession are up for it.
Resilience in Schools Programmes to help teachers: – steer through everyday adversity – build confidence and perseverance – recognise counterproductive thoughts – stay calm under pressure – expand concentration and focus – avoid procrastination – manage time effectively – deal with anxiety
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Contact Declan declan.scott@resiliencei.com 027 695 8922
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