Did you catch Hekia Parata and Chris Hipkins on The Nation this morning? If not, check it out on demand here: 3news.co.nz/Debate-Hekia-Parata--Chris-Hipkins/tabid/1348/articleID/357108/Default.aspx. Interesting to note The Nations poll showing Labours education policy more popular than Nationals. The public know, like we do - and like Peter O Connor said at the #Tick4Kids forum last week, the relationship with the child is whats most important in the classroom. Even Hekia says in this clip that from your own schooling you remember the good teachers. Indeed! Those were the ones who spent time with us, encouraged us and built a great relationship with us. Seems common sensical that more one-on-one time would enhance this and, therefore, student outcomes, whereas taking a teacher out of their classroom two days a week is not a good option. Hekia points out during the debate that the number of teachers has increased in our system over the last five years implying that we now have more teachers. But to my knowledge the ratio has not changed. So this isnt necessarily more in relation to class size. Weve probably just got more teachers as weve got more students entering school. I like how the Labour policy wants to give schools more flexibility - i.e. could use the funding for more teachers to reduce class sizes or to have more release time if thats how schools choose to use it. Hekia also refers to pockets of excellence in this clip. Id love to know where they are, given the biggest differentiation in achievement is said to not be between schools but within them. First time Ive heard of the classroom advisory service when Hipkins brings it up in this piece - and I LOVE that idea. I definitely know my areas of weakness as a teacher and think it would be awesome for PD to be individualised just as learning is for children. Towards the end of the debate they get into school funding and Hekia says both that the government funds 100 percent of the New Zealand curriculum and agrees that parents, through fees, pay somewhere around 1.8%. Not quite sure how the maths on that one adds up! Also not sure why, as a parent, Im paying for pencils, books, digital devices, class trips, sports days, health education, photocopying etc. if education is free? If we have a free education system the government should fund a free education system. Too right Chris Hipkins!
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 02:14:23 +0000