Posts by Ian MacKay
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You can’t efficiently identify and assist under-performing students if you can’t measure them objectively.
Seriously: you think this “long tail” of “under-achievement” in NZ schools is something we don’t know enough about and can’t identify?
For more than 50 years it has been known and over the last decade or so, more and more precisely analysed. The catch for many kids is that once they believe that they must be "dumb" the less inclined they are to cooperate. Disruptive trumps "dumb." The bigger the class and the more competitive the class dynamics are the greater the risk of long term failure. Plus all the other factors like poverty, violence, overcrowding in home and classroom, disenchanted teachers, and so on.
Needs smaller classes, better resources, trust in teachers, relevance for the child. Can be done but definitely not with bluddy League Tables. -
A great informative depressing post thank you Russell Brown and others. I guess Key is hoping that the general public will support his line that every parent is entitled to know which school is best. Maybe they will and maybe they will just see teachers as just obstructionists. Or rebel!
The only good thing about NS is that they chose to not have particular tests regulated and ordained for particular dates. (In Scotland parents and teachers connived to keep the less able kids home on test days.) The frightening post by Jolisa is a warning of just what damage is being done. Funny how USA has slipped even further down the PISA rankings. -
OnPoint: Peek-a-boo, I can't recall…, in reply to Kiwi Nomad,
such as charter schools
Would Key continue with "ACT's" Charter Schools should a National candidate be elected in Epson?
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If Ms Issac is to be the candidate for Epson perhaps John Key could do something visible like, umm like in front of MSM, have a cup of tea. Why not? Great idea.
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Hard News: Getting Out, in reply to Graham Dunster,
Thanks Graham. Interesting though having touched on concerns, Jacqueline then moves on to the next topic, and the next.
I do like her comment that constant interfering in teaching and learning from those who don't really know much, is a concern and may be a reason for confusion.
And her note that so far exactly what a Charter Schools will mean has not been told. Can you see this Government allowing a State funded School to develop its own Curriculum? Ha!
Politicians go home! Thanks anyway Graham. -
Just watched Media 7. Brilliant. Heartbreaking.
I think that to many people it looks better to have tight structures with predictable outcomes. And to make this popular "they" focus on the extremes of criminals.
(This is also reflected in Educational policy. Ignore the way that most people actually learn and have in-experts make artificial apparently "right" goals and then measure them to death.)
Wouldn't it be great if prisons embarked on widespread all encompassing teaching of all prisoners to read and handle basic maths. But that would be a hard sell to the huge group of people who think all prisoners are scum and should be treated accordingly. -
Ambrose was never interviewed to assess his intent. Funny that. Natural justice?
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Hard News: European Horror Stories, in reply to James Bremner,
.......but like in a business, you can't cut your way to prosperity, you need to grow the top line, to generate revenue / economic activity and tax revenues.
Isn't that what is happening in NZ at this time? Hugely different in scale but the same in principle?
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Hard News: That page doesn't exist ..., in reply to bob daktari,
I remember back in the 19th Century England how tough it was in the Poor House but that was my last resort. Mr Dickens spoke up for us but in vain. The Church and charities took me in when I was destitute because of course the Government was disinterested in we the fallen.
Now in 2012 Mr Heatly remarked that the Poor House was an excellent way to incentify those lazy bludgers to get off their butts and take care of themselves. After these remarks he climbed into his taxpayer funded BMW and was driven away. -
Watch out for them thar pavers. My Doctor reckons lifting pavers cause piles and I don't think he means piles of pavers.