Posts by Paul Williams
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With apologies to all who've written thus far, mostly (almost always in fact) I'd read every contribution... however in this instance, I've jumped to the end to say:
F**k of John. I'm so sick of you, you small-minded, conservative, amoral, opportunistic petty little man. I can't wait to see the back of you. I've been here five years and you're leadership has been appalling - goodbye.
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Well looky-looky. I've buggered off for a few days traveling about and having fun and I come back to this; a genuine, respectful and intelligent debate. I frick'n love this blog Russell. There's no other space I'm aware of where a debate of this quality and dynamic could occur. Fair play to you sir and to each any every contributor.
Hey, apropos nothing in particular I'm well chuffed my mate Grant Robertson's now odds on to get the chance to represent Welly Central.
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Kevin, I think I've worked out where and why we disagree. You seem to think that our declining terms of trade are directly related to our education system and government and I do not.
You comment that we need to invest more in excellence sounds great, what does it mean? More money in Unis or more for St Kents? If it's the Unis, we'll that's never going to come exclusively from the public purse. How about the private sector ponies up the way they do in the US? If it's St Kents, then I completely disagree.
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What's the alternative Kevin? NZ is investing more in education, is investing more in teachers, is reviewing the curriculum, is improving ICT, is improving school-to-work and school-to-study transitions and is tracking the impact against other nations... What more could/should be done?
I don't work in the compulsory sector, I work in labour market policy/regulation and what I hear from all employers for forever is that things aren't what they used to be but I can only recall a system that treated all learners pretty much the same and streamed off the top kids to go to Uni and hoped like hell the less smart (that is, apparently smart at aged 15) did ok out their in the job market.
NZ isn't as competitive as it once was not because our kids aren't but because we floated the dollar and got kicked out of the EU... there might be a few other factors too!
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oppps, the RB post, not the RoO post.
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^^^^^ That's what I've been saying ^^^^^. Happy to have another say it too!
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Kevin, I'm not sure we're going to get any closer to an agreement or even to an agreed diagnosis. The indicators I've seen suggests we're doing comparatively well in maths and sciences, ahead of many other first world nations, and that we're continuing to improve so I really don't see any evidence in support of your claim.
I didn't, by the way, take any offence at the bossy bureaucrat line... and have so far resisted making any comment about the plutocrats at Auckland Grammer.
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Kevin, I have to say that I think you're being more than a little nostalgic. I remember how the education system in the '70s and '80s was failing kids at age 15 and assuming they'd get jobs regardless because that's what happened in the '40s, '50s and '60s. We've now got a system that much better reflects the realities of the NZ and international labour market(s) and provides far more opportunities for ongoing learning. You are obviously frustrated by some behavioural characteristic you're encountering but I don't think that's the fault of the education system
Rich, your post above is fantastically well written; thanks.
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Kevin, I'm sorry but your post is seriously lacking in evidence. Your claims that the system is failing kids is not borne out by the facts - if you don't think PIRLS or PISA are meaningful indicators I'd welcome your comment on the alternatives? If you think that the improvement in retention and achievement rates in senior secondary aren't important, what is? Please don't tell me you'd rather we fell in with the other colonies and went for the Cambridge Bac?
Like you, I work in/around education but I don't see the systemic failure you do. How are standards failing, where are standards failing? You comment about call centres is disingenuous; the nature of work and employment has and continues to change - I don't particularly like the fact that lots of school leavers are sifted through call centres before they're able to get decent work but that's no the fault of the education system surely?
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KevinHicks,
How has the system failed us precisely? By most measures, NZ schools are doing well - international measures of literacy, numeracy as well as completion and attainment rates are relatively high and improving.
Also, although I agree the focus can be too heavily skewed towards traditional academic pathways, since 1999 the funding for vocational training has tripled. Plus there's been Modern Apprenticeships and Gateway initiatives to encourage kids into both trade and non-trade training from senior secondary.