tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post3560270399100300735..comments2024-03-28T00:33:53.397+13:00Comments on Local Bodies: Teaching Profession Rejects Parata's PlansDave Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12428353657153292616noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-86567817681794636002014-06-12T10:54:58.229+12:002014-06-12T10:54:58.229+12:004. The evidence is lacking
NZEI continually asked...4. The evidence is lacking<br /><br />NZEI continually asked for the research and evidence that supported this particular model and very little was provided. Obviously there is good evidence in support of mentoring and collaboration as this has always been important in teaching (the broader concept isn't being questioned) but we have major concerns with how this will be managed.<br /><br />5. There is growing disquiet and concern in the sector…<br /><br />There definitely is. Auckland Principals have come out strongly against it, the New Zealand Principals Federation (not a union) has real concerns, many boards around the country are worried about their future roles and as teachers are becoming informed (over the last two months) many are really angry about the waste of money.<br /><br />6. It will suit secondary schools better than primary<br /><br />I went through the highly damaging schooling review in Invercargill some years ago when Trevor Mallard allowed an open slather local approach to determining the final outcome. The Secondary schools had greater resources than the Primary schools and dictated the outcome. When they were informed that there was an ideal size for a secondary school, and most were under that, they aggressively went into self protection mode. They took over all the intermediates and one middle school to boost their roles even though surveys of parents came out strongly against this as they did not want their 10-11 year olds experiencing the high school environment too early. We now have no intermediates or middle school although all were viable and performing successfully. PPTA know that if schools are clustered it is unlikely that the Executive Principal would come from a primary school of 200 pupils and the principal of secondary school of 2,000 students would be unlikely to take direction from them anyway. Sadly there is a perception that the shoe size of the students dictates the status of the teacher and this is likely to be a factor in this process as well. <br /><br />My concern would be that if this model is introduced across the country then while there may be some successful outcomes, there is a real possibility of some huge failures as well. A lot depends on those appointed to the roles and real damage could be done to many schools if a poor appointment was made. At least with employing more frontline staff in special education there would be a direct and positive outcome.Dave Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12428353657153292616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-88977865522174102912014-06-12T10:54:47.333+12:002014-06-12T10:54:47.333+12:00KS, I don't agree with PPTA. Here are my respo...KS, I don't agree with PPTA. Here are my responses to the same statements covered in your link.<br /><br />1. There has been no consultation.<br /><br />The IES never started as an employer's offer to be worked through agreement negotiations, this has been demanded from NZEI and PPTA since.<br /><br />The positions of Executive Principal and lead teacher will be highly influential ones and pay far more than any other positions of responsibility. In shaping these positions there was no work done with the profession and, as Martin Thrupp said, little local evidence or research had been used. Parata claimed that they had been working on them for a year, but the first time we knew about them was at the end of January, just over four months ago. We were given about 9 weeks to read through the reports presented and try and consult with the wider profession. This is not robust consultation.<br /><br />2. The money could be better spent on…<br /><br />The primary and early childhood sectors have had far more done to them than secondary and our special education support and advisory services have been substantially cut. There are many areas that would make more of a difference to children's learning than removing some teachers and principals from their schools to work with others and then pay them generously for it. Secondary schools tend to have far more staff and have greater flexibility, but the average primary school only has 120 pupils. What happens to the schools or classes when the leadership is absent for two days a week?<br /><br />3. IES creates a layer of management…<br /><br />This is clearly the case. The Executive Principal is employed by the Ministry to oversee a cluster of around 10 schools and they will appoint the lead teachers. It is clear that the EP will have a major role in determining the priorities of teaching and learning for the cluster and the lead teachers will be following their direction. This is clearly a new layer of management for primary schools who will most likely be clustered around a secondary school and will lose their current autonomy and their relationship with their boards will no longer be the paramount one.<br /><br />Dave Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12428353657153292616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-62440133496258735362014-06-12T09:27:56.493+12:002014-06-12T09:27:56.493+12:00On the contrary Dave; I think the PPTA understands...On the contrary Dave; I think the PPTA understands only too well what the Government is trying to achieve. They have chosen though to take off their ideological blinkers.<br /><br />You might find this interesting:<br /><br />http://www.ppta.org.nz/resources/ppta-blog/six-impossible-things-being-said-about-ies-1Keeping Stockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635959917715078192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-72370520687203452232014-06-11T23:43:33.675+12:002014-06-11T23:43:33.675+12:00You're right, KS, but they don't have to d...You're right, KS, but they don't have to deal with the crazy National Standards and their sector will not be affected in the same way as primary schools. I also believe they do not understand the full ramifications. This is systemic change by stealth.Dave Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12428353657153292616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-40433728988900706352014-06-11T21:13:11.731+12:002014-06-11T21:13:11.731+12:00That's not what the PPTA is saying Dave - http...That's not what the PPTA is saying Dave - http://ppta.org.nz/resources/media/3007-media-ies-consultation-3jun2014Keeping Stockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635959917715078192noreply@blogger.com