This is brilliantly written and very thought provoking. For me it's worth remembering that previous government Ministers from both of the major parties have listened. Nikki Kaye is a great example as was Jan Tinetti. This Minister has not and will not until there is a change of government.
Brilliant letter, it might be a bit much for her to process in one sitting but if we could get transparent, honest answers I’m sure we can wait a few days.
I’m very concerned that the minister has not prioritised attending SPANZ, it should be a date ring-fenced immediately the dates for the year are announced. It should be exactly the same for the NZPA conference dates. This is her best chance to connect with school leaders and to hear their concerns while sharing her own and hopefully finding some common ground. Like her party leader she is not making herself available to the public, very disappointing. She’s not the only education minister who has had to enter a room full of testy educational leaders. Hekia fronted every year as did the others. Yet here’s our Erica remaining outside the room she really needs to be in, in the spirit of respect and learning.
Erica Stanford is so out of her depth, therefore she cannot be shown up by too many experienced professional and competent teachers and school principals. She’ll resist meeting kanohi te kanohi because she knows she won’t be able to save face afterwards.
How unfortunate that the very thing the antiquated system that used the virtually meaningless (except for a ranking in some undefined criteria) A B C D E F gradings produced a Minister who simply cannot listen to experts.
Surely Minister Stanford’s own ignorance is reason enough to not foist an education system from the past on our rangatahi that rather than illuminates provides the blinkers she so clearly has put on. Her narrow approach is all the evidence we need to see the harm of those old ways.
Big ups to you Claire for your own vision, clarity of communication and energy. I’m always in awe of your mahi.
Yes Evan, an animal is given blinkers. The animal is forced to wear these blinkers until the task is complete. Only then, does the animals’s master / mistress take the blinkers off.
My question is when will Erica Stanford take her blinkers off? What tasks does she still need to perform first for this chaotic coalition government before she is (like a blinkered animal) put out to pasture?
A fantastic letter Claire, encompassing the voices of many of us who have worked within education and work from evidence based premises. So important to understand the diversity of our country and the ongoing research into what makes the best education for all our young people.
Yes now we need the Minister to deeply understand.
This is brilliantly written and very thought provoking. For me it's worth remembering that previous government Ministers from both of the major parties have listened. Nikki Kaye is a great example as was Jan Tinetti. This Minister has not and will not until there is a change of government.
Brilliant letter, it might be a bit much for her to process in one sitting but if we could get transparent, honest answers I’m sure we can wait a few days.
I’m very concerned that the minister has not prioritised attending SPANZ, it should be a date ring-fenced immediately the dates for the year are announced. It should be exactly the same for the NZPA conference dates. This is her best chance to connect with school leaders and to hear their concerns while sharing her own and hopefully finding some common ground. Like her party leader she is not making herself available to the public, very disappointing. She’s not the only education minister who has had to enter a room full of testy educational leaders. Hekia fronted every year as did the others. Yet here’s our Erica remaining outside the room she really needs to be in, in the spirit of respect and learning.
Erica Stanford is so out of her depth, therefore she cannot be shown up by too many experienced professional and competent teachers and school principals. She’ll resist meeting kanohi te kanohi because she knows she won’t be able to save face afterwards.
So well written Claire.
How unfortunate that the very thing the antiquated system that used the virtually meaningless (except for a ranking in some undefined criteria) A B C D E F gradings produced a Minister who simply cannot listen to experts.
Surely Minister Stanford’s own ignorance is reason enough to not foist an education system from the past on our rangatahi that rather than illuminates provides the blinkers she so clearly has put on. Her narrow approach is all the evidence we need to see the harm of those old ways.
Big ups to you Claire for your own vision, clarity of communication and energy. I’m always in awe of your mahi.
Yes Evan, an animal is given blinkers. The animal is forced to wear these blinkers until the task is complete. Only then, does the animals’s master / mistress take the blinkers off.
My question is when will Erica Stanford take her blinkers off? What tasks does she still need to perform first for this chaotic coalition government before she is (like a blinkered animal) put out to pasture?
A fantastic letter Claire, encompassing the voices of many of us who have worked within education and work from evidence based premises. So important to understand the diversity of our country and the ongoing research into what makes the best education for all our young people.
Yes now we need the Minister to deeply understand.
Very, very well said. Thank you. Now we just need to get her to read it.
Claire thanks for this brilliant post!