NZEI National Exec

There are dark forces at work! Be wary of an administration that places millions of dollars into private education whilst families and schools around NZ continue to struggle. It is a curious thing that the prisons are full of illiterate, hearing impaired educational dropouts, yet to cure the problem we give millions to the already privileged! Go figure. Then there's national standards, let's keep Anne Tolley honest on this one. Honest and clear reporting to parents is a great thing comparing schools on the basis of achievement levels on National standards is not and is most certainly not backed buy research. Then there is the suggestion that we suggest how the government can trim $95 million dollars off staffing! Get real! We don't have enough now, plus we have support staff paid less than our cleaners!

A sad day for Deaf Education in NZ

What a day of mixed emotions for me. Saying farewell to one of my most respected colleagues whilst at the same time catching up with some of my first students within Deaf Ed. Wow some of them are 42!!! Very emotionally draining day. Tomorrow I head to Wellington for NZEI National Exec Meeting. I look forward to these immensely but they are intensive hard work!

Just some thoughts of mine

Who would have thought ten years ago that I would become an avid Coro Street fan? Certainly not me. Then again who would have thought that I would become part of the establishment, or hold conservative views? It's a great and funny and sad thing all at once the process of aging. It doesn't frighten me and I love getting older even though there's still a 20 year old living inside this middle aged body. I am struggling, however with watching my Mum lose her independence, after close on 80 years of very active living and I can't help but wonder how healthy she would be if it wasn't for tobacco! Suddenly she is reliant, dependent even, on Janeve and I. For me that's not a problem apart from the fact that it affects any thoughts of travel and/or work abroad, but for her it's a real problem. She's always said how she doesn't want to burden anyone and she's not but I sense how much she hates having to rely on others. Then there's the cognition. That seems to be deteriorating as rapidly as the physical health and I can't help but wonder how much one relies on the other. She was once a church goer and I wonder too if she ever thinks about the teachings she learnt in those years. She does't share much of her inner thoughts.

"Enough!"
"How?" I hear you say
"Does this relate to education?"

It's just that education is about people, especially children, and relationships between people and I wonder if we are turning out better citizens with all the pressure that is now brought to bear on the classroom teacher, and the continuing narrowing of the curriculum. I think not! Bring back fun, music, and frivolity and lessen the pressure of E-learning, inquiry, and the total focus on numeracy and literacy with the inherant unmanageable pressures of incessant assessment all with the aim of appeasing the buracracy! We all want literate and numerate students of course, and I love computers as much as the kids, but for goodness sake, when I meet some of my ex students now, they don't say "Hi Mr Green, thanks for teaching me to read." They do say "thanks for making school such fun, do you still play the guitar. I remember that song we used to sing all the time" Actually, most of my new entrants taught themselves to read, I provided the enthusiasm, and reasons to read whilst allowing me to concentrate on those who struggled to make the connections.

Bloody viruses

My lap top has a virus! My son who is in IT says it's a nasty one in fact one of the worst!! Don't ask me how I come to have it because I don't know. The first thing that happened was that I could suddenly no longer open pdf files using adobe reader, then I was having to boot up 3 or 4 times before the thing would operate. So now it is on its way to Auckland and I am about to resume the foetal position on the floor! There has been lots of rain in this pat of the world today.

I had a great educational experience today utilsing the old adage about two heads being better. I work with two relatively new students at Whakamaru School. I approached the Ministry for advice and assistance from the SLT. Heather was great as she assessed both students and together we formulated some language goals. This was a great example of collaborative working as these students are not on her case-load, however I am now able to take the programme to the Teacher aide and to the homes for back up. We will make more of a difference together!

I have a cold! Hope it's not the piggy kind of flu!

Well this is the first day I've had of this year due to illness. It's just a cold but it's a doozy! Worst aspect was no sleep last night. To add to the misery its a COLD day in Turangi. There is not enough snow for the season to open yet but hopefully by the end of the month. I am looking forward now to the end of term when Janeve and I fly to Sydney so that I can attand the ANZCED conference. I am looking forward to supporting the many colleagues of mine who will be making presentations.

I have been taking zinc and start the day with lemon juice, both supposed to increase my resisitance to the likes of cold viruses.....HUH!

My first ever Blog (I hope some one reads them)

What a great day at KDEC on Friday. It is always great to spend time with all the RTD. I hope that you all got good ideas from my session on the Web 2.0 technologies? I thought that Barry raised an interesting point when he said that he hadn't seen Wayne in the time he had been there. I know that I had met Wayne a couple of times and knew who he was as with Margaret but not really well, but assumed that those who work out of KDEC would have been in regular contact! Interesting indeed. I did wonder though how many RTD wander up to and in and around the base apart from the offices where they are based. What is obvious is the need for more RTD vs Core School Staff contact.

The Waibop team had a great social time on the Thursday evening and this sort of time is essential to the smooth functinoning of the facility