tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372872358103910013.post2744192419088311956..comments2024-02-09T10:10:30.457-08:00Comments on Four Seasons In One Kiwi: Proposed Funding Changes - Part One: Principally Musedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13878473523703251907noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372872358103910013.post-34631614309305153062016-08-28T12:55:41.472-07:002016-08-28T12:55:41.472-07:00I think the key is to keep on wondering, questioni...I think the key is to keep on wondering, questioning and asking - if we do not we will just blindly be going forward like lemmings. As Educators it is our professional responsibility to ensure that we understand the policies we are entrusted to implement and to question them if we are unsure of their efficacy or ability to improve things for our students. To often we languish in silence, frustrated and upset about the lack of our own voice Principally Musedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13878473523703251907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372872358103910013.post-49117365870069594522016-08-28T12:50:41.261-07:002016-08-28T12:50:41.261-07:00I just wish they would say what they really want a...I just wish they would say what they really want and then let the Educators and the Public look at it and debate it. All this fluffing around changing the education act and sliding in policy via what looks like stealth, just creates an environment of distrust. This is not helpful for advancing education or supporting students. Principally Musedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13878473523703251907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372872358103910013.post-53226775861475498892016-08-28T12:48:03.741-07:002016-08-28T12:48:03.741-07:00I would agree that keeping an open mind, whilst re...I would agree that keeping an open mind, whilst remaining to look through critical lens, is important.Principally Musedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13878473523703251907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372872358103910013.post-14026007823294028692016-08-28T12:44:15.836-07:002016-08-28T12:44:15.836-07:00I think this is a good question to ask - I would l...I think this is a good question to ask - I would like to know what informed the thinking around this policy. Principally Musedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13878473523703251907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372872358103910013.post-4908966934444825752016-08-27T02:17:52.935-07:002016-08-27T02:17:52.935-07:00Thank you for this piece. I have read many pieces ...Thank you for this piece. I have read many pieces on the this latest funding review initiative, and have come to appreciate your wonderings. You have added to my wonderings. Again, thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372872358103910013.post-54002303351400658222016-08-24T05:17:11.742-07:002016-08-24T05:17:11.742-07:00Thank you for such a thoughtful and detailed post....Thank you for such a thoughtful and detailed post. I didn't think the icebergs would come in this quickly...<br /><br />The following is a reply that I wrote for another blog about the new online schools proposal and their possibility to further democratise education ('choice'), but I feel important to add to this narrative as well. <br /><br />Apologies for I'm possibly breaking blogpost etiquette by re-replying.<br /><br />It is something I have been watching closely for a while.<br /><br />I have two questions in regards to this new proposal for online schools:<br /><br />1. Can education be a for-profit enterprise and still maintain equity of access to quality learning for all students in NZ? Why should we settle for anything less than that?<br /><br />2. How will the isolation of online learning affect students' mental wellbeing when they are still developing their prefrontal cortex and we know how a strong sense of community and belonging impacts learning? <br /><br />The strides that the education sector has made in adopting human-centred approaches such as design thinking and maker space could be seriously undermined. These tap into the strengths of collaborative creativity that are not easy to develop nor maintain in online environments. <br /><br />Ruth Richardson, in her speech 'A Better Way' (2003, http://www.rrnz.co.nz/downloads/Reform%20Speech.pdf) exulted the privatisation of health and education: "When the consumer of health or education services has choice and the provider is incentivised to be efficient, it costs less and the consumer gets more." <br /><br />Sounds great, except that I have yet to see how any physical applications of this model has benefitted the vast majority of tax payers/consumers (except shareholders), added quality to the health and education services or improved equity of access to all New Zealanders. There has been been no increase in democratisation through this ideology.<br /><br />The vast majority of current models of online schools have been an abject failure for their inability to address the profit before quality mentality. http://www.salon.com/2016/02/15/the_walton_family_foundation_admits_partner/<br /><br />I would hate to see public education become the next corporate welfare sector.<br /><br />As much as I love EdTech, this proposal comes with a huge caution considering both the current ideology driving it (that diametrically opposes the democratisation of access EdTech can offer) and the way it has been implemented overseas. By all means, let's keep an open mind but at the same time, let's keep our eyes wide open. Failure to do so could be very costly for generations to come.Ximenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05344958964970960740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372872358103910013.post-31432877262763064802016-08-24T05:14:48.731-07:002016-08-24T05:14:48.731-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Ximenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05344958964970960740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372872358103910013.post-38914528030637820112016-08-24T03:20:49.624-07:002016-08-24T03:20:49.624-07:00I enjoyed reading your summary of the proposed cha...I enjoyed reading your summary of the proposed changes and your thoughts and wonderings. There is a lot to take in!<br />It is the hidden agenda (or not so hidden) that concerns me the most. There are so many changes happening at present and very few are supported by Principals and teachers. Aren't we the ones who know our learners best?!!!<br />I look forward to reading part two :-)Steph Kittohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17117836118856762845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372872358103910013.post-47021899342258296552016-08-23T12:48:44.392-07:002016-08-23T12:48:44.392-07:00There is an advisory group of Principals represent...There is an advisory group of Principals representative of most of the sector - but updates from them are few and far between. Students should be front and centre in this! What does their voice say? Given yesterdays announcement of online learning you can see how all the changes to the Education Act (under the guise of streamlining) are all adding to up to cut a cost saving. The irony here is that some of these changes are not necessarily a bad thing - but like other big changes, poorly communicated, consulted on and often times badly implemented due to the 'rush'. Principally Musedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13878473523703251907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372872358103910013.post-26713483046346164252016-08-23T12:45:41.207-07:002016-08-23T12:45:41.207-07:00I agree that it is the unknowns that are most worr...I agree that it is the unknowns that are most worrying - given that all schools are to be fully inclusive next year I do wonder how the recent Special Needs review will impact on the funding. For me its all the 'other' types of funding that no one knows if we will have. Whilst the decile system is a blunt instrument, it is at least, one that is basically based on an equity model. I am a little concerned that the targeted funding will see some schools lose funding - and because the targeted funding is at the discretion of other agencies - I am unsure how equitable it will actually be. Principally Musedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13878473523703251907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372872358103910013.post-2127668761430242512016-08-23T04:30:00.311-07:002016-08-23T04:30:00.311-07:00Thanks for digesting and summarizing all of this. ...Thanks for digesting and summarizing all of this. I feel better informed and appreciate your thoughtful wonderings. As I tweeted, who are the researchers and advisers? Where do students, well prepared for an uncertain future, feature in the plans? Mrs Hydehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02684877786952444980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372872358103910013.post-37631461659343001902016-08-23T03:19:26.577-07:002016-08-23T03:19:26.577-07:00As the parent of a ORS funded child who is termina...As the parent of a ORS funded child who is terminally ill, and is currently at Primary School and an educator I am really concerned about the funding model and how it will be affected, and how we will best be able to cater for students with significant disabilities. <br /><br />This is hugely passionate piece of writing that raises all sorts of issues - and has given me cause and pause to think. At this stage it is being touted as nothing short of a suggestion, however the consultation process at best may well be superficial. Great writing.<br /><br />Anon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com