Monthly Archives: July 2014

Independent advice and Stuart McNaughton an oxymoron

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Kelvin Smythe

The state of knowledge in school education and the role of academics in our governance is characterised by John Hattie being the academic star in both New Zealand and Australia. His research, and I say this quietly, is very much … Continue reading →

Posted in Academics, Education Policy | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

The NZ Herald education editorialist is oh so wrong

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Kelvin Smythe

There is something disconcerting about the Herald education editorialist (I have no idea of his name); something reminiscent; something that stirs associations.  That he is a virulent education neoliberal is obvious and will be demonstrated, but there is something more. … Continue reading →

Posted in Media | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Upper Hutt cluster take a stand against the IES

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Kelvin Smythe

Wendy Eyles Spokesperson Upper Hutt Boards of Trustees Cluster Ph 04 970 6262 rweyles@paradise.net.nz Media Release 7 July 2014 – for immediate release Attention: Education and Political Reporters BOARDS AND PRINCIPALS UNITED IN STATEMENT TO PETER HUGHES Following the announcement … Continue reading →

Posted in Education Policy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Dominion Post stoops to partisan politics – John O’Neill gets caught up in Fairfax’s anti-state school stance

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Kelvin Smythe

Dear reader There will now proceed a seriously unbalanced campaign against Labour’s education policies. It will be a campaign with an implicit slur on New Zealand public school teachers. The argument will be that having more teachers will be wasted … Continue reading →

Posted in Education Policy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Phil Harding rains on the donation parade

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Kelvin Smythe

I promised that yesterday’s posting would be the last for the term. Perhaps, I should have been a politician and given myself an out and qualified what I said with ‘unless there were unforeseen circumstances’. Phil Harding, New Zealand Principal … Continue reading →

Posted in NZPF | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Losing the curriculum: going to hell in a handbasket

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Kelvin Smythe

And by curriculum I mean our curriculum – the one developed in classroom experience from the interaction of a number of knowledges over decades. If we lose our curriculum – we lose: and we are losing. If we are united … Continue reading →

Posted in Curriculum | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments