Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: It is your right and duty to vote

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  • giovanni tiso,

    * BTW, I'm happy with the level of assessment and reporting of my kids, and if I have any questions then I front up to the teacher interview and ask for a clarification.

    Not all parents have the attitude or indeed the ability needed to do so. I think the "plain English" idea, even though it was worded rather crudely, does have something commendable about it. But as I say, all it needs is a half page memo from the ministry and a warning that ERO will make it part of its focus.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Glenn Pearce,

    teacher interview

    Mikaere, that is sooo old skool. It's all 3-way student led conferences these days.

    Auckland • Since Feb 2007 • 504 posts Report Reply

  • David Cormack,

    As Gio said, you don't know the guy.

    There does come a time when more direct action has some appeal.

    I'm not sure that this has any appeal to me, physical harm isn't really something I'm in favour of if we disagree with a politician.

    In the end what does it achieve anyway?

    Suburbia, Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 218 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    Just to be contrary: I don't actually think people need to have read the policy in order to object to it. I am not an education expert, (though I do have a small, voluntary, education-related role) and I'm not sure that I'd be able to pick out the precise bits of the policy that are going to problematic, vs the bits that won't. Instead, I base my opinion of the policy on the opinions of those I consider experts in the field (which does not include Anne Tolley. A stint on a School Board doesn't make an expert.) I have read John Hattie's long and thoughtful commentary on the standards, and I have spoken to teachers who I respect, and it is that reading and those conversations which are the basis for my concern.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    In the end what does it achieve anyway?

    Nothing, that much is clear.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    I have read John Hattie's long and thoughtful commentary on the standards, and I have spoken to teachers who I respect, and it is that reading and those conversations which are the basis for my concern.

    Listening to the experts still means forming an informed opinion. Hattie incidentally is one of the researchers whose words were twisted to support the case for the national standards.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    In the end what does it achieve anyway?

    Indeed, Berlusconi milked it almost immediately, wandering around looking dazed. He's a cunning one. He will no doubt use it to his advantage.

    But I can imagine feeling angry enough with the man to do it. A nasty piece of work.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • David Cormack,

    A nasty piece of work.

    Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan either, but as much as I think the guy is a terrible individual, I can't in good conscience support violent action.

    Suburbia, Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 218 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    diverting scare resources

    I know it was just a typo but I think the scare resources that have been diverted into pushing this policy through have been excessive as well.

    What bugs me about the whole policy is that those who actually know WTF they are doing (ie teachers and education specialists) have been so completely ignored. Instead it's been political grandstanding of the worst kind. Which doesn't bother me much except when it's about important things ... like I don't know ... educating the next generation maybe? grrrr

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Just to be contrary: I don't actually think people need to have read the policy in order to object to it.

    And that's a reason why I pretty much avoid Kiwibog and the Sub-Standard. Just assuming that whatever the evildoers do is evil saves so much time and effort...

    He's a crook and a thug. And apart from anything else, he has exploited the system to defeat all legitimate attempts to bring him to account -- up to and including changing laws to save himself from criminal prosecution, and persecuting judges. There does come a time when more direct action has some appeal.

    Russell: OMFG. To be fair, I guess it's a damn sight easier to applaud common thuggery in a nation where we don't have an equivalent of Aldo Moro or Giovanni Falcone. The most unpleasant thing to happen to our Prime Minister is early morning textual harassment by a barking moonbat, and we can still be shocked by horrors like Dame Augusta Wallace being attacked with a machette in the Otahuhu Youth Court in 1990.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Mikaere Curtis,

    I know it was just a typo

    Is there such a thing as Freudian typos ?

    Tamaki Makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 528 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Which doesn't bother me much except when it's about important things ... like I don't know ... educating the next generation maybe? grrrr

    Spoken like a man who hasn't read the the 2025 Taskforce Report. I can assure you it makes Tolley look like Maria freaking Montessori in comparison.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    My early evening PaperBoy (i.e "The Scotsman" Edinburgh) reports that Berlusconi's assailant is known to have a mental illness...

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    And that's a reason why I pretty much avoid Kiwibog and the Sub-Standard. Just assuming that whatever the evildoers do is evil saves so much time and effort...

    I did look at it -- it wasn't much more than the kind of populist soundbite you sometimes get with policies forged in Opposition: all "commonsense" and no reason. I gather that when Tolley came in the first step was to work out what the policy was.

    Which makes it all the more grossly unacceptable that it was rushed through under urgency late last year. I don't think that was an accident. They'd promised it, but they knew that the policy as it stood was weak, and would suffer badly under select committee scrutiny.

    As I've said, I think there are people at the ministry working very hard to ensure that our system enjoys the research benefits of a standards scheme (because you can never have too much sweet, sweet data) without falling into the holes that standards have in other countries. Tolley, OTOH, is not really up to her job.

    But, again: the thing that will wreck national standards as a research tool is some idiots in the news media doing an OIA and making league tables. The only real benefits of a national standarised testing scheme will be lost as the data are compromised.

    And mark my words, the fuckers will do it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • David Cormack,

    Craig Ranapia and I...alone together on an island of anti-violence. Glad to have reached some common ground with you sir :)

    Suburbia, Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 218 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Heh. And I'm not really even defending my view.

    I'd have been as happy with a good custard pie, but when a bullying thug cops one, I'm not so bothered.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    WRT Berlo the bully:

    Surely there's a difference between on the one hand actively plotting someone physical harm, and on the other, enjoying a strong double shot of schadenfreude when someone cops a well-deserved smack in the chops, when that smack has nothing to do with you?

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Yeah, I'll save my pity for those who've endured a hundred times worse, and deserved it a thousand times less.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    I'm as anti-Tory as they come, but would hate for something like that to happen to John Key outside of a proper insurrection.

    Besides, what could one hit Key with – a scale model of Te Papa, the Michael Fowler Centre, Queen's Wharf as Party Central?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    Paul - it's right in front of you - the Skytower.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Paul - it's right in front of you - the Skytower.

    Steady on. You could have someone's eye out with that.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Dave Waugh,

    Besides, what could one hit Key with – a scale model of Te Papa, the Michael Fowler Centre, Queen's Wharf as Party Central?

    I think a scale model of the stock exchange might be fitting.... Custard filled of course. ;o)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 98 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    How do the Tolley Standards compare with America's No Child Left Behind Act?

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    We're a rural nation, full of dairy farms - I'm sure something more appropriate, and traditionally kiwi, than custard could be found ...

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • pollywog,

    glad to see you're not ageist russell:)

    i mean berlusconi is what? about 73 or something but still deserving of the bash ?

    is there an upper limit on age as to when its not OK ?

    somewhere else • Since Dec 2009 • 152 posts Report Reply

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