Posts by tim kong
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What Jackie said.
Pay parity is, in my humble opinion, one of the key aspects of our NZ education system.
It is an active and actual way of valuing all educators for their role in working with students who move through our education system. It is about saying the work that I do, as a Y7&8 teacher, is based on, and only do-able because of the work that a kindergarten or new entrant teacher has done.
There are those who would break this pay parity, because they believe their knowledge and therefore, their instruction is more valuable than mine.
We devalue what we do when we value one learner's ability, or one educator's knowledge over another. We destroy the very value we claim when we attach a cash amount to it.
This doesn't preclude wanting the absolute best for all our students, wherever and whenever they are. Mediocrity should not be tolerated.
Learning is, like Morningside, for life!
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Hard News: Moving from frustration to disgust, in reply to Glenn Pearce,
On teacher salaries, the NZEI has put together a couple of simple videos to explain the pay scale in NZ.
You can also read the current collective agreements (if you really want). These agreements are coming up for negotiation now.
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Much to consider on this issue, not least the over-arching question that is: "What problem is it exactly that all of this government's education policies are trying to fix?"
I'm still not convinced we've got enough of an education issue in our educational system to warrant the absolute overhaul of core parts that Key and co seem to believe is necessary.
Yes - we have bad schools. And yes we have poor teachers. But we do have existing processes to identify/support/assist/remove them from the system.
Does this reform mean these processes are broken?
I also struggle not to grind my teeth, when they tag on to any conversation about education policy that comes out of the govt/the Ministry that the policies are all about "raising achievement for all learners through quality teaching"It's said as if those in the education sector are actively working to lower achievement and to degrade the quality of teaching.
We know the issues, we sit and work with them every day... just let us do our jobs, instead of making us justify our jobs and roles with increasingly inane and nonsensical amounts of paperwork.
To wit - these league tables that are to be generated by some poor bugger inside the MoE who's sitting through 2500 paper-based charters, trying to align a big pile of words with some sort of quantifiably valid measure - and then turn it into an Excel table.
These tables are we presume based on National Standards data. I'm assuming they are also having to match up with the other set of standards that were developed for Maori-medium schools.
One might almost think the cunning MoE folk, planned this cockup of papershuffling, so they could build and present an online database for collecting data, that all schools must use to input their data - that could be hosted as schools are getting UFB, as part of a benevolent government initiative, that will "raise teaching and learning outcomes" and oh look, here's $400million dollars to build a Network for Learning - that can deliver that database easily to all schools, and we can combine that with e-Asttle to assess all students...
and voila - instant on- always-on-Nationalised Testing.
And we can save money on teacher quality coz any muggins can punch a keypad, and we can save money on teacher quantity, coz we've got a great deal with Microsoft to give everyone a Surface tablet.
cue Pink Floyd.
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Just wanted to follow up on Robyn's post about the http://eq.org.nz project.
It's been amazing to be a part of something really powerful and scarily scattered. Yet at its simplest level, it's caring people doing really cool shit.
There's a number of KiwiFoo folk in there, but volunteers from Switzerland, Buenos Aires, Australia and Chch itself are all doing work where they can.
It is making a difference - my parents used it to check which roads were blocked, and the Volunteer Student Army are using the data to actively help people on the ground.
How eq.org.nz came about is a brief overview of the people and talent involved. And the timeframe, is just crazy.
There's a John Cage quote that I like - it's Rule 10 from Sister Corita's Rules - that are stuck above my desk.
“We’re breaking all of the rules, even our own rules and how do we do that? By leaving plenty of room for X quantities.” - John Cage
This event has shown that new rules, new thinking, new ways of doing and connecting around our country and world can make change and make a difference. The eq.org.nz project has had plenty of room for X - and the X is all of us.
If you're one of the volunteers - many thanks - if you'd like to help out - please check http://volunteer.eq.org.nz
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Dear Tom,
With respect, your analogous tale while dripping with sarcasm and a fair degree of erudite noddery to the history and heritage of the Labour movement, is only reflective of the pompous fluff that has been passed off as serious political debate over the last month.
Would Helen Clark have been any less pragmatic in making a deal that keeps NZ workers employed and an industry afloat?
Despite the certain belief that some might hold about ideological positions, some of us "scabs" and "poor wee morsels" out here in this New Zealand are actually willing and wanting to work. And are willing to negotiate our terms and conditions. And are willing to engage with our employers as civil human beings. And accept that there are risks and benefits. And get on with it.
To return to your wee tale - what use would Mr Parnell's promise to work 8 hours be - if there was no work to be had. I'd wager that not much sleep, 8 hours or not would have been had if Mr Parnell had no work.
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@SimonG
Sorry - need to be clear - I'm aware there was much handwringing here on PA about the earthquake legislation. And I'm of the opinion that it was bad process.
But I don't recall Labour doing much handwringing - in fact they supported the bill, with Phil Goff stating ".. this isn't business as usual"
But for this legislation - Mallard comes out with the "it's bad process" defense. I'd humbly suggest that losing the income from not just this film project, but the collapse of the wider film industry might have had some impact on "business as usual".
I know in politics, you can be one and then the other - but at the very least respect the intelligence of some of us, by not being quite so obvious about your expediency.
How exactly would the Left have spun their position if the Hobbit and the film industry had gone offshore, and the many thousands of people who'd rely on income from that project been hurt financially? Seriously - could you still honestly be seen as the party of the workers and families - when that many workers and families would have been broken?
As Danyl said on one of the other threads (or it might have been this one) - it's the lack of a half decent opposition that's causing despair.
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And if it's such bad law-making process - why was there not the same hand-wringing over the equally bad law that is the Earthquake bill?
Really - the left needs to take this one on the chin, and make sure it doesn't screw up this unbelievably badly again.
Ideology doesn't exist in a political vacuum - and when it does - it resembles the bun-fight/new-speak spin of the last month.
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@Brendon
Actually I went to support the rally in Wellington on Monday, to support my partner who works in the film industry, and to support an industry that has helped feed and cloth my child, and pay our mortgage. An industry made up of good people, who work damn hard doing what they love.
The union movement in the last few weeks, as embodied by the actions of AE and Simon Whipp has done a fair job of holding onto grand principles, while ignoring current realities and real people. There was such startlingly inept conduct by those representing the "union" - that I'm amazed it didn't get any worse. That's the travesty IMO - and one that needs to be redressed before the unions can be taken seriously again.
And I say that as an NZEI member, who's off to a paid union meeting tomorrow to find out what we're getting offered, by the government.
If I consider the issues, the reality of what's going on in the rest of the country, to our economy, to other real people, and make my own mind up about what's worth striking for... If I consider why I do what I do, ignoring the hype from Tolley and or those bearing placards ... If I consider my family and my personal principles - and if I refuse to strike - will you call me a scab again?
I don't often wish this on anyone - but please Craig, please unleash the pith, the venom, the verbose and the vernacular.
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As you know, with the help of the teachers’ union (NZEI) many of you were phoned over the course of the campaign and we were gratified that you conveyed your continuing support.
As an NZEI member, and NZEI rep - I'm confused by this - mainly because it's the first I've heard of it. And I doubt I would have been helping even if I had been notified of it.
I'm starting to not like this "all for one" union approach. I know there's strength to be had in numbers - and being a teacher I'm aware of what it is to be collegial.
But I'm also aware of what it is to be pragmatic enough to not screw up what you've already got, in the desire to gain something you think you might.
Fighting for principle, when the reality of the situation is so much more important, just seems gratuitous. As Jonathan has said, real people, with real mortgages and real families are being hugely affected by this.
If the production leaves NZ - NZ Equity members don't get to work on it... If the production does stay in NZ - do any members of NZ Equity actually imagine they'll get work on it?
What possible "win" situation does the NZ Equity/CTU actually believe possible after this shambles?
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On the "breathy" commentators tip - was it just me, or was the commentator for the WC final suffering from a really bad cold or nasal infection of some sort.
I thought something was wrong with my home theatre system for a bit - but when we finally figured out what it was - wow, it just got really annoying.
Isn't that the reason the rugby commentators have the microphones with the "lid" on them - so they don't breathe all over the viewing public.