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The walk down to the Junior School This mural assisted by a retired Art Adiser Junior classrooms in earlier (pre  Tomorrows's Schools)days were where one saw the best child centred classrooms . They were run along developmental lines, based on centres of interest and integrated language/arts based experience programmes . Exploring the immediate environment through their students senses with the belief that before the word the the experience was a strong feature of such rooms. The writings of Sylvia Ashton Warner and later Marie Clay were important references .  Welcoming new children and their parents Since Tomorrow's School;s educational change has been imposed from the top often by people with little classroom experience and , worse still, by politicians with competitive intentions contrary to the collaborative culture of schools . In recent years National Standards were introduced that were neither national or standard, and along with them tedious assessment and accoun...

The Taranaki Environmental Approach  of the 1970s Last week I was at a meeting attended by Andrew Little Minister of Justice in the Labour Coalition Government. During our conversation iot arose that  I had taught Andrew's secretary in the mid 70s! I said I would find a photo for him to pass on to her. I remembered that there was a photo of his secretary in an article I had contributed to an N ZEI  Forwards to Basics   book edited by Jack Shallcrass in 1978 Jack was a well known commentator on progressive educationalist at the time and contributed regular article to the NZ Listener The purpose of the book was share the range of successful educational practices in primary schools . Jack writes in the preface he had 200 contributions and I remember him visiting my classroom at this time . Jack wrote  encouragingly about the quality of the teaching he was privileged to observe . Maybe its time for a modern version of his book? My own contribution took the form o...

Education Readings This week featuring Sir Ken Robinson By Allan Alach I welcome suggested articles, so if you come across a gem, email it to me at allanalach@inspire.net.nz Here are some links to acknowledge Sir Ken Robinson who is currently in New Zealand. Sir Ken Robinson: creative thought leader in education Interview on Radio New Zealand on Sunday 4th March. http://bit.ly/2tCwJmY Summerhill School: learning as students choose Sir Ken referenced this school in his interview, so here is an interview with Zo e Readhead, daughter of A.S. Neill - a must listen . ‘Summerhill is an alternative free school in Suffolk, England, started by educational leader A.S. Neill in 1921. The pupils are free to come to lessons as they choose, and students and teachers have an equal voice in decision making.’ http://bit.ly/2tGrcfh Ken Robinson: Government “Standardization” Blocks Innovative Education  Reform “I never blame teachers or schools… But there is this deadly culture of standardizing, that...

Time for teachers to add their voices to the debate Education Readings By Allan Alach I welcome suggested articles, so if you come across a gem, email it to me at allanalach@inspire.net.nz Yesterdays Schools Chris Hipkins ,  the new Minister of Education, has announced that there is to be a review of the New Zealand education Tomorrows Schools (1986) system. Not before time. How Children Learn Bravery in an Age of Overprotection Peter Gray : ‘I doubt if there has ever been any human culture, anywhere, at any time, that underestimates children's abilities more than we North Americans do today .  Our underestimation becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy, because, by depriving children of freedom, we deprive them of the opportunities they need to learn how to take control of their own behavior and emotions. ” http://bit.ly/2sBgXIL Reasons Today’s Kids Are Bored At School, Feel Entitled, Have Little Patience & Few Real Friends ‘ I completely agree with this teacher’ s messa...