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Education Readings   By Allan Alach   Every week Bruce Hammonds and I collect articles to share with teachers to encourage a creative approach to teaching and learning. We welcome suggested articles, so if you come across a gem, email it to me at allanalach@inspire.net.nz Secret Teacher NZ: Why I left teaching? ‘I sat down to write this and had to start over many times. I’m not sure how to go about explaining why I left teaching in a way that doesn’t come off as judgy, or blamey or a woe-is-me tale . I suppose many educators feel like this. Teaching seems to be the one profession everyone feels qualified to have an opinion on, seeing as we all went through a school at some point.’ http://bit.ly/2M4YVYC The Destruction of New Zealand's Public Education System Dave Kennedy wrote this back on 2014. Has there been any change? Worse? Better? About the same? ‘ This government is destroying our amazing collaborative, holistic public education system that recently led the world...

With the election of a new government maybe it is time to reflect on the history of educational change since the 1980s and also for some fresh thinking? The below blog written December 2012   Cathy Wylie outlines new wave  of change for New Zealand Schools! Time for a new wave of change! In the 1980s a new political ideology swept through Anglo American countries. It was a time of dramatic change as the democratic welfare state was replaced by  what has come to be known as a ‘Market Forces business oriented’ approach based on small government, valuing self-interest, privatisation, competition, choice and accountability. This neo liberal approach was believed to be the only way to cope with dramatic worsening worldwide economic circumstances. A common phrase at the time was TINA (there is no alternative). New Zealand was not immune . The recently elected Labour Government led by David Lange was influenced by finance minister Roger Douglas and the Treasury. ‘Th...

Education Readings By Allan Alach Chris Hipkins New Zealand’s new government has now been sworn in and is now getting down to work. The new Minister of Education, Chris Hipkins, has made it clear that national standards are going, so that teachers can focus on teaching rather than testing . While I’m sure that there will be policy decisions that we don’t agree with, the overall direction will be positive. Because of this, there will be a subtle change of emphasis in these readings, with more articles focussing on enhancing quality teaching and learning. The odd ‘anti-GERM’ article will still appear, to inform less fortunate teachers overseas, and also as a warning to New Zealand not to go back down that path. I welcome suggested articles, so if you come across a gem, email it to me at allanalach@inspire.net.nz Please forward these readings to other teachers, schools and interested people. Building Resilience, Preventing Burnout Are you putting your health and well-being first? You can...

Reflections by Phil Cullen who retired from his role as Director of Primary Education Queensland and who, since his retirement, has fought the good fight to resist the neo-liberal GERM ( Global Education Reform Movement that has infected Australian Education.   Charles Philip [Phil] Cullen  AM;  A.E d., B.Ed.[UQ], Dip.Ed.Edmin, M.Ed.Admin (Hons) [UNE];  FACE, FACEL, FQIEL, Gold Medal ACEL;  Life Member:  CCEA, QASSP, QSPSSA, QSSSA, Bris. SSRLA;  Co-author: 4 books;  Author 1 book; Former Q’ld Director of Primary Education; Chairman:  Q’ld Day Comm, Primary Curric.Comm, Review Primary Educ’n in A.C.T. Gov’t Schools; Regional Director NQ & N.West Q’ld;  Former member:  Lismore Catholic Diocese Ed. Council,  McAuley College  [now ACU] Council,  James Cook U of NQ Council ,  Townsville CAE Council.  Primary School Teacher/Principal 23 years; Regional Director & Inspector 6 year...