Schools journey into unknown curriculum territory
Feathers have been rustled in anticipation of the revised curriculum.
“It’s a shame we can’t think for ourselves, and we have to follow what others have done,” says Hutt Central School principal Tony Horsfall.
He says staff at the Alicetown school think the revised curriculum is world leading, but Mr Horsfall says national standards “flies in the face” of the curriculum’s intentions.
“It’s a great curriculum and other countries around the world are looking to us for this.
“It’s just a shame we have to take on national standards,” he says.
Mr Horsfall says there is a suspicion national standards are the first step towards a government pay review system for teachers. Such a system based on national standards would be unfair because of the multiple factors affecting student’s learning outcomes, he says.
“There are a lot of variables that affect kids’ progress.
“It’s not about spitting out bolts, and if you have 100 at the end of the day you get a pay rise,” he says.
A Cambridge University report on national standards showed they had a negative effect on students learning and the ability of teachers to fulfil their role, he says. The UK Government has since dropped national standards.
“It will lead away from creativity and spontaneity, which is how kids like to learn.
“It really flies in the face of the curriculum’s future focus,” says Mr Horsfall.
Khandallah School Principal Louise Green says the revised curriculum has a focus on sustainability and future planning, but the onus is on schools to implement their own ideas. Mrs Green is positive about the overall changes, which she says allows communities to adapt to their own needs and set the direction of learning.
“In the curriculum there is a clear future focus, but we will have to do that unsupported.
“We are on a journey... [The curriculum] will bring teaching into the 21st Century,” she says.
Mrs Green says the dropping of Enviroschool funding runs the risk of losing vital knowledge built up by the programme.
“We have defiantly benefited over the years from the programme. They have taken funds from an awesome project that kids, families and the community come together for.
“It’s a real shame the funding has ceased,” Mrs Green says.
Financial support for Enviroschool coordinators and training has stopped, which places the ability to educate new school staff “about the big picture” in jeopardy.
“The fear is if there are no funds it will be harder to sustain the programme without the backup we had before,” she says.
Greenacres School in Tawa is also positive about the revised teaching methods and Principal Graeme Schofield says the less ridged structure will allow schools to evolve.
“We are finding it really good; basically it’s much more compatible with including the basics with what it happening in the community.
“The school is able to adapt to meet its own needs,” he says.
