The NZ Herald calls the government’s presentation of proposed teacher cuts dishonest, political humbug and a study in spin.
The fact is that the present moves will make it harder for teachers to deliver quality – and disproportionately harder for teachers in low-decile schools whose pupils are attracted to the subject areas under attack.
If the Government were to present the initiative honestly, as cost-cutting, that unfairness would be plain. Instead, it presents it as a commitment to a nebulous notion of quality, which is really so much political humbug.
Naturally, David Farrar flies to the defence, framing the educators’ bog-obvious statements that larger classes degrade educational quality as ‘assertions’. Oh dear.
I’m not criticising David Farrar for his (ahem) habit of always lookin’ on the bright side for his team, nor accusing him of being in lock-step with the National-led government’s spin machine. There’s nothing unseemly about his reliability at spinning for National.
Eventually, it just becomes so obvious. It is tribal.
Likewise, the chorus of condemnation from National partisans, some of whom implausibly attempt to blame a recent poor poll result (TVNZ) ‘directly‘ on Hekia Parata, who I personally think is one of the finest people in their caucus. She is a leader, with ‘X’ factor … not a Hollow Man. Reminds me of a comment I read about David Lange: “…a lovely man, far too good for politics.”
– P
I am against the cut of teachers, my personal opinion I think its a bad move.
But Farrar is correct Teacher Quality is more important than Student to Teacher Ratio. If you are a good Teacher you can teach 10 20 30 40 students well. Will a class of 20 be better off with the same teacher than a class of 40 sure. But a crap teacher with class of 20 will still be a crap teacher. But if this is his reason for cutting its not the be all and end all.
He’s also correct in his statement about remembering the good teachers and bad teachers not whether there it was small or large roll. In-fact personally the classes I enjoyed were often the fullest.
On the Spin Doctoring theme, but more in the BS reporting theme
The comment from the Supposed Akld school claiming it might lose 10 teachers, might??? why did they not just put 100. It might be anything.
Very true.
A comment I read on Twitter this morning makes a fair point
… as does the question: Where was THIS policy announced before the election? Like the {surprise!} Charter Schools ‘trial’.
Another hidden agenda? Never mind.
Maybe the same reason the positive policy changes were not announced before the election?
Reason? , there could be many.
Why don’t you put the Labour logo on the top of your Blog and be done with it?
Just to reiterate I am not defending this policy it stinks. But unlike most I start from a neutral standpoint and look at both sides before judging.
Farrar is in lockstep with his masters … he is a biased person of little value to anyone except the gullible and those who foolishly voted National.
Teacher quality ??? information is information. Internal curriculum controls and systems could ensure even a monkey could achieve a reasonable result. Its only education – not rocket science. Much ado about nothing.
Class sizes are a major – in rural areas in the 70’s – class sizes at secondary level were upwards of 40 pupils plus. Class sizes dictate by the laws of averages and bloody commonsense – the outcome for many pupils.
There are some stupid people out there trying to justify why in gods name they voted these neo liberal monsters back into Government.
Just admit it – you fucked it up and now you have to live with it. Tough.
What have they fucked up? They have fucked up what you wanted to happen.
Without knowing it you are the opposite to Farrar where you are “a biased person of little value to anyone except the gullible and those who foolishly voted Labour”
I agree that size of Class does matter. But far less than people claim.
And the point of Information is just information is simply wrong. delivery is very important. Different people learn at different speeds in different ways, and the Teacher has a big part to play in that.
If the Teacher is of quality class size is more or less irrelevant.
But a Shite teacher will not be able to teach a class of 1 let alone 40.
The Govts attempt of trying to, (of course they are not now) get this through was to save Money, plain and simple, THAT’S THEIR JOB to provide New Zealand with a future so down the line they don’t have to cut 50% of teachers when its too late and they run out of money.
But they spun it, as Peter has re-blogged by claiming its making teachers better, even though its is probably true it was not their reason for doing it.
Well mate give us all some evidence.
Lemme tellya craig .. shite teachers are less at risk of being discovered in large large large classes. Why – cos its all buried in the collateral noise – thats why
What future with your neo liberal mongrel zombies.
Pete as always sits on the fence and waits to see which way the spin and populist bullshit settles …
frankly – i think you all should be ashamed of yourselves .. and dont blame me because i didnt vote National.
Suck on it and weep
“Pete as always sits on the fence and waits to see which way the spin and populist bullshit settles …”
What nonsense!
But I am a small D democrat. – P
I’ve got no complaints about the gummint backing down on the improperly notified* plans to save Vote education funds by cutting teacher numbers.
That’s democracy for you — or the threat of it.
An administration doesn’t have to be poll-driven fruitcakes to read public opinion — THAT’S THEIR JOB … they’re a House of Representatives, aren’t they?
So, the over-egged ‘humiliating backdown’, ‘Hekia’s career in ruins’ hyperbole aside, this is political management.
Obedient like a
man of principlewell-trained poodle, National Party apologist David Farrar backed the teacher cuts policy (as noted in the original post) and, after the ‘reversal’ … now backs the U-turn. Surprised? Neh.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10811588
No worries David. (“Go the blue team!” eh, mate?)
– P
* IMO. Also: the re-fit of a NZ House in London FROM ASSET SALE PROCEEDS was another thing the Finance minister didn’t know was in his own Budget. Oh dear. http://www.3news.co.nz/Bills-Budget-blunder—central-London-makeover/tabid/1607/articleID/255610/Default.aspx
Fran O’Sullivan has this right, in my opinion:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10811793
Another poll (3News: Poll: National losing its grip) and another drop in support for National.
How does National’s sometime pollster/apologist David Farrar see it?:
“Not a bad result for the Nats considering …”
Riiight.