John Key’s hedge fund mate behind Teach First (NZ)

Written By: - Date published: 7:36 am, December 9th, 2015 - 195 comments
Categories: capitalism, education, Hekia parata, john key, national, privatisation, Privatisation, Public Private Partnerships, schools, tertiary education, uncategorized - Tags: ,

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Julian Robertston, a US billionaire who made his money with hedge fund Tiger Management, Merryl Lynch’s largest customer when John Key was working there, is the man behind privatisation trojan horse Teach First (NZ).

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teach first

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Robertson is well known in New Zealand. He was outed as being among the secret US donors to National Ltd™. That was back when Lockwood Smith was promising the US that our nuclear free legislation would be “gone by lunchtime”. Robertson is also the owner of several high-end golf resorts, gave a $5 million donation to the Christchurch earthquake appeal, and gifted a $115 million art collection to the Auckland Art Gallery. No wonder John Key gave him a special honourary knighthood.

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John Key's mate.

John Key’s mate.

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Robertson has made no secret of his rapacious desire to privatise education in the US, and around the world. In 2011, he confirmed he would be bringing the Teach For All model to New Zealand. Neither has John Key made a secret of his “orientation towards privatisation” of health and education. That was back in 2002, not long after John Slater and Michelle Boag had recruited him.

So, its taken a long time, but New Zealand is now well on the way to having both those social services, and others, set up to pump out tidy profit streams to the corporations. The TPP will cement the arrangements in place for perpetuity. Or we get sued by an unaccountable tribunal run by the same lawyers who work for the corporations.

Sure, there was a wee snag last week with part of the education “business” being found to be illegal, but the rolling-maul is going strong. Just last night, National Ltd™ introduced the Education Legislation Bill into Parliament. This convoluted omnibus bill makes all sorts of weird and wonderful changes to various legislation affecting education. For example, unable to attract enough investors for its charter school scam, National Ltd™ will be paving the way for tertiary institutions to open and run them.  Yippeee!

The Bill may well provide National Ltd™ with just the thing to get around last weeks pesky Employment Relations Authority ruling. Last minute, unannounced amendment perhaps. Wouldn’t be the first time. And, surely, after all he’s done, Julian Robertson can call in one more favour for his Teach First (NZ). Can’t he?

195 comments on “John Key’s hedge fund mate behind Teach First (NZ) ”

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  1. savenz 1
    9 December 2015 at 8:25 am

    +100 Absolutely shocking. Charter schools are just scams. Do a search – there are so many articles about the widespread scams….

    Charter Schools Gone Wild: Study Finds Widespread Fraud, Mismanagement and Waste
    http://billmoyers.com/2014/05/05/charter-schools-gone-wild-study-finds-widespread-fraud-mismanagement-and-waste/

    The great charter school rip-off: Finally, the truth catches up to education “reform” phonies
    http://www.salon.com/2014/10/02/the_great_charter_school_rip_off_finally_the_truth_catches_up_to_education_reform_phonies/

    The Charter-School Scam: Ripping off the Taxpayers
    https://leisureguy.wordpress.com/2014/12/15/the-charter-school-scam-ripping-off-the-taxpayers/

    Charter to nowhere
    http://www.leftbusinessobserver.com/Charters.html

    etc etc

  2. savenz 2
    9 December 2015 at 8:45 am

    Charter schools are just a way for business people to steal off children and get away with it. I find it so despicable!

    Those that enforce charter schools tend to be people that like the idea of getting large amount of taxpayers money with zero transparency on what they spend it on, or the results they get and to further an agenda to brainwash kids into unproven curriculums, and has the added ability to divert to real estate too!

    In the case of many of these ‘philanthrapists’ – their funds are often given to further their own profits, tax avoidance and in some cases are not even philanthropy. Look at Zuckerman who ‘appeared’ to be gifting his Facebook shares to ‘charity’ but actually just putting it into a for profit limited liability company to do with what he wants. http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/dec/07/suspicious-zuckerbergs-45bn-donation-facebook-gift

  3. Detrie 3
    9 December 2015 at 8:48 am

    Charter schools are the same worldwide. There’s similar scams going on all the time in the US. Some have become get rich(er) quick schemes for the wealthy and ‘legal’ way to extract millions from the state/taxpayers whilst lowering education standards.

  4. mary_a 4
    9 December 2015 at 9:08 am

    FJK will be receiving lucrative backhanders for selling NZ education out via dodgy cronies, as is the case here with Julian Robertson, a right shifty piece of work!

    Big money to be made from committing treason obviously!

    Time to rid ourselves of this grubby bunch of crooks, disguised as peoples’ representatives. The question is, how?

    • savenz 4.1
      9 December 2015 at 9:32 am

      @Mary_a

      “The question is, how?”

      In my view we need to change the government AND stop Labour from being part of the problem….. (Labour also need to be held to account not just getting away with things because not as not as EVIL as National)

      And get a few real agitators into parliament like Hone, Harre, (unfortunately the best agitators from the Greens have departed….. (Bradford, Norman). Try to get rid of the politicians careerists and those politicians whose policy and social views don’t even correspond to the party they are currently in/destroying.

      And start holding the pathetic media to account, while supporting journalist’s and bloggers who actually are breaking stories and telling it how it is….

  5. Sabine 5
    9 December 2015 at 9:19 am

    qui bono……always follow the money and you will find reasons a plenty as to why things are done the way things are done.

    We should also ask ourselves how much of an educated populace our current overlords would want. All those pesky people knowing how to read and write, that can’t be, how could we tell them otherwise that they are slaves if they can read the contracts we give them.

    In a world with 50%+ unemployment (and that will happen within my lifetime) we don’t need educated people, we need them just hungry and frightened. They will do as they are told.

  6. Gabby 6
    9 December 2015 at 9:27 am

    So, Davros, we meet again..

  7. Tracey 7
    9 December 2015 at 9:29 am

    “with part of the education “business” being found to be illegal”

    That they didn’t advertise the positions in the Gazette before appointing the Teach NZ people you mean?

  8. northshoredoc 8
    9 December 2015 at 9:37 am

    “Robertson is also the owner of several high-end golf resorts, gave a $5 million donation to the Christchurch earthquake appeal, and gifted a $115 million art collection to the Auckland Art Gallery. ”

    They also fund some biomedical research though Auckland University and the Cape Sanctuary project in the Hawkes bay through Poutiri Ao o Tane.

    But yeah what an asshat because he’s rich and John Key….

    • One Anonymous Bloke 8.1
      9 December 2015 at 9:49 am

      Yes, those are the reasons eh. It’s his philanthropy that people are opposed to. All that stuff about the degradation of education and the massive conflict of interest is trivial really.

      Obviously he deserves every single term of abuse BLiP levels at him. All none of them.

      • northshoredoc 8.1.1
        9 December 2015 at 10:10 am

        Can’t see him doing any degradation of education. Is he backing some charter schools in NZ is that what’s got you frothing ?

        • One Anonymous Bloke 8.1.1.1
          9 December 2015 at 11:08 am

          “Frothing”.

          Who’s employing the abuse again?

          If you can’t see how education is being degraded perhaps you can explain the reason to copy US/UK policy, considering neither country’s education systems were performing at the level of NZ’s.

          If we need to copy a system do you think it should be better or worse than what we already have? Or is your point of view dependent on you not thinking about that?

          • Northshoredoc 8.1.1.1.1
            9 December 2015 at 11:33 am

            I’m sorry how is Robertson responsible or involved in the degradation of NZ education ?

            Answer that question and I might consider answering yours. otherwise it will be like one those threads discussing vaccination with CV – entertaining but not much else.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 8.1.1.1.1.1
              9 December 2015 at 11:50 am

              He’s helping introduce ideas from countries with worse education systems, opposed by the vast majority of New Zealand educators, and the general public.

              So, you think if we’re going to make changes we should borrow ideas from people who are performing at a lower or higher level than us?

            • Lara 8.1.1.1.1.2
              9 December 2015 at 12:31 pm

              Do you seriously think that a person can learn all they need to know to start teaching in just six weeks?

              Really?

              Rather than one year for post grad secondary teaching?

              Maybe. Maybe it’s possible. Maybe the one year courses are no good. Maybe the six week course is better. It’s possible.

              But unlikely surely.

              If you really do think that six weeks is enough then my suggestion is that you have a very low opinion of what teaching involves.

              • Northshoredoc …
                9 December 2015 at 12:37 pm

                Isn’t it a two year course to gain their Post Grad dilemma in teaching prior to full registration as a teacher ?

                • Grindlebottom …
                  9 December 2015 at 12:41 pm

                  Their Post Grad dilemma? 🙂 Thanks for that one.

                • mpledger …
                  9 December 2015 at 2:29 pm

                  The teach for all model is to take new grads (usually not education grads), give the as little training as they can get away with and then drop them in low decile schools.

                    • Tracey …
                      10 December 2015 at 10:17 am

                      “Isn’t it a two year course to gain their Post Grad dilemma in teaching prior to full registration as a teacher ?”

                      No, it is a 6 week course for those who have obtained a Degree. THEN the public school system requires them to be taught by existing teachers. This will only work for a few more years given the rate of exit of experienced teachers and their being replaced by cheaper much less capable teachers, who in turn will be the “mentors” to this kind of scheme.

                      Mentoring is great IF the mentor is recompenses, if the mentor is trained as a mentor, and if the mentor is NOT given the mentoring as an additional (need to fit it in somewhere amongst existing duties) thing.

                    • northshoredoc …
                      10 December 2015 at 10:22 am

                      http://www.education.auckland.ac.nz/en/for/future-postgraduates/fp-study-options/pg-programmes-and-courses/pg-course-information/pgdiptchg-sec-field-based-courses.html

                      [Stop being a fuck wit. Verification of the fact that the Teach First NZ course for its “teachers” is six weeks is available from the very site you have previously linked to. I suspect you knew that. In fact, it is becoming increasingly apparent to me you are trolling this thread for your own amusement rather than displaying any willingness to engage in constructive dialogue. This is your first – and last – warning – BLiP]

                    • Tracey …
                      10 December 2015 at 10:44 am

                      “Another Teach First trainee Ruby Knight, from Christchurch, said previously that her two terms at Alfriston College in Manurewa had been one of the most challenging things she had done.

                      The 23-year-old has a bachelor of science, and a bachelor of arts in English from Canterbury University. Her interest in the effect of inequality on society – combined with enjoying tutoring – meant the programme “really grabbed me”.

                      After an “intensive” summer course, she was given two year 11 and one year 10 English classes, and a mentor to see her through her two-year placement. “It’s been a really rich experience; it’s just so different to what I’m used to but I have absolutely learned so much”

                      Are you saying she is wrong, that it wasn’t an intensive summer course?

                      Can I just add something from professional experience? Summer school is approx 9 weeks. What that means is about 2 hours a week of either face to face or streaming contact with a course facilitator.

                      Students at Tertiary, as a generalisation prioritise their learning to their assessment items. IF they are not being assessed on something many will not bother with it. Completing a course can mean many things from achieving a genuine 50% + grade…. to a restricted pass, to an Appeal….

                      Everyone who completes a course is NOT an A student, does not have even 75% proven knowledge or application uptake.

                      As these courses cost money (borrowed or otherwise) there is enormous pressure on facilitators to get students through, beyond the withdrawal point, without additional support or resourcing, and this means that when a facilitator fails a student it will can be over ruled one way or another higher up. This is not true for ALL tertiaries I hope,

                      but 6 weeks is incredibly short, UNLESS it is 830 to 5pm for 30 days, and then it may be possible to claim it has passed over and encouraged the kind of learning required.

                    • Tracey …
                      10 December 2015 at 11:08 am

                      From the website

                      “Successful candidates must commit to an intensive eight-week ‘live-in’ residential programme from mid-November 2015 to mid-January 2016 (this includes a break over Christmas and New Year). During this time you will be accommodated in a University hall of residence in Auckland. All food and accommodation is provided, however candidates are required to cover their travel costs to Auckland for this. As part of the Teach First NZ programme, you will complete a postgraduate-level qualification which means that participants are not eligible for StudyLink student allowances. ”

                      You must be available for work in Northland or Auckland.

                      “All applicants must have attained, or be on track to attain, a minimum of a Bachelor degree with strong grades.

                      • You must have strong subject knowledge and have completed relevant university studies, including at least one paper at 300-level or Stage 3 (third year) or higher related to the secondary school subject area you wish to teach. For our 2016 intake we are recruiting for participants to teach English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Science and Te Reo Māori* (more subjects may be added in future years). Click here to see more information about subject eligibility requirements and availability of places. * Te Reo Māori knowledge gained outside of the tertiary context is suitable if you hold a Bachelor degree in another subject with strong grades.”

                      http://teachfirstnz.org/programme/recruitment

                      [r0b: Your last 2 comments went into moderation because of extra text in the name field (deleted).]

                    • northshoredoc …
                      10 December 2015 at 11:28 am

                      Hi Tracey

                      Blimp is clearly getting frustrated with the factual information I am presenting. I agree with your comments about the usual summer courses being a couple of hours a week apparently that is not the case with the Auckland Uni/Teach NZ course which is live in.

                      http://www.education.auckland.ac.nz/en/for/future-postgraduates/fp-study-options/pg-programmes-and-courses/pgdiptchg-sec-field-based.html

                      It would be good if one of the participants could comment on it from their perspective.

                      As per the link I posted previously that blimp took offence to this is then followed up with the two year mentoring/apprenticeship overseen by the University of Auckland/Schools they are working at.

                      [lprent: Blimp??
                      Denigrating authors on their posts is a damn silly idea and one that I am interested in discouraging.
                      You also seem to be deliberately trying to disrupt this post for some reason that isn’t too apparent to me.
                      I can’t be bothered figuring it out so you are banned for 6 weeks so I don’t have to waste time doing so.
                      You know the bounds here. Live within in them or don’t come back. ]

                • Lara …
                  9 December 2015 at 10:17 pm

                  Its one year of full time study followed by two years of supervision.

                  The Teach First condenses the one year of full time study into six weeks.

    • savenz 8.2
      9 December 2015 at 9:54 am

      You would think if Robertson was such a billionaire, he could do without the corporate welfare of 6.5 million from the public purse for Teach NZ…..

      Likewise the corporate welfare of the government is about to spend more than $2.5 million of taxpayers’ money building an abattoir for a disaffected Saudi businessman.

      The kit-set abattoir is part of the Government’s $12m attempt to appease him.

      It has already given the influential businessman, Hamood Al-Ali Al-Khalaf, $4m and has flown 900 pregnant sheep to his farm – nearly all the lambs subsequently died.

      Mr Al-Khalaf has opposed New Zealand getting a free trade deal in the region….

      source
      http://www.norightturn.blogspot.co.nz

      Yep, they could be considered assholes…. but actually it is the government that is the problem and their insatiable desire to give away public money to corporates….in corporate welfare…..

      • northshoredoc 8.2.1
        9 December 2015 at 10:12 am

        So he’s an asshole because Saudi Arabia ?

        How’s he getting $6.5 million for Teach NZ – don’t know anything about them ?

    • marty mars 8.3
      9 December 2015 at 9:54 am

      he’s a hero? – fuck how deluded can we be – oh that’s RIGHT – we aren’t. What about the private bits? The agenda bits? but but he’s funding stuff – thanks the gods someone has the money to do it – we are LUCKY /smirk

      • northshoredoc 8.3.1
        9 December 2015 at 10:15 am

        Mars, you and delusion have been longtime bed fellows.

        What agenda and private bits ?

        Good on him and his foundation I say they have done nothing but good for NZ.

        • marty mars 8.3.1.1
          9 December 2015 at 10:48 am

          “privatisation trojan horse Teach First (NZ)”

          ‘What agenda and private bits ?’

          You obviously disagree with that statement from the top of the post – is it because as you say, “they have done nothing but good for NZ” and if so I put it to you that that is delusional in the extreme.

          • northshoredoc 8.3.1.1.1
            9 December 2015 at 10:58 am

            Well then it is for you to show me what they have done that is not good for NZ and free me from my delusion.

            As I said previously I don’t know much about Teach NZ apart from what has been written about them in the papers – apparently it’s set up to get graduates from university into low decile schools ?

            If that’s bad for NZ I can’t see how, perhaps you know something I don’t ?

            • marty mars 8.3.1.1.1.1
              9 December 2015 at 11:02 am

              yeah I read the post I commented on so I do know a bit more than you

              • Northshoredoc …
                9 December 2015 at 11:34 am

                Come on then what’s he doing that’s bad for NZ ?

                • marty mars …
                  9 December 2015 at 11:42 am

                  have you read all the bits up the top – you know the post itself – it is outlined succinctly up there – jeepers you are pumping the dark in this thread

                  • Northshoredoc …
                    9 December 2015 at 11:53 am

                    Come on then what’s he doing that’s bad for NZ ?

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      9 December 2015 at 12:05 pm

                      Helping the National Party.

                    • marty mars …
                      9 December 2015 at 12:07 pm

                      fair enough I’ll treat you like a dim tr0ll from now on as opposed to just a advocate tr0ll.

                    • Northshoredoc …
                      9 December 2015 at 12:26 pm

                      Duly noted that you treat anyone who doesn’t agree with you as a troll.

                    • Bazar …
                      9 December 2015 at 5:52 pm

                      Its the lefty way.
                      Argue with emotions and lots of name calling.
                      Facts are both optional, and can only be recognized if they support the desired conclusion.

                      As for the post, its drivel.
                      A man who has donated some of his wealth generously is a boogeyman because of his political views and wealth.
                      It doesn’t even provide any citations for the subject title, (see: facts are optional)
                      The post just presumes the reader accepts everything at face value, then devolves into conspiracy level drivel about the “education business”.
                      So that it stays topical, the author refers to the recent court order that has an insubstantial link to the drivel written.
                      The ruling itself has no relation to education sector, except in how there can be no discriminating when hiring people. (see: facts are optional)

                      I thought the standard was bad when i stopped reading it a year ago. But i return to skim every other month and keeps finding its authors have found ways to lower the bar.

                      I look forward to next year i’ll find a posts about how the fake moon landings violated our human rights, so its our moral obligation to land on the moon by creating our own space program using green technology which would pay for itself in technological exports.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      9 December 2015 at 6:20 pm

                      “A boogeyman”[sic].

                      Nope, the post doesn’t say anything of the sort: it is critical of his behaviour, though, and rightly so.

                      And still no right wing education expert (and all right wingers are experts on education) has managed to present a good case for copying sub-standard education policy rather than international best practice.

                      That’s because there is no good reason – it’s all about private profit: destroying one of the best education systems in the world (which NZ used to have) for a little bit of money.

                      Gone. By. Lunchtime.

                    • marty mars …
                      9 December 2015 at 7:05 pm

                      @ doc

                      a tr0ll doesn’t answer questions or debate in good faith but rather repeats repeatedly the meme they are trying to push and THAT is the reason I have branded you (for what it’s worth lol) – nothing to do with agreeing with me or not – in fact you couldn’t be further from the truth. I like disagreements because they often illuminate. Tr0llage however is not for illumination rather the opposite.

                      @bazza no loss as far as I can tell, see you late rrrr

                      @OAB I agree with you

                    • northshoredoc …
                      9 December 2015 at 7:53 pm

                      @ Mars nice obfuscation but you still you haven’t answered the question.

                      What’s he doing that’s bad for NZ ?

        • Stuart Munro 8.3.1.2
          9 December 2015 at 1:41 pm

          Nothing but good for NZ

          He’s financed the traitor John Key, who’s done more damage than all previous corrupt and useless Gnat prime ministers – more than enough reason to [deleted]

          [lprent: Restrain yourself. Banned for a week for advocating violence. ]

          • Northshoredoc 8.3.1.2.1
            9 December 2015 at 1:47 pm

            Well done Stuart – what would a thread at The Standard be without your measured advocacy for violence against anyone or thing that doesn’t mirror your political views.

            • Stuart Munro 8.3.1.2.1.1
              9 December 2015 at 1:54 pm

              OK – so I guess far right trolls haven’t seen Austin Powers – on top of myriad other failings.

              But seriously – political realism involves real consequences for the kind of dishonesty offences exhibited so frequently by the bandits who have hijacked our system of political representation.

        • Smilin 8.3.1.3
          10 December 2015 at 3:09 pm

          Its far easier to steal from a govt with one of your own on the inside in the top job than having to be up front with a business applying thru normal channels to the govt and have it scrutinized by elected representatives in parliament: ie SERCO Now TeachNZ, what? a lesson in corporate control
          Kelvin better take this on to

    • Tracey 8.4
      9 December 2015 at 9:55 am

      Are you saying if he gives money to worthy causes he is above criticism?

      • northshoredoc 8.4.1
        9 December 2015 at 10:16 am

        @ Tracey not at all.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 8.4.1.1
          9 December 2015 at 11:17 am

          Meanwhile, on Earth, it’s his actions that are being criticised, and you’re ignoring that in favour of passive aggressive insinuations of ad hominem attack.

          You’re taking this awfully personally, Doc. Got an axe to grind or something?

          • Northshoredoc 8.4.1.1.1
            9 December 2015 at 11:36 am

            Meanwhile. on the standard, it’s his affiliations that are being criticised, and your ignoring his actions in NZ in favour of your ideological and personal bigotries.

            You’re taking this awfully personally, OAB. Got an axe to grind or something?

            • One Anonymous Bloke 8.4.1.1.1.1
              9 December 2015 at 11:52 am

              Wanting high quality free public universal education = ideology. I can see you’re really bringing out your intellectual big guns 🙄

              • Northshoredoc …
                9 December 2015 at 11:56 am

                “Wanting high quality free public universal education = ideology. I can see you’re really bringing out your intellectual big guns”

                I can’t see anything that says Roberston or Teach First NZ doesn’t want quality free public universal education in NZ ?

                You’re taking this awfully personally, OAB. Got an axe to grind or something?

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  9 December 2015 at 12:04 pm

                  Yes, I have an axe to grind: I’ve watched this disgusting government vilify and abuse educators from Kindy-level all the way up to professors. I’ve watched as they scrapped the curriculum, which had buy-in across the sector, in favour of standardised testing, a proven failure every single place it’s used.

                  I liked the fact that we had world-standard schools employing great teachers, and I think the way you right wing trash have vandalised it makes you adverts for post-natal abortion.

                  Is that 100% crystal clear?

    • infused 8.5
      9 December 2015 at 11:41 am

      Good work on taking these guys to task.

      • Northshoredoc 8.5.1
        9 December 2015 at 12:08 pm

        In my opinion It’s a strange post by BLiP even by the Standard’s standards.

        Apparently Robertson and his foundation in NZ are involved in some dark conspiracy even though he’s generously donated to NZ over the years and continues to do so in a number of different areas and Teach NZ are committed to getting graduates into low decile secondary schools…….but you know he’s rich, American and has been smeared by Trevor Mallard therefore bad…….

        • One Anonymous Bloke 8.5.1.1
          9 December 2015 at 12:12 pm

          What a load of witless gobshite.

          For all I know he’s a lovely well-intentioned guy with terrible ideas about education, and some people just don’t like watching the National Party defecate on children.

          • Northshoredoc 8.5.1.1.1
            9 December 2015 at 12:15 pm

            Can you provide a link to a jpeg or video of said defaecation ?

            I can only hope that it was not Minister Brownlee lest he took out the entire class !

            • One Anonymous Bloke 8.5.1.1.1.1
              9 December 2015 at 12:19 pm

              Suck it up, Doc.

              • Northshoredoc …
                9 December 2015 at 12:24 pm

                So if you want to have a discussion about political parties playing politics and mucking around with education in NZ that’s fine.

                I’m still puzzled by the attack on Robertson and his foundation and Teach NZ who I can only assume have been caught in the crossfire of a few persons hatred of the National party.

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  9 December 2015 at 12:42 pm

                  Here’s North Shore Quack, he’s going to administer some special Patent National Party Education Policy.

                  It comes in a little bottle, and it’s sugar water, but North Shore Quack has shaken it just so, and now it’s very special educationable juice. Apparently some experts say that it’s all a con, but North Shore Quack says they’re ideologues.

                  Happy days.

        • gsays 8.5.1.2
          9 December 2015 at 11:30 pm

          hi nsd, earlier in these comments you asked:
          “Come on then what’s he doing that’s bad for NZ ?”

          i will take the bait..
          i reckon there are some things that should not be profitted from.
          including health, education, prisons, water etc.

          any notion of privitization of education is obscene in my eyes, and advocating for charter schools and their like is bad for nz.

          • northshoredoc 8.5.1.2.1
            10 December 2015 at 9:03 am

            Hi says, thanks for the comment and fair enough with your point of view.

            Leaving aside public/private funding of the institutions you mention which is a good subject for debate.

            In response I’d point out once again that there is nothing to suggest that the person who has been vilified in this post is involved in advocating for or driving privatisation of education or charter schools in NZ.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 8.5.1.2.1.1
              10 December 2015 at 9:11 am

              “Vilified”.

              Can you please point me to the vilification?

              No evidence apart from donations to the party that introduced the legislation, the matter of private charity in public schools, and involvement in privatisation in the USA. Drawing attention to these facts says nothing whatsoever about him personally, and yet you are determined to pretend otherwise.

              I reject your suggestion that we ‘leave it aside’. Your attempts to divert and distract from it are duly noted.

              Why is that? Substantive argument proving problematic, Doc?

              • northshoredoc …
                10 December 2015 at 9:30 am

                “Why is that? Substantive argument proving problematic, Doc?”

                Oh the irony.

                Your position has been put quite openly OAB you detest the chap because he has donated to the Nats.

                Private charity has been going on in public schools since forever, still does and will continue to do so under whichever flavour of government we have in NZ, what private charity in terms of Robertson and public schools in NZ do you have a problem with ?

                I expect you to start frothing over the Greens at and second for daring to a deal with the Nats over home insulation or more recently the flag, try to stop living your life in the class war rhetoric of decades ago.

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  10 December 2015 at 9:33 am

                  Take off the daft-tinted specs, Doc. I do not “detest the chap” at all.

                  Since you seem incapable of acknowledging the question, let alone answering it, I’m going to ask it again, as a goad.

                  Why replace a good system with a sub-standard one, rather than international best practice?

                  • northshoredoc …
                    10 December 2015 at 9:46 am

                    “Take off the daft-tinted specs, Doc. I do not “detest the chap” at all.”

                    Don’t you be daft, you’ve spent a large part the entire thread having a go at him and his association with the Nats.

                    “Why replace a good system with a sub-standard one, rather than international best practice?”

                    What’s being replaced ? Are you talking about the Teach NZ program to get grads into teaching in secondary schools ? That’s not replacing current teacher training is it.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      10 December 2015 at 9:59 am

                      “At him.”

                      No, I haven’t. At his actions, certainly. Take off the distorting lenses.

                      What’s being replaced? I already cited the curriculum that the National Party ditched when they took office. Notional Standards – sub-standard policy, are another imposition.

                      The gifting of public funds for private schools. The Teachers’ Council. The gradual corruption of the ERO, the bullying of principled principals and boards, the insults leveled at educators.

                      All of it based on lies – the mythical “20% illiteracy rate” – lies told to Parliament by the now Prime Minister, for example.

                      The thinly disguised hatred of the freedoms of speech and association manifesting in the teachers’ unions.

                      The National Party donor who just happens to have significant private education interests in the USA. Probably a very nice chap. Well-intentioned and everything. I shouldn’t be surprised if people do give him the hairy eyeball from time to time.

                      Private charity in public schools – no thanks. I’m aware that there are precedents. No thanks.

                    • Tracey …
                      10 December 2015 at 11:30 am

                      Do you know which types of schools Teach first teachers go to after their 2 year apprenticeship in low decile schools is completed? I can’t find the stats for it.

                      I know some really high quality teachers in low decile schools who came through the standard public system. Their struggles tend to be around

                      Lack of resources
                      English second language barriers (for child and lack of english at home)
                      2 parents working to make ends meet such that if a child is sick and older child stays home to look after them because the family needs the money being earned by the parents

                      These things, as far as I can see, are not addressed by Teach First teachers?

                      Is there a plan to roll this out across the whole country as the new teacher training scheme? If not, why not?

                    • northshoredoc …
                      10 December 2015 at 11:37 am

                      “Do you know which types of schools Teach first teachers go to after their 2 year apprenticeship in low decile schools is completed? I can’t find the stats for it.”

                      No, it might be available from the Teach first NZ people – although not sure if it’s been running long enough in NZ to have data available.

                      “Is there a plan to roll this out across the whole country as the new teacher training scheme? If not, why not?”

                      No idea – someone should ask them, perhaps blip should give them the right of reply to some of the accusations made in his post ?

            • gsays 8.5.1.2.1.2
              10 December 2015 at 9:43 am

              “In response I’d point out once again that there is nothing to suggest that the person who has been vilified in this post is involved in advocating for or driving privatisation of education or charter schools in NZ.”

              unfortunately there is something in the article saying just that.
              he is working with the tindall foundation to introduce the teach america initiative in nz. (its in the knighthood reference link)

              time and time again i see the powerful (and rich) pushing for initiatives that do little for the population.
              instead they behave in a way that will entrench their privilege.
              ‘blow the bridge, i’m over’

              i maybe taking your handle too literally, but oppurtunities that you were able to benefit from are getting less and less available for todays generation.

              • northshoredoc …
                10 December 2015 at 10:18 am

                “unfortunately there is something in the article saying just that.
                he is working with the tindall foundation to introduce the teach america initiative in nz. (its in the knighthood reference link)”

                Yes this is apparently teach First NZ.

                http://teachfirstnz.org

                From their website they are setup to get graduates fast tracked into NZ lower decile secondary schools, as this is run in conjunction with Auckland Uni, the Ministry of Education and public secondary schools – i can’t agree that this is in any way pushing for initiatives that do little for the population or entrenching privilege but quite the opposite.

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  10 December 2015 at 10:28 am

                  That’s because you aren’t looking at the whole picture.

                  Or because you seem incapable of confronting the fact that the National Party is importing sub-standard (ie: performing at a lower standard than what we already had) US/UK policy rather than following international best practice.

                  Other than money or blind dogma, can you think of a reason to do that?

                  • northshoredoc …
                    10 December 2015 at 10:36 am

                    Yet you have nothing that shows or even suggests that Teach first NZ student teachers are performing at a lower standard than any other student teachers.

                    On the contrary there appears to be quite a lot of support from the schools that these student teachers are placed in and the PPTA for the student teachers.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      10 December 2015 at 10:39 am

                      Why would I? it’s a red herring you just flopped onto the table: anything but address the argument, eh Doc. Perhaps you should stick to your knitbone?

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      10 December 2015 at 11:14 am

                      No, Doc, criticism of government education policy is not a red herring: it is the discussion everyone but you is having.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      10 December 2015 at 11:16 am

                      No, Doc, criticism of government education policy is not a red herring: it is the discussion everyone but you is having.

                      …the curriculum that the National Party ditched when they took office. Notional Standards – sub-standard policy, are another imposition.

                      The gifting of public funds for private schools. The Teachers’ Council. The gradual corruption of the ERO, the bullying of principled principals and boards, the insults leveled at educators…

                    • northshoredoc …
                      10 December 2015 at 11:32 am

                      Stop derailing the thread.

                      What has any of that got to do with Robertson or Teach First NZ ?

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      10 December 2015 at 11:43 am

                      Your question has already been addressed, in the comment I quoted. Other comments should be regarded as “context” in the discussion too.

                      Do you require any more charitable remedial understanding assistance?

  9. Ad 9
    9 December 2015 at 9:56 am

    Are the TeachFirst results for students inferior or superior to the New Zealand public sector results?

    • Northshoredoc 9.1
      9 December 2015 at 11:37 am

      That’s an important question Ad, which we’re all ignoring – wold be great if someone, anyone could shed some light ?

      • Muttonbird 9.1.1
        9 December 2015 at 11:54 am

        I’m sure if the numbers were positive for Teach first the government would be shouting it from the rooftops.

        The current silence is deafening.

        • Northshoredoc 9.1.1.1
          9 December 2015 at 11:57 am

          Oh can I play that game too…

          I’m sure if the numbers were positive for Teach first the opponents to it would be shouting it from the rooftops.

          The current silence is deafening.

          • Muttonbird 9.1.1.1.1
            9 December 2015 at 12:14 pm

            That makes no sense. Do you mean negative?

            Indeed, were you taught by a someone who went on a six week crash course in teaching? Looks like it.

            • Northshoredoc 9.1.1.1.1.1
              9 December 2015 at 12:32 pm

              “That makes no sense. Do you mean negative?”

              Indeed – too slow with the editing.

              “…were you taught by a someone who went on a six week crash course in teaching? Looks like it.”

              No, although it was long ago I do recall that most of my teachers were reasonably experienced apart from one Latin teacher. Talking of teachers I’ve found that the secondary teachers of modern times that I’ve come into contact with via my children have been of very high calibre as is the teaching and pastoral care, makes me wish I could have that time over again.

              • Tracey …
                10 December 2015 at 10:56 am

                What primary and secondary schools did/do your children attend?

                • Tracey …
                  10 December 2015 at 11:02 am

                  I don’t seem able to edit my comments. Doc, not being facetious, it is a genuine question.

                  I am thrilled to see ANY programme which successfully addresses the needs of those who struggle with our schooling system. ANY programme that redresses the imbalance for those with ESL and/or for whom no english is spoken at home.

                  These are major disadvantages that our mass system can only address so far.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke …
                    10 December 2015 at 11:18 am

                    Um, yeah nah: the private sector claims to be able to address them so long as they get three times the funding.

                    Money that would be better spent addressing the economic circumstances that are the root of the problem.

                    • Tracey From the websiteI think people have conveniently forgotten that Collnis did not cooperate and appears to have destroyed evidence... …
                      10 December 2015 at 11:24 am

                      That’s partly my point OAB.

                      That IF this programme is SO good and successful, we just roll it out everywhere and presto we have a great education system again. But no one seems to be suggesting we do that… I suspect the cost

                      1. of the programme (wonder what its funding ratio of staff to students are)

                      2. of having people in schools in need of mentoring so they only have a 60% teaching load

                      and so on

                  • northshoredoc …
                    10 December 2015 at 11:53 am

                    No problem – Yes i’m having weird problems with this site as well

                    [lprent: There was a major upgrade on wordpress last night.

                    Your one appears to be the system taking a dislike to your IP (or the range it is in). Don’t know why. Or it could be that the post author thinks that you are being a pain and wrecking the dialog, in which case I will find that. Calling him Blimp for instance.

                    Tracey’s problem looks like a caching problem. Doing a Shift + Refresh (or Shift + F5) on your browser will usually correct it.
                    If it doesn’t, then add a reply to the comment I’m leaving in OpenMike about the updates. I’ll force a site refresh of items held in the content distribution network. ]

                • northshoredoc …
                  10 December 2015 at 11:51 am

                  Hi Tracey

                  Three all though public schools – why is that relevant ?

                  • tracey …
                    10 December 2015 at 12:09 pm

                    Which public schools doc?

                    Of course it is relevant, you are offering up as evidence of high teaching standards the experience of you in relation to your children’s teachers.

                    • ropata …
                      11 December 2015 at 11:47 pm

                      I think what is relevant to @northshoredoc is the fact that JR has built a fancy golf course, for upper class twits to ponce around

      • One Anonymous Bloke 9.1.2
        9 December 2015 at 11:58 am

        Sure: putting extra resources into schools helps. Why doesn’t the government fund them properly?

        That said, pretending that uber-teachers can somehow lock the school gate on the socio-economic drivers of learning difficulties, well now that’s a pernicious lie, and the foundation of all government rhetoric on the matter.

        At best Teach First is a well-intentioned irrelevance, and it’s far more likely they are exactly what they look like: National Party donor ideologues who want to privatise NZ education.

        • Northshoredoc 9.1.2.1
          9 December 2015 at 12:12 pm

          “..National Party donor ideologues”

          .. and there we have the crux of the frothing.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 9.1.2.1.1
            9 December 2015 at 12:17 pm

            Yes, the ideology being foisted on what used to be one of the best education systems in the world. I note you have nothing to say on the matter beyond making up red herrings and strawmen.

            Feeble.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 9.1.2.1.2
            9 December 2015 at 12:22 pm

            Foisted, I might add, against all expert advice: the pedagogical equivalent of homeopathy.

            Bravo – you’ve joined the anti-vaxxers.

      • mpledger 9.1.3
        9 December 2015 at 2:35 pm

        Noone knows except the employers of TFA teachers – it’s an employment matter.

        Given the limited teacher training they are given it doesn’t seem likely that they are competent. I believe they are only required to work as teachers for two years so by the time they are getting the experience to be any good they are leaving.

    • Molly 9.2
      9 December 2015 at 11:59 am

      This supposedly simple question requires some thought?
      1. Results from what defined measures?
      2. Do they reflect teach-to-test or true learning progress?
      3. How do we define ‘inferior’ or ‘superior’ results? eg. is a student who performs academically and then goes on to tertiary a success (even though five years later they have a huge student loan and then take their knowledge overseas) – or – is the student who leaves to get a job and manages to find a sustainable living to support themselves and contributes directly to NZ a success despite not achieving NCEA Level 2?
      4. Does a teacher who improves learning outcomes for students from previous levels be noted as a success even if those improvements remain below standard?
      5. Given the lack of resources for children with non-standard needs, is the percentage of those students accounted for in public sector schools and subsequent results?
      6. Given that high performing schools usually follow high-performing scaffolding for students, does it not follow that it is not only the teacher quality that contributes to the results?
      7. Given that I know personally of some schools that dissuade students from sitting exams in order to maintain high ratings, does it not follow that this is not a reliable long-term indicator of performance?
      …etc

      This discussion or similar needs to be had – and the definitions that result need to be widely understood, before any further tinkering with education takes place.

      Charter schools and the often associated performance related pay as spoken of by advocates for it, have ‘benefits’ that are often very limited and short-sighted.

      They take a simplistic notion of education, and make a simplistic and arrogant judgement on its purpose.

      • Ad 9.2.1
        9 December 2015 at 12:11 pm

        Any answer to any of those would be a great place to start. I’m not a teacher. (Honestly the last time I was near a high school they still had School C!) But why don’t we help narrow your questions down, following your own questions.

        1. I am guessing there are tests that high schools do?
        2. Either would be great – what would you choose?
        3. Just NCEA, decile for decile I presume?
        4. What’s the difference between the private sector version and the public sector version on this?
        5. Can you not do a decile-compared comparison of results?
        6. Probably? But is that enough to dismiss one system over another?
        7. What’s your answer?

        I just want to know the effects of the different approaches, before I slag the rich off.

        • Molly 9.2.1.1
          9 December 2015 at 12:29 pm

          Ad,

          Have a look at the history and evolution of charter schools as they currently exist in the US.

          Usually parachuted in as solutions for high-needs underfunded schools in the US, promising good results. They can initially seem very successful, and the catchcry of “choice” is often used to promote them. As federal and local funded is directed into them, and students move onto the rolls, existing public schools are no longer considered feasible – and are closed down. They can also be used as a defacto method of gentrification too.

          Teaching to test is common when inadequate or inappropriate measures are put in place – in both charter and public schools, but charter schools are often financially rewarded for it.

          When all the local public schools have been closed down – any notion of choice is gone. And this is when the shareholder can reap the benefits. Refuse to take any high needs students (to remove extra expenses), provide standardised teaching (to reduce costs and improve efficiency).

          The discussion about the value and importance of education means that this discussion has to be had before you even begin to frame such simple questions such as – who is doing better?

          • Northshoredoc 9.2.1.1.1
            9 December 2015 at 12:40 pm

            Are teach First NZ graduates going to charter schools ?

            • mpledger 9.2.1.1.1.1
              9 December 2015 at 2:37 pm

              For someone who knows so little about this, you seem to think you are well qualified to hold forth.

              • Northshoredoc …
                9 December 2015 at 2:50 pm

                Just looking on the inter webs – all the information seems to be just sitting there.

                Was more interested initially on why Robertson was having his character assassinated by the author.

            • Molly 9.2.1.1.1.2
              9 December 2015 at 2:47 pm

              The Teach for All philosophy starts off with the same premise as charter schools.

              No definition of what a successful education system is – apart from league tables and standards.

              The fallacy of assuming that teachers alone contribute to the learning environment and subsequent success of the students. Ignoring external issues, previous student achievement, access to external and positive learning experiences and resources, directive from school boards and principal, and the involvement and administrative requirements from the Ministry.

              The two-year internship at low achieving schools.

              Brilliant – not!

              Students already disadvantaged get a constant revolving door stream of novice, still learning teachers, and after a period when they may finally be of some use – they will likely move on. Particularly, if the constant threat of performance related pay is realised.

              Some similar programmes in the US, are also involved in providing the educational standards tests, and also do their own research into how successful they are.

              There is a problem when taxpayer money is directed to these foundations, without due consideration and care, particularly when existing NZ students are unable to access the most basic necessities in education.

        • tracey 9.2.1.2
          10 December 2015 at 12:11 pm

          Any such study would need to seperate the teachers as at entry to their firsts chool and then allow for taking account of the mentoring systems utilised upon entry, their workload (some one suggested it is 60% – on this thread – Lara>? verus the workload of a first time entry teacher from the “other” system and so on…

    • Tracey 9.3
      10 December 2015 at 10:55 am

      Is anyone else finding when they hit “reply” it types into the Name box?

      IF the results are great and the teachers being produced of high quality, where is the timeline to roll this out for all schools?

      My concern is only with the mentoring aspect. It may be this that is adding the jet fuel to the quality aeroplane so that must be measured too.

      Are mentor teachers paid extra, or having their duties reduced to compensate?

      Future problem is the speed with which 20+ year experienced teachers are leaving the primary sector (I don’t know about secondary). BUT I have 4 friends who all trained as teachers in the 80’s. 1 is in teaching, the other 3 left teaching after 3, 13 and 17 years respectively. Not ALL current teachers will make good mentors.

  10. travellerev 10
    9 December 2015 at 10:16 am

    But conspiring against the New Zealand population? Never! I mean what’s a little friendly cooperation between to rich pricks other than just that: A little friendly cooperation!

  11. Morrissey 11
    9 December 2015 at 10:33 am

    Right wing zealots, aided and abetted by useful idiots like Mark Zuckerberg, are attacking teachers incessantly in the United States…..

    Zuckerberg wanted to be able to create more flexibility in teacher contracts to reward high-performing teachers and to fire teachers with poor records of student achievement.

    http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerbergs-failed-100-million-donation-to-newark-public-schools-2015-9

  12. savenz 12
    9 December 2015 at 11:05 am

    Yep maybe Zuckerberg and other billionaire ‘philanthropists’ could actually spend some money taking care of their own poor, who now under the USA people are denied the right to fresh water, reducing the USA standards to African levels.

    “A Detroit judge ruled that there is no basic human right to water. Judge Steven Rhodes refused to extend a moratorium on water shutoffs another six months in the city of Detroit.

    Judge Steven W. Rhodes at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan ruled that citizens do not have an implicit right to water and that no basic human right to water exists. Some say that this seems to be the antithesis to the ideals of America. The country was founded to “promote the general welfare” of the people. Water is a very basic need. Not only must people have clean water to drink to stay alive, they also need water to wash, to cook, to eliminate waste, to clean clothes and bedding, to maintain a sanitary environment, to ensure fire safety and more. The lack of water could make more Detroit homes uninhabitable. No one is sure how many children, elderly or disabled people are being affected by the water shutoffs. Judge Rhodes agreed that a family without water faces risk of irreparable harm, but found no legal basis to prevent water shutoffs.”

    http://guardianlv.com/2014/10/detroit-judge-rules-there-is-no-basic-human-right-to-water/

    Welcome to National and their cronies supercity and TPP plans….

    That is what ‘no regulation’ looks like, unbelievable social injustice and poverty in formerly first world countries….

    • Ad 12.1
      9 December 2015 at 12:14 pm

      New Zealand could really do with a Bill of Rights Act that is entrenched i.e. cannot be overturned in Parliament other than by 75% of the MPs’ votes.

      The last time that this could have been possible was under the second term of the Clark administration, when there was a good deal of intelligence left in the National party and their numbers were very low.

      Water for people should be among those basic rights.

    • Chooky 12.2
      9 December 2015 at 1:11 pm

      what they do is

      1.) avoid/evade taxes in their own countries..thereby making billions

      2.) with their billions they fund, bribe, compromise , blackmail and worm their way into their own and into other countries’ political parties and governments

      ….they use right wing lobby groups and PR merchants ( these with an attractive, ‘neutral’, liberal legit front)… and others like Lusk to do dirty work

      …and then via these lobby groups they warp politicians decision making and political Elections and political parties

      …..they may even compromise, corrupt and blackmail politicians…then they take control

      3.) they then buy up publicly owned state assets and infrastructure like education and health and they attach themselves for life to the state udder ( we taxpayers feed the billionaire leaches for life)

      ..they suck the expertise , self determination, quality ,vigor and life out of democracy and sovereignty …and education and health and entrepreneurship …and the lives and rights of a nation’s people.

      TPPA is just the overt manifestation of their complete takeover

      • Chooky 12.2.1
        9 December 2015 at 5:25 pm

        TPPA is the attempt at a legal legitimacy for corporate takeover of sovereign state functions ….like education

        why is the New Zealand Labour Party supporting the TPPA?

        why is the New Zealand Labour Party not opposing the TPPA like the other opposition parties, the Greens and NZF ?

        http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/10/14/flouting-the-rules-why-has-andrew-little-rejected-a-winning-tppa-strategy-for-a-guaranteed-loser/

        • Leftie 12.2.1.1
          9 December 2015 at 5:45 pm

          It’s National’s executive that would ratify the TPPA, not the Labour Party, who as yet, have not made a decision whether they support it or not.

          What Labour have posted on their website is…

          “Labour will carefully consider the impact of the draft TPP agreement on New Zealand’s interests, and we will not support the TPP unless it protects New Zealand’s sovereignty and is in the best interests of New Zealanders.”

          <a href="http://campaign.labour.org.nz/our_position_on_the_tpp

          Why isn’t John key putting the TPPA to a parliamentary vote, like most other TPPA countries?

        • Jim 12.2.1.2
          10 December 2015 at 12:47 pm

          bcos labour work for the same foreign bankers. and always have. two sides of the same corrupt freemason scam – for global corporate jewish supremacy

          [lprent: We’re not really interested in having antique bigots around here. And you have already been warned of that. Banned permanently. ]

  14. savenz 14
    9 December 2015 at 1:31 pm

    What is to come, burger King Schools… the USA model of education…. or why American’s have become so stupid….

    “The Burger King Academy program, as the initiative is known, is spreading quickly. Since 1989, the company has sponsored the opening of similar alternative-school programs in 17 communities, from West Palm Beach, Fla., to Anchorage, Alaska. That figure is expected to almost double by next fall, and Burger King hopes to have 60 programs in place by the 1993-94 school year.

    “Our franchisees are going to the school superintendents and selling it for us,” said Richard W. Fallon, the director of corporate involvement for the Burger King Corporation, which has its world headquarters here.
    “This is a true partnership program,” he added. “We believe it is turning lives around.”

    Burger King stresses that the academies are not designed for recruiting restaurant employees–a particularly sensitive issue because of an ongoing U.S. Labor Department lawsuit alleging child-labor-law violations at its corporate-owned restaurants.

    Others Have Embraced Idea
    The public schools are active partners in the Burger King Academy program wherever it has been introduced, contributing teachers, administrators, and other resources. The academies generally follow the local school district’s curriculum, and they award public-school diplomas.

    VBurger King, the nation’s second-largest chain of fast-food restuarants, has now seized on the concept, but other companies are not far behind.

    Goldman, Sachs & Company, the New York City-based investment-banking concern, recently spearheaded the effort to open the Metropolitan Corporate Academy, an alternative program in Brooklyn modeled in part on the Burger King academies. The New York City Board of Education and the local C.I.S. organization are also partners.
    Goldman, Sachs also contributes to Burger King’s Corporate Academy in Miami and to other C.I.S. programs in Boston and Philadelphia. The firm is working to open an academy in Los Angeles.

    Other organizations appear ready to jump on the corporate-academy bandwagon, Mr. Lewis said. C.I.S. has had talks with a manufacturing firm in Cleveland and the Minnesota Twins professional baseball team about sponsoring similar programs.
    The corporate academies, with their close involvement of the public-school system, contrast with another widely discussed model, the Corporate/Community School in Chicago. In that effort, numerous Chicago-area corporations contributed to a build a tuition-free private school. (See Education Week, Dec. 5, 1990.)”

    http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/1992/04/29/32biz.h11.html

    Love it, “tuition-free private school” sarc.

  15. Wairua 15
    9 December 2015 at 3:22 pm

    I take it you are in private practice.

    [lprent: Try the reply button. ]

  16. Smilin 16
    9 December 2015 at 3:22 pm

    So in light of this alarming attack on our democratic right to make public any lobbying to affect our govt responsibility to change our education system we can expect that this govt getting heady and out of it in its riding roughshod over our democratically elected processes can be put down to this kind of activity which is a blant attack on our sovereignty and all involved as representatives in this govt should be held to account and prove their position in which they have responsibility for that they have not contravened the law that governs the office they hold .
    Quite frankly this is indicative of the nature of Natcorps overall governance of this country

  17. JNZ 17
    9 December 2015 at 4:35 pm

    Glad to see people talking about the influence of donations on policy.

    BTW, wasn’t it Brash who said “gone by lunchtime”?

  18. acrophobic 18
    9 December 2015 at 8:43 pm

    This blog post seems to be based on a staggering ignorance of the education sector.

    1. Teach First NZ is not a ‘privatisation trojan horse’, it is a not-for-profit enterprise set up to recruit and deploy teaching staff. It is registered with the Charities Commission, and is supported by both private and public partners. Similar activities have been undertaken by NGO’s in NZ for decades, e.g. Nectar, who deploy teaching staff to the ECE sector, and have been since 1990. Teach First NZ don’t run schools, they don’t determine educational policy, they collaborate to get special people into classrooms to help disadvantaged kids (http://teachfirstnz.org/).

    2. Private sector delivery of education in NZ preceded public education (http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/education-special-aspects-private-schools), as it did globally. There is no logical imperative for the public sector to be the exclusive provider of education, and opposition to Charter Schools, to name one example, is ideological, not evidence based.

    3. I was an early skeptic of Partnership Schools in NZ, however I have been involved in a review of one such school in a private capacity and the progress being made by the students is beyond remarkable. This school has taken students with previously violent backgrounds and high recidivist rates who are now earning NCEA qualifications and moving beyond the background that previously defined them. They won’t all work, just as not all public schools work, but my experience is they are worth every penny.

  19. ropata 19
    10 December 2015 at 12:52 am

    Hey doc it’s not a conspiracy “theory” it’s a NACToid Corp™© policy…

    How 9 Hedge Fund Billionaires fucked over New York Public Education and stole 2.1 Billion Dollars

    “Taken together, these two organizations have provided a vehicle for a tiny group of wealthy NYC hedge-fund managers not just to push their vision of education reform but to tip the political balance of the entire state—throwing support to Cuomo and state Republicans—to ensure its success.”

    And guess whose name pops up on the list, our very own @northshoredoc’s mate, Julian H Robertson..

    Here’s a wee story from 2008 that the Herald mysteriously buried (but they weren’t shy about trumpeting lies against Cunliffe)
    http://thestandard.org.nz/granny-herald-finally-outs-julian-robertson-as-national-donor/

  20. ropata 20
    10 December 2015 at 1:06 am

    Julian Robertson is such a hero that he does not have to pay tax. Even at the paltry rate of 3.78% he went to absurd lengths to avoid tax on the US $700,000,000 that he earned in 2000. What a guy
    http://gawker.com/507798/julian-robertson-wins-nyc-loses
    http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/03/19/tax-me-if-you-can

    Oh and he’s also a tyrant to work for & prone to temper tantrums
    http://www.businessweek.com/1996/14/b34692.htm

    (after BW published this article, he sued them for libel.. ironic)

    • One Anonymous Bloke 20.1
      10 December 2015 at 11:22 am

      But but but, he means well, and he’s extremely wealthy – which as everyone knows is a sign of good character and wisdom beyond that of mere experts in any given field.

  21. Tracey 21
    10 December 2015 at 11:37 am

    For those interested here is a link to a literature review addressing the performance of Teach First trained teachers and othe rinteresting stuff

    http://www.ppta.org.nz/membershipforms/doc_download/1331-fast-track-teacher-education-a-review-of-the-research-literature-on-teach-for-all-schemes

    • Tracey 21.1
      10 December 2015 at 11:41 am

      There is a section specifically addressing the interaction/influence of philanthropic organisations and privatisation ideologies ofr education.

      6.7 page 38

      • ropata 21.1.1
        10 December 2015 at 12:00 pm

        there is a money making opportunity here
        don’t confuse the issues with “facts” and “evidence” !
        </sarc>

      • northshoredoc 21.1.2
        10 December 2015 at 12:04 pm

        Have Teach NZ/Auckland Uni commented on the report ?

        • tracey 21.1.2.1
          10 December 2015 at 12:05 pm

          Have you read it? You asked for it, up there ^^^^^^^^

          It is research. a literature review.

          Read it first, then we will try to find the responses, if any, to it, yes?

      • One Anonymous Bloke 21.1.3
        10 December 2015 at 12:12 pm

        Thanks Tracey.

        These reforms very clearly are aligned with a privatized, market driven educational system with a focus on high stakes testing as a measurement of student achievement.

        and

        …ideological shifts in education in England have not been advanced through public debate but rather that “their influence was mainly achieved through a complex web of interlocking political networks that took them close to the seat of power”.

  22. Jim 22
    10 December 2015 at 12:44 pm

    No surprises there.

    [Rest of comment deleted. You are welcome to repeat your claims but such claims require links to reputable sources of data – BLiP]

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    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
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    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
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    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

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  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

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  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

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  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

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  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

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  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

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  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

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  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

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  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

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    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

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  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

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    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

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    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

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  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
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    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
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    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
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    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
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  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
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    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

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    7 days ago
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    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

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  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

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  • 'Pacific Futures'

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