Local Bodies: NZ Charter Schools Defined

62 comments on “Local Bodies: NZ Charter Schools Defined ”

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1. Dr Terry 1

   2 August 2012 at 2:33 pm

   Ironic all right! Tamaki, Banks, and Key – what a trio! That is “partnership” for sure!! And God help the rest of us.
2. lprent 2

   2 August 2012 at 3:04 pm

   You can usually see a screwup coming with this government. It will have a Act party minister involved. In this case John Banks is extolling the value of charter schools, where the government for reasons of ideological stupidity give public tax money to private organisations to produce an education without any standards.

   Yep – that sounds like a Act party rort to me. Just like the supershitty, 3 strikes, etc etc…. I’m sure that there will be a lot of consultation and advice being offered by Actoids to those wanting to sup at the trough.
3. Dv 3

   2 August 2012 at 3:26 pm

   What could go possibly go wrong?

   I heard? Parata say that the charter schools would be closed if they failed.
   Leaving aside what is mean’t by failure who is going to pick up and sort out the pupils from the closed schools.

   They also don’t know about buildings yet.
   • tracey 3.1

     2 August 2012 at 4:28 pm

     a prison only met 50% of its kpi but the company still has the contract. Accordingly what amounts to failure needs to be very clear. We have a world class system and we should not be experimenting on our children.
4. Dv 4

   2 August 2012 at 3:37 pm

   And if the school does not meet targets set by the Government?

   “They will be closed,” Ms Parata said.

   She said it was important there were consequences for schools that do not meet the standards set in their contract.

   SCHOOLs wil face consequences.

   WHAT about effects on the children?
   • bad12 4.1

     2 August 2012 at 5:11 pm

     Children do not figure in charter schools, education is also only a means to an end in the charter schools scheme of things,

     Think the socialization of the losses of Capitalism and charter schools just being the means to front foot the large ugly snout of capitalist profit taking into an area of the economy from which they have largely been unable to fatten themselves at the public purse of such a large taxpayer cache as the education budget,

     They, charter schools are nothing except get rich quick schemes of,for,and, by a capitalist system that itself can and has scored a comprehensive F for itself, as in f**ked and failed…
     • Carol 4.1.1

       2 August 2012 at 5:16 pm

       And a wedge between public and private education, with education of the elite gaining at the expense of education of the masses.
   • Dave Kennedy 4.2

     2 August 2012 at 11:22 pm

     Dv-Closing schools that do not meet the “standards” is hardly reassuring when this can happen: http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/lesley-longstone-management-style.html
     When National and their English import, Longstone, have no idea what makes a good new Zealand school I can imagine schools being hit for all sorts of random stuff. We have well and truly lost the wonderful potential that exists in the New Zealand Curriculum http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Curriculum-documents/The-New-Zealand-Curriculum
     and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa http://tmoa.tki.org.nz/
5. joe90 5

   2 August 2012 at 3:44 pm

   I’m looking forward to a similar reaction from Brian the bishop.

   http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/07/05/louisiana-republican-when-i-voted-for-state-funds-to-go-to-religious-schools-i-didnt-mean-muslim-ones/
   • mike e 5.1

     2 August 2012 at 4:13 pm

     Brain Tamaki religious pyramid schemer.Natural partner to Shonkey financial pyramid schemer
6. captain hook 6

   2 August 2012 at 4:14 pm

   NZ is rapidly becoming the country that lost its head.
   key and banks and parata are dysfunctional personalities seeking to impose their will on a populace mesmerised by the facile, febrile glitter of lunatics.
7. Gosman 7

   2 August 2012 at 4:48 pm

   Closing failing Charter Schools is vital to ensure their success

   http://www.economist.com/node/21558265
   • Macro 7.1

     2 August 2012 at 5:10 pm

     “Closing failing Charter Schools is vital to ensure their success”

     How can a failing school be successful? and how does closing it, ensure it’s success?
     • Carol 7.1.1

       2 August 2012 at 5:15 pm

       This shows the failure of the business model for public services. A company producing low quality baked beans ay go out of business, with some wastage of beans. Better food businesses may subsequently be developed. But children are not expendable cans of beans.
   • mike e 7.2

     2 August 2012 at 5:14 pm

     so thats why the US is 16th ranked.
     Other evidence shows charter schools are largely a failure.
     Dodgy figures leaving out under performing kids
   • Frank Macskasy 7.3

     2 August 2012 at 5:38 pm

     In which case 83% of them should have been closed by now, Gosman. That’s how many have either not performed better, or have performed worse, than mainstream schools in the US.

     Source (not that you’ll bother to read this): http://credo.stanford.edu/reports/MULTIPLE_CHOICE_CREDO.pdf

     Unfortunately, it is children who will end up paying for your ACT Party’s little experiment.

     Another example of ordinary people paying dearly for nutty experiments.
8. Anne 8

   2 August 2012 at 4:57 pm

   But… but… but… John Banks said these charter schools will be of the very highest standard even though half of the teachers in them will have no teaching qualifications…

   Can someone please explain to this dunderhead how that actually works?
   • Draco T Bastard 8.1

     2 August 2012 at 5:41 pm

     It’s not supposed to, it’s supposed to make education worse and make a profit for the ticket clippers.
   • Dave Kennedy 8.2

     2 August 2012 at 11:25 pm

     Just imagine a curriculum written by Bishop Tamaki and taught by a bunch of enthusiastic bible in schools teachers, one very real scenario.
9. bad12 9

   2 August 2012 at 5:16 pm

   Now you have seen the ‘blue-print’ for charter schools i bet you all will be hanging out for the next snout’n’trough act from the Slippery National Government,

   Charter hospitals where the Doctors and Nurses won’t need to have qualifications,(but will undergo rigorous checks to ensure they have consistently voted National),

   Hell i am a dab hand with a skill-saw, surgery anyone…
10. Frank Macskasy 10

    2 August 2012 at 5:45 pm

    Just heard John Banks on Radio NZ statimng that Charter Schhools are a “success” in the United states.

    The lying little bastard.

    The only study in the US, conducted by Stanford University, concluded that only 17% of charter schools do better than mainstream schools. The rest either fail, or achieve no better, than mainstream schools.

    Banks seems to be unable to tell the truth.
    • Dv 10.1

      2 August 2012 at 5:58 pm

      When asked of an example, he quoted hisq son who was failing at school who went through apre army school on the North Shore.
      I have always wondered where the idea came from and i think that is it. the failure of his child was the stresor.

      I was also facinated by his harping on accountiblity. ACCOUNTIBILITY that is word Banks does not know the meaning of.
      • Dv 10.1.1

        2 August 2012 at 6:51 pm

        And off course the army school was set up and run under current rules, so why do we need this new system.
        • Carol 10.1.1.1

          2 August 2012 at 7:28 pm

          Well, I guess what Banks was talking about was this kind of vocationally-oriented school, for 16 yr+ people
          http://www.advancetraining.co.nz/

          The S.M.A.R.T. Course.

          Is this the course for me?

          Students should have a keen intererst in joining the Army, Air Force, Navy, Fire Service or Police

          Be prepared for some hard work both physically and academically.

          Gain NCEA Level 1 & Level 2.

          http://www.advancetraining.co.nz/index.php?p=1_5_SMART-Course

          Really? This is Banks’ model? [sigh]

          I have taught in vocationally-oriented courses for 16+ students in further education colleges in the UK, and TAFE in NSW, Aussie. These are state funded institutions, and regarded as a “second chance” education for students who have failed in the school system.

          I see no reason why some of the best aspects of these can’t be incorporated within the present state education system, including for students younger than 16 yrs. I have often thought this would be beneficial.

          The reason why such institutions don’t necessarily require teaching qualifications, is partly because they are in a “cinderella” sector, which is under-funded by the relevant governments. It doesn’t mean that teaching qualifications for all teachers are not the best option. Also, when the course is offering vocational or pre-vocational training, someone with knowledge and experience in that work area can be suitable.

          But is this what would be best for all students who have failed in the current school system, whatever their age? Really…. Banks shows his total lack of knowledge about education.
          • KJT 10.1.1.1.1

            3 August 2012 at 9:46 am

            This can be done within the present system. Such as the “trades academies” that some high schools already offer.

            The problem is lack of funding for the extra teachers and resources required.

            Of course if the extra funding is applied to the current schools they will have as good, or better outcomes than charter schools.
    • Carol 10.2

      2 August 2012 at 6:16 pm

      And his 20% of students fail in the present system? And still he hasn’t answered why, if initiatives such as the pre-military school are so good, why can they be incorporated within the present state system. Why set up something totally different to improve things?
    • Gosman 10.3

      2 August 2012 at 7:16 pm

      You obviously did’t read that Economist article Frank. You should really do so if you want to spout statistics.
      • Draco T Bastard 10.3.1

        2 August 2012 at 9:05 pm

        Why would he be reading an Economist article when he can read peer reviewed research?
        • Frank Macskasy 10.3.1.1

          2 August 2012 at 9:13 pm

          Draco, Gosman was so eager to voice his muddled thinking that didn’t read the Economist article correctly. The piece actually supported the CREDO study (which, as you correctly state was peer-reviewed research) conducted by Stanford University.

          Once again,. Gosman ends up with one foot in his mouth, and shooting himself in the other.

          One the plus side, that Economist article may be useful. But not as Gosman intended.
      • Frank Macskasy 10.3.2

        2 August 2012 at 9:07 pm

        Gosman, you’re a greater fool than I first thought

        That Economist article stated,

        … Much political capital has been made of a 2009 study of 16 states that found that only 17% of charter schools were better than public schools, 37% were worse and the rest were about the same. The work was done by the Centre for Research on Education Outcomes (Credo) at Stanford University.

        The Credo study has been criticised for not comparing the results of children who have won charter-school lotteries with those who have not—a natural experiment in which the only difference between winners and losers should be the schooling they receive. Such studies suggest that charters are better. For example, a lottery study in New York City found that by eighth grade (around 13), charter-school pupils were 30 points ahead in maths.

        However, recent work by Mathematica, an independent policy group, suggests that the Credo study is sound. The bigger problem is that its findings have been misinterpreted….

        If you’re going to quote articles, do it context you uneducated ass.
        • Gosman 10.3.2.1

          2 August 2012 at 11:51 pm

          Ummmm…. I think you are selectively quoting Frank. The article goes on to state the the Credo study was in fact suggestive that Charter schools work at improving performance for the kids who are failed by the current public school system.. Try and learn a little comprehension.
          • Frank Macskasy 10.3.2.1.1

            3 August 2012 at 9:43 am

            I’ve quoted you the relevant part.

            It’s not my fault you don’t read your own source material properly. What part of “However, recent work by Mathematica, an independent policy group, suggests that the Credo study is sound. The bigger problem is that its findings have been misinterpreted” do you not comprehend?

            So if anyone needs to “learn a little comprehension”, it’s you. You’re making a total fool of yourself.
            • Macro 10.3.2.1.1.1

              3 August 2012 at 10:22 am

              Frank – Gosman has long since finished “making himself a total fool” he has been a complete total fool for quite some time now.
            • Gosman 10.3.2.1.1.2

              3 August 2012 at 10:31 am

              Did you stop at that point in the article Frank? Did you not read on about what it goes to state about the benefits to the most vulnerable kids that Charter Schools provide which the Credo study seems to support?
    • tracey 10.4

      3 August 2012 at 8:04 am

      didnt the main voice piece for charter schools in the usa change her mind about them? Is banks saying that charter schools will only enrol the under performing 1 in 5?????
    • muzza 10.5

      3 August 2012 at 9:38 am

      “Banks seems to be unable to tell the truth.”

      –Once an individual has been corrupted or lied just once, unless they admit to that lie or corrupt action, then every utterence and or action from that time forth, becomes a lie or corrupt activity, each linked to the original.

      People like Banks have not one truthful factor about them other than that they are pure evil!

      Paying for their working life and their retirement, is the fault of people who sit back and allow this to continue!
11. Carol 11

    2 August 2012 at 6:21 pm

    Maybe we should get registered teachers, doctors, nurses etc to run some of the big businesses, private entities in PPPs banks, investment services, etc.? After all, many of those businesses have failed being run by experienced business people.
    • Dv 11.1

      2 August 2012 at 7:35 pm

      I like it Carol.
    • tracey 11.2

      3 August 2012 at 8:05 am

      when will we have almost doctors, or could have been doctors performing operations?
    • KJT 11.3

      3 August 2012 at 9:42 am

      Unfortunately Brownlee is not a good advertisement for that approach. Though I hear he failed in business, and teaching, as well.
12. Herodotus 12

    2 August 2012 at 6:21 pm

    What a great idea this is
    Allow private enterprise to have lower staff standards that than state and to make profit. Perhaps that is how they will achieve this profit, save on the wage bill. And does not National wish to have all teachers posses a post grad qualification.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10810713
    And JK is willing to send his kiddies to such a school. But doesn’t he live in the AGS & EGGS zones and still send his children to Kings ? Somehow by his actions I doubt that he believes in state education 🙁
    • tracey 12.1

      3 August 2012 at 8:06 am

      he can say that because he never has to front, with one finished and the other finishing. Hes never said he would send them to a decile one school
    • Frank Macskasy 12.2

      3 August 2012 at 9:44 am

      Good point, Herodotus… in fact, if you don’t mind, I’ll ‘borrow’ your comments for a blog piece I’m working on…
13. Rodel 13

    2 August 2012 at 8:06 pm

    I await the response of Labour politicians. I’d love to hear Shearer announce that these ridiculous, idiotic Banks inspired so called schools with unqualified ‘ teachers’ sponsored by corporates and fundamentalists will be closed the day Labour becomes the government, without recompense. Has anyone in Labour or the Greens got any leadership grit?
14. Penny Bright 14

    2 August 2012 at 8:37 pm

    BEFORE THE 2011 ELECTION – ACT DO NOT MENTION CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THEIR EDUCATION POLICY.

    http://www.act.org.nz/policies/education

    While education for many children is among the best in the world, we have a well-known “long-tail” of underachievers, who become the next generation of under skilled, unemployed, disengaged citizens. After 70 years of state controlled and mandated education, we have a situation where around 20% of our children left school last year unable to read or write sufficiently to fill out a job application.

    ACT believes that if we continue to do what we’ve always done, we will continue to get the same results that we’ve always had. The education system must do better for these New Zealanders. What we have done for too long is run education as a centrally planned, Wellington-dictated bureaucracy that gives little autonomy to schools and little choice to parents.

    Meanwhile, education policy in Australia, Sweden, parts of Canada and the United States, and Great Britain is showing the benefits of making education more market-like and entrepreneurial. Such policies lead to a wider range of education opportunities being available. ACT supports decentralisation in education, giving more autonomy to principals and teachers and more choice to students and parents.

    In the last parliamentary term, with ACT’s pressure and support, the government:

    • Introduced Aspire Scholarships, allowing disadvantaged children to access any school of their choice, public or private;

    • Undertake a review of education in New Zealand, leading to the ACT Party’s minority report Free to Learn, a comprehensive roadmap for reforming education towards a more market-like and entrepreneurial service;
    • Increase the subsidy for private schools, to reduce the extent to which those who send their children pay twice (once in taxes and once in school fees);
    • Value the special education sector more, with a special education review resulting in new directions described in the report Success for All: Every school, every child.

    ACT will keep working for a more vibrant and dynamic education system. A Party Vote for ACT is a vote to:

    • Continue awarding Aspire scholarships to underprivileged children;
    • Increase the autonomy that local principals and staff have in running their school. Boards and principals should be able, for example, to set teacher remuneration at their discretion like any other employer, rather than having a rigid, seniority based pay scale;
    • Further increase the subsidy for independent schools so that parents who choose independent schools for their children do not lose so much of their child’s share of education funding;
    • Encourage choice in assessment systems, whether they be NCEA, Cambridge International Examination, International Baccalaureate, or other qualifications.

    ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    AFTER THE 2011 ELECTION CHARTER SCHOOLS (CONVENIENTLY) BECOME PART OF THE NATIONAL/ACT CONFIDENCE AND SUPPLY AGREEMENT:

    http://www.act.org.nz/national-act-confidence-and-supply-agreement

    5. Education

    National and ACT acknowledge that many New Zealand children are not achieving their potential in education and are leaving school ill-equipped to enter the workforce and with limited choices for their future. Underachievement in education often compounds the disadvantages already faced by children in vulnerable, at-risk communities, and can contribute to intergenerational disadvantage, poor health, poverty, joblessness, welfare dependence, criminal offending and social dysfunction. It is one of the reasons for New Zealand’s very high rate of youth unemployment.

    Both parties agree that to break this cycle a range of mutually-supporting reforms is required in the areas of welfare, primary health, education, youth transition and employment law.

    With respect to education, the parties have, in particular, agreed to implement a system, enabled under either sections 155 (Kura Kaupapa Maori) or 156 (Designated character schools), or another section if appropriate, of the Education Act, whereby school charters can be allocated in areas where educational underachievement is most entrenched. A series of charters would initially be allocated in areas such as South Auckland and Christchurch. Iwi, private and community (including Pacific Island) groups and existing educational providers would compete to operate a local school or start up a new one. Schools would be externally accountable and have a clearly-defined, ambitious mission. Public funding would continue to be on a per-child basis. (Details are included in the attached Annex).

    National and ACT agree to establish an implementation group comprising a private sector chair, and private sector, business, iwi and community representatives along with government officials to develop the proposal. They also agree to ensure it is implemented within this Parliamentary term. The terms of reference and composition of the group would be agreed by National and ACT and be supported by the Ministry of Education and external resources. (Details are included in the attached Annex.)

    National and ACT also agree to set up a task force to produce a comprehensive report on governance issues relating to policy towards state, integrated and independent schools.

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Penny Bright
    ‘Anti-corruption campaigner’

    http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com
15. Georgecom 15

    2 August 2012 at 10:27 pm

    Banks speech on Radio NZ after 5.30 pm tonight was essentially a series of sound bites and catch phrases.

    He talked about 20% of students failing NCEA level 2 and how something had to be done about this. If Banks bothered to look at the data NCEA rates have been rising over the past decade, without Charter Schools.

    The best way to lift achievement levels is trained teachers and quality professional development. Charter Schools can employ untrained people as teachers and the government has cancelled most quality professional development. Most PD available to teachers has to do with its dodgy National Standards programme.

    The leader of the school does not need to be a trained teacher either. Professional leadership could be seriously lacking.

    He complained about 25% of “our youth” being on the dole. Not sure how Charter Schools will address that. Maybe some jobs could help but we needent look to him or his Government to contribute much in that area eh.

    If Banks wants to encourage alternative education he could properly fund existing alternative education programmes and given them some certainty. No need for Charter Schools, just start to give some certainty to existing programmes and make their existence more secure.

    If he wants to make a dent in the ‘20% who education isn’t working for’, why does he import failed policies from countries with longer tails than NZ. That is, in countries with greater underachievement than ours charter schools haven’t worked, so why should they be any different here. Failure simply replicates failure.
    • Draco T Bastard 15.1

      2 August 2012 at 11:16 pm

      Neither Banks nor National give a shit about education. All they’re interested in is government guaranteed profit for their rich mates and it’s that profit chasing which brings about charter schools.
    • Carol 15.2

      3 August 2012 at 8:29 am

      That was a despicable performance by Dishonest John. A sad day when someone like him is in government, let alone a minister with responsibility for subverting our education system.

      And still he avoided explaining why any good measures being carried out in private establishments couldn’t be incorporated into the system we have now.
      • Dv 15.2.1

        3 August 2012 at 8:51 am

        He said his own kid went through a school like a charter school under the CURRENT system.

        The real problem is he does not have any idea about how the current system works.

        AND i guess they will troll the malls of south auckland and Poriria for students, just like HULLICH did touting the dodgy kiwisaver scheme. WHO signed that off? Oh yes Banks.
16. Dave Kennedy 16

    2 August 2012 at 11:34 pm

    The fact that 50% of our children experience poverty at some stage in their childhood doesn’t seem to figure in this government’s thinking. Children living in substandard housing and coming to school in Winter without shoes and breakfast must have some bearing on learning achievement. I guess this means raising minimum wages and cutting profits for their mates. Better to blame the teachers, raise class sizes, introduce league tables, sack advisors…that should fix it!
17. Logie97 17

    3 August 2012 at 1:23 am

    Banks made a big play on the 20 per cent who are failing.
    “And the charter schools are going to go to all existing schools with failing pupils and
    offer them positions in the charter schools so that they can get a better chance in life…?”
    Nah, those “failing” pupils will stay in the public system while a “wacky” rag bag of others will go to the charter schools (probably achievers academically) and the public schools will be left with higher ratios of failing pupils and won’t the figures look good then.
    • rosy 17.1

      3 August 2012 at 1:29 am

      Some of the failing will go to the Charter Schools – the education that’s failing them won’t be measured though.
      • tracey 17.1.1

        3 August 2012 at 8:10 am

        a prominent private school in auckland doesnt publish its results. Last year an alarming number of year 13 failed cambridge and without ncea are doing six month courses at unis to get to degree courses. Ive suggested they sue the school under the fta for misleading and deceptive conduct, promising quality education but hiding failures… Ask for fees back. 😉
        • Gosman 17.1.1.1

          3 August 2012 at 8:13 am

          That will be up to the parents of the kids to decide. If they decide to pay for an education for their children which is failing them then more fool them. However I suspect this isn’t really the case and you are either mistaken or making this up.
          • Frank Macskasy 17.1.1.1.1

            3 August 2012 at 9:45 am

            Why do you think our education system is failing our children? What do you base that statement on?
18. tracey 18

    3 August 2012 at 8:27 am

    It is real and my suggestion to sue was tongue in cheek.
    • Gosman 18.1

      3 August 2012 at 8:44 am

      Name the School and also specify their failing rate then.
      • tracey 18.1.1

        3 August 2012 at 6:56 pm

        The school is in a auckland. I wont name it as i was using it to make a tongue in cheek comment. I dont understand how we partially fund them but cant get their annual figures. Can you show me the national and act pre election statements which give them a mandate for charter schools? I
19. BillODrees 19

    3 August 2012 at 11:34 am

    In a poll now on xtra  http://Nz.yahoo.com. 60% see charter schools as a dangerous experiment and 20% see it as an improvement. 

     
20. Fortran 20

    3 August 2012 at 1:09 pm

    Currently 2% of Primary School Teachers have no qualification, and 6% of Secondary, according to the Education Department.
    • Dv 20.1

      3 August 2012 at 1:12 pm

      That does not mean unregistered, does it.
    • tracey 20.2

      3 August 2012 at 6:57 pm

      what else does it say about them. Children are not statistics.

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