Talkback callers respond to Tomorrow's Schools plan

Andrew Dickens Afternoons

A campaign's been launched against changing the school system.
The Government last year launched a discussion around their Tomorrow's Schools plan, which proposes replacing community leadership such as school boards with regional 'hubs'.
Today, 43 of the country's nearly 2500 schools announced that they have formed the Community Schools Alliance.
Auckland Grammar Principal Tim O'Connor, who is one member of the Alliance, told Mike Hosking a new model won't work for every school.
Andrew Dickens agrees. He thinks that the schools that are in trouble could go for this collective model, but 95% of the schools seem to be doing fine.
"The schools that are not should not be forced into this system of one size fits all."
Talkback callers were in agreement about the flaws in the system.
One of the proposals would see principals hired on five year terms. Richard, who sits on a Catholic school board in Wellington, says that it's already difficult enough trying to find a Catholic principal at the moment as it is.
"I'm not sure how hard it's going to be, if this does come to fruition, without talking to the Archdiocese."
He says that there can be high, professional expectations placed on boards despite it being a volunteer position. Richard feels that they are already getting a collective level of knowledge.
Another proposal would see teachers moved around between schools to spread their skills around. Another caller, Daryl, says that doesn't make any sense under current teaching standards, which views all teachers as equal.

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