The drums are beating, yet again, demanding schools raise standards and listen to anyone who proclaims they have run tests and have bad news. Curriculum changes will be made, experts will write reports and those on the oars will be instructed to row harder, in several different directions. And none of this will make any difference, apart from persuading good teachers to become real estate agents or leap into the parallel fire of social work.
It is my belief that we do need to make changes, but they will be effective only if they are changes to the very structure of our primary schools. Structural changes bring about changes in values and practice. If you doubt this, imagine the physical structure of our law courts morphing from their current, multilevel rectangular structures into circular, single-level buildings with windows.
This story is from the May 27 - June 2 2023 edition of New Zealand Listener.
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This story is from the May 27 - June 2 2023 edition of New Zealand Listener.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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