Stuart Middleton’s EDTalkNZ article of 4 April http://www.stuartmiddleton.co.nz/?p=1391 asks if education can hold its head up high and say that we are doing our best and addressing the issue of preparing young people for jobs. He writes; “I am frustrated by the unwillingness of education systems to accept that the key purpose of each stage of formal education is to prepare students for the next stage of their lives – education, eventually being a responsible adult, and, yes, finally getting a job. “  Read More...

There was a time when I was a primary school teacher. I started back as a young man in the mid 80s and spent some years teaching in a South Auckland Intermediate School. In my first year I taught Year 8 (Form 2) and from day one had 36 in my class. As a pretty green young fellow straight out of school and tertiary study it was rather a shock to the system. That first year of teaching was a stunning introduction to the realities of NZ society. It almost killed me and was a critical factor in my seeking answers to the problems of the world, a journey that ended with me finding Jesus. Over the next few years I continued to teach classes of about 35 students. I also got to know other teachers, and, despite what is being claimed, without doubt class size affects teaching quality – the more students you have to work with, the harder it is to maintain educative quality.  Read More...

Where is the big map, the overarching story to trust and give us understanding of what is true, beautiful and good? There is no such story, screams the philosophical, cultural and educational orthodoxy of our day. Yet the boy from West Auckland kicked in the ribs by his father, dragged into the lounge and told to "piss off" longs to know a story of love and goodness.  Read More...

Note: This blog piece is inspired by Dr Di Scouller’s PhD – Back to the Future: An Investigation of the Curriculum Model Adopted by the Association of Classical and Christian Schools – awarded Sept 23, 2011 from Macquarie University in Sydney. Read More...