We’re into our third year of this saga on workplace bullying in the education sector and I would like to wish all my followers a happy, prosperous and conflict free New Year. To the bullies I would just like to say watch this space. To the Many people who helped with scanning documents over the […]
Filed under: Back ground, Bullying, LPHS, Minedu, Minister, NZQA, PPTA, Questions | 5 Comments »
With shrinking rolls at Dunedin High Schools and the ongoing closures of Primary Schools it doesn’t take a genius to work out that the city is in an over supply situation and that the falling rolls in Primary Schools will ultimately be reflected in closures of Secondary Schools. Logan Park High School’s proximity to both the University of Otago and the Otago Polytechnic makes LPHS a prime candidate for closure as the buildings could easily be reallocated to other educational purposes.
Filed under: Back ground, LPHS, Minedu | 1 Comment »
At no time has anyone told me there is no basis to my claims. Instead they have simply either refused to investigate or ignored correspondence. It should be clear to any reader that if there were no substance there would have been moves to shut me down months ago. I did receive one threatening call from a lawyer who didn’t want to name his client. But he vanished quickly when I suggested we get to court as quickly as possible.
Filed under: Back ground, Bullying, LPHS, Minedu | No Comments »
Yesterday I wrote to the Ministry of Education in Christchurch and will report back their response as a comment on this blog latter. It has become clear that the Ministry is satisfied that dishonesty and non compliance is an acceptable situation in the education sector and that bullying and incompetence can be swept under the […]
Filed under: Back ground, Bullying, LPHS, Minedu, Minister, Questions | No Comments »
Discretion what exactly is it. The Ministry and the Education Act give an awful lot of this to Boards of Trustees (BOT) and Principals. To me discretion is the ability to make a discussion that is not likely to embarrass you in the future. To be fair and reasonable and show when you have power […]
Filed under: Back ground, Bullying, LPHS, Minedu, Minister, PPTA | 1 Comment »
Recent correspondence with Logan Park High School would indicate that the new Board of Trustees is no better than the last. Perhaps this is because to many of the old BOT are still there certainly the new Chair was the deputy in the last board. This is sad as some much better candidates came forward […]
Filed under: Back ground, LPHS, Questions | 4 Comments »
The Ministry of Education don’t want to know they just want to avoid. The guidelines they create are not policed actually every thing they seem to do is a waste of millions of dollars of tax payer money. The education act requires BOTs to be a “good Employer” and the ministry is responsible for administering the Act. But there will be many teachers driven from their careers before the ministry ever performs its responsibilities. We need a Minister prepared to force the issues and do her job the same applies to the secretary. The level of incompetence is amazing and it doesn’t rest with the classroom teachers. It’s in Karen Sewell’s lap and just how do you get past all the apologists to send an email directly to her. Who knows I for one will send them to Anne Tolley delegating to her that responsibility and ask her to pass them on perhaps she knows a direct connection.\\just send it Karen Sewell C/o [email protected] Perhaps she knows how to get Mail to this over paid public servant. Or maybe the Minister will get sick of it and demand her secretary become more available to the people who pay her wages. Or even better get somebody better for the role.
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But lets take it a step further and get real managers into schools to manage the administration. For too long many of the managers (Principals) in our schools have lacked the training and experience for the job. Why do the CEO’s of our schools need to have a history as a teacher? What does teaching have to do with HR management, budgets, Balance Sheets and regulatory compliance. I’m not saying that teachers shouldn’t be allowed to aspire to that role but I am saying they should get the necessary management qualifications and practical experience outside of the school system first. CEO’s need to hold high levels of management skills, qualifications and sound knowledge of the regulations affecting the education industry. Because in the modern world it is an industry not just a sector. BOT’s need quality advice to make good decisions. The CEO could hold a fixed term position overlapping BOT elections by say 3 months allowing the incoming BOT to change direction or reaffirm
Filed under: Back ground, Minister, Questions | 2 Comments »
I believe this is occurring. Teachers are being bullied out of their jobs on a daily basis and because of the way the education system works if you can’t get a reference from your last school you can’t find another job. Teachers are afraid to speak out or support their colleagues for fear of being […]
Filed under: Back ground, Bullying, Minedu, Minister | 6 Comments »
Last Tuesday three more teachers at Logan Park High School in Dunedin were assaulted by a student this brings to five the teacher victims at this school in the last 12 months. And yet again the principal Jane Johnson is downplaying the situation. The Police in the Otago Daily Times (ODT) front page article of […]
Filed under: Back ground, Bullying, LPHS, Minedu, Minister, Questions | 1 Comment »