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Post by Lux on Jun 18, 2009 10:41:33 GMT 12
hmmm... I'm in two minds about this and while it looks like blatant discrimination I understand where Dr. Sharples is coming from - we hear about all the rotten statistics regarding Maori youth and secondary schooling and thats been going on forever and a day, because the education system was not set up with Maori in mind to be able to aspire to anything past a labourer.
But theres also plenty of evidence out there to show that Maori youth aspire in higher places of learning, i.e. polytech, wananga, uni, because the set up is more open to different styles of learning.
On the other hand I don't think it is a good idea to give Maori and Pacific Islander youth free entry into higher places of learning, for one thing the message to Maori youth is very negative (you're not good enough or bright enough to get there on merit) also what is the incentive to try hard at secondary school? Then there is the stigma and lash back by the mainstream majority. Is it favoritism? racism?
I think theres a strong reality behind the idea, that a lot Maori youth fall by the wayside at secondary school. Thats the system that needs fixing if we open up the secondary school system to absolutely cover the different styles of learning put the effort and the resources in there, then Maori youth will have better means to aspire in that arena.
My thoughts.
Yours?
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Post by kokonutwoman on Jun 18, 2009 11:48:33 GMT 12
Yes I agree Lux fix the primary and secondary sectors first. I get really annoyed when I have to deal with students who have been set up to fail and this is one of my biggest fears if this goes through. The MoE need to acknowledge the different styles of learning of all students irrespective of ethnicity and use Maori and Pasefika epistemology when researching our peoples needs. Then maybe they'll understand the major pitfalls of the current education system. Bring back the old NZQA system getting credits for picking up rubbish in the playground doesn't cut it for me. sorry my rant.
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Post by sparrow on Jun 18, 2009 11:58:01 GMT 12
Lux: the weird thing though is that Maori women are the largest uptakers of education across all groups (or were in 2006). University is open free entry (to all residents) at the age of 20. I get where Sharples is coming from, but I think he could have explained it better.
There are STAR programmes that take top high school students into Uni now. There are also writing and study skills programmes that help students write to an academic standard at University, but this is presupposed that people can write. The University system can be relentless and for good reason. They won't drop their standards to accommodate these students. They will help them meet the standard, but they won't compromise and if the students can't reach the standard, they will be failed out.
To me the main problem is at primary, intermediate and secondary schools. Some schools do literacy and numeracy very well, and others don't. I think children that are in danger of falling by the way side should be monitored and helped by someone like ERO. It is important - considering about 70% of the prison population is illiterate. It has huge consequences for people and society, but sending them into University is not the answer.
The university system is not perfect. I wish we embraced a more American approach which makes students (on application) write an essay on why they want to attend university. From this essay, universities can identify who is up to standard, who isn't and who could be with a little help.
To me Sharples is throwing ideas around to try and find solutions. I think it is admirable, but more attention needs to be focussed further down the educational food chain on why our literacy and numeracy rates have dropped. I have my suspicions and a lot of people have devoted research into this area (whole way of learning approach adopted in the 1980s) and I think we need to start looking at ways to increase our rates, rather than what Sharples is suggesting.
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Post by kokonutwoman on Jun 18, 2009 12:17:45 GMT 12
True
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Post by Lux on Jun 18, 2009 13:38:23 GMT 12
Prehaps this is why he's put it out there so ambiguously? To make people in the right places think about how better to approach the situation?
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Post by kokonutwoman on Jun 18, 2009 15:01:23 GMT 12
Yes I think you might have something there Lux lets hope they see it
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Post by sparrow on Jun 18, 2009 16:22:10 GMT 12
Prehaps this is why he's put it out there so ambiguously? To make people in the right places think about how better to approach the situation? Yeah or maybe it was just one of many ideas that have been pounced on by the media? You would think being in coalition that Sharples could raise some of the issues with John Key behind the scenes? I know Govt. policy has been changing quite fast (for the last two years actually) about how University is funded. The "bums on seats" attitude of the 90s is giving way to a more traditional approach (i.e. open entry over 20 or through matriculation). Some of these issues need to be raised though. The literacy and numeracy rates, as well as attrition rates for, in particular, young Maori and Pacific Island youth, are appalling. What you'll get though is cultural deficit thinking (and I'm worried Sharples is buying into this) that it is all the students fault etc. Quite frankly, there is too much protection for rubbish teachers, principals etc and the system doesn't need overhauling, but it needs tweaking. |
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Post by Lux on Jun 19, 2009 9:58:06 GMT 12
Did The Maori Party's Public Works (Offer Back Of and Compensation for Acquired Lands) Amendment Bill, (Wednesday) get through its first reading ok? Did the good Doctor pull a swifty?  |
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Post by kokonutwoman on Jun 19, 2009 11:03:58 GMT 12
lol clever, not sure
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