As a retired teacher of mathematics, (I’ve always wanted to write that), I love the subject, loved the teaching, loved getting students enthused even when the parents had a habit of undermining the subject through their own experiences at school, and I love the clarity of thinking that follows on… I DO not think that it is more important than other subjects - and it definitely is not useful for determining the success of a school (that’s where their testing will end up). Goldsmith - levels of arrogance and meanness of Seymourian proportions, he is a new stain on the pages of history of Aotearoa.
Tautoko. Not only are maths teachers tearing their hair out, but also music, art and drama teachers, saying that many of their students ONLY attend school because of their lessons.
I am gobsmacked how stupid this government is. I love your description of the pride we feel arriving back here, when we turn on the tele or the radio and Te Reo is being spoken, of how feel welcome home to our unique little country, unlike no other in the whole world. And then there is the music, the dance, the poetry and writing. I’ve told this story often. My lad is home for a visit from the US. He struggled with reading and maths until he was around ten. He discovered Mozart and began listening and composing his own music. Reading and maths followed along because music made sense. He has a BMus and a MSci and works in a leading job for a well-known tech firm. All of his developmental years were in Westie schools and then at Auckland Uni. He had great teachers who saw the potential and encouraged him. What I learned from this is that kids don’t learn in the same way. He is also now an avid reader and on a voyage of discovery of the poets and ancient Greek/Roman writing. Luxon keeps saying he wants to have education “for success”. Sadly, I think he misses out on so much beauty in our world with his boring old Commerce Degree and not much else. And as for Goldsmith. Embarrassing.
Absolutely Darien. This educator knows the importance of the balance needed and the fact that Music and Art both encompass elements of Maths as well as sheer joy which is a great motivator to attend school in the first place. The late Sir Ken Robinson always made very clear the importance of creativity in education.
Beautifully put Darien and in fact we have know for some time now that ‘learning’ Is not one size fits all. What a remarkable journey your son has been, and still is on.. you sound justly proud. As for this government, l have run out of words to describe my disappointment, my embarrassment, my horror and disgust in almost every utterance. Dear god where will it end.
Goodness that was quick, there we are 100 likes. Thank you 🙂
I'm not entirely convinced it's a great way to measure how much a newsletter is liked, having gamed the system by prompting you to like it. 😂
Perhaps better to leave that unsaid. In any case I'll get rid of the paywall this afternoon, might just leave it a bit having sent out Emily's newsletter on disinformation.
Perhaps the urgency being applied to the teaching of maths above all else, is that some time in another Nat led government,(30 or 40 years from now when intelligent voters will be extinct) there will be a finance minister who actually knows how numbers work. Maybe one who has a degree in Abacus calculations. That would be a bit more appropriate than a journalist with a degree in literature who can budget for a family of 4 (or 5,I just can't get the numbers to add up!)
As for Goldsmith, below is a letter I sent to the Herald before the TVNZ 1 news had finished,in complete disbelief for someone with a portfolio like his.
Paul Goldsmith, having invited his Australian counterpart, Tony Burke, to a Maori celebration, Matariki, had his staff remove all reference to te reo Maori and indeed the indigenous name of our country because he "didn't think an Australian would understand it!?" I'm Australian and understand perfectly that many others like me, in our communications across the ditch use the name AotearoaNZ because that's what enlightened people do. Goldsmith simply didn't think at all. He also suggested that "until a referendum is held to change the country's name, it's New Zealand". Did his forebears, on arrival, ask Maori if it was OK to change the country's name then? If ever irony has cause to raise its critical eyebrow in politics, the Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage, having made these statements is it. Goldsmith is a candidate for an Olympic gold medal for putting feet in mouth. He should be disqualified. He brings his country no pride.
Very good letter Jeremy. I find it unbelievable that the Minister would remove all te reo from an invitation to celebrate an event which is a Maori celebration. And don't forget the little toad ( cane toad) Seymour who is part of this lot declared he did not support a public holiday for Matariki at all and was going to remove it if he got elected.
This says it all for me... when I think of NZ. Dave Dobbin and 'Welcome Home'. Just to name one of the many songs that is woven into our Kiwi life. I lived overseas and I loved hearing Te Reo, I missed it. This song brings it all to me again. Brings tears to my eyes. When one of my loved ones comes home from wherever they've been... this is it! watch the video and tell me you don't feel it! My grandchildren in the UK are learning Te Reo, it's part of their culture! Bugger Goldsmith and his petty shit. And Seymour and his pathetic behaviour. We have our hearts full of all that speaks about our country and as you say, the horse has well and truly bolted. Bring it on! We will fight for our country and what it stands for! This version in Te Reo is spine chilling! (copy and paste) https://youtu.be/Aa73ujK8m2w?feature=sharedhttps://youtu.be/Wlz2uEuxyyk?feature=shared
I recently started to relearn the piano after many decades of not playing and have remembered how doing music, movement or art actually helps you with other academic work (something about neurons or muscle memory?). Government obviously doesn't understand this.
Ah that'll be why my brother was such a great guitar player he found maths easy my Mum played the cello when she was at Avondale College & the piano. I played the fool & couldn't get to grips with maths but funnily enough it made sense in Book keeping which is probably really old fashioned now you just get Zero or something like it to do it for you. I would have loved to do art at school never got the opportunity. I think the more opportunities kids can get to try things the better cos you never know what's going to send a spark thru you. Oh Luxon he's such a failure.
To be fair I think Luxon miss read their coalition agreement, where it said abolish all things Maori, he pronounced it as defer arts and music, same meaning in the CoC but poles apart to us.
On a lighter note, I recall after working overseas for a few years flying back to Aotearoa to catch up with family, boarding an Air NZ flight and hearing Po kari kari ana played through the plane, this big, burly oil driller burst into tears and looked out from my window seat so others wouldnt see my sobbing with pride.
A rich curriculum that encompasses literacy, (including te reo and tikanga) numeracy, science, social studies, technology, the arts and health and PE gives students a chance for everyone to excel and show their talents which lifts self esteem. A narrow curriculum reduces success and creates an environment of failure. This happened under National Standards! Luxon has no idea what’s going on in schools as he doesn’t care.
Everything this government is doing makes me angry, dismayed, disappointed. Part of me hopes they have some grand long-term plan and this is the foundation of making things better. Part of me is terrified that they have a grand long-term plan and this is the foundation of taking everything backwards.
Feels like I’m in a time travel horror movie, transported to pre-treaty settlement, racist days before the Waitangi Tribunal introduced us to the three Ps of partnership, participation, protection; the same days when the three Rs were all that mattered and no time for that arty-crafty rubbish. It’s waking me up at night, worrying about how the actual F we will rebuild Aotearoa once these creeps are tossed out on their ears.
Good point Nick that this "no te reo" policy was decided by THREE MEN during coalition negotiations. There is no mandate. You can't emphasise that often enough - the same applies to so many of the brutal actions of this government.
Yes, the 3Rs are critical but, not at the expense of all else, you'll just stifle peoples flair and curiosity. Hell we could all end up like luxon willis seymore.
It gets worse - Just look at the cover of todays herald. I can't link to it but check out David Evans Bailey's post on We Stand With Māori on Facebook just now. Sponsored racism at its most ugly. What a sad and hateful country we are becoming.
It's really starting to ramp up. Indigenous rights get in the way of grabbing resources. With the Treaty Principles bill making an appearance soon, the cacophy will become deafening. Mr Whoopty Doo and his cohorts are complicit and the comments by Key, emerging from the crypt, are convenient and too late. They were happy for this in their lolly scramble for power.
As a retired teacher of mathematics, (I’ve always wanted to write that), I love the subject, loved the teaching, loved getting students enthused even when the parents had a habit of undermining the subject through their own experiences at school, and I love the clarity of thinking that follows on… I DO not think that it is more important than other subjects - and it definitely is not useful for determining the success of a school (that’s where their testing will end up). Goldsmith - levels of arrogance and meanness of Seymourian proportions, he is a new stain on the pages of history of Aotearoa.
Oh lovely Keith!⭐️
Just read this newsroom item. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/cTa2L8k1PEsCFuzn/?mibextid=UyTHkb
Tautoko. Not only are maths teachers tearing their hair out, but also music, art and drama teachers, saying that many of their students ONLY attend school because of their lessons.
I am gobsmacked how stupid this government is. I love your description of the pride we feel arriving back here, when we turn on the tele or the radio and Te Reo is being spoken, of how feel welcome home to our unique little country, unlike no other in the whole world. And then there is the music, the dance, the poetry and writing. I’ve told this story often. My lad is home for a visit from the US. He struggled with reading and maths until he was around ten. He discovered Mozart and began listening and composing his own music. Reading and maths followed along because music made sense. He has a BMus and a MSci and works in a leading job for a well-known tech firm. All of his developmental years were in Westie schools and then at Auckland Uni. He had great teachers who saw the potential and encouraged him. What I learned from this is that kids don’t learn in the same way. He is also now an avid reader and on a voyage of discovery of the poets and ancient Greek/Roman writing. Luxon keeps saying he wants to have education “for success”. Sadly, I think he misses out on so much beauty in our world with his boring old Commerce Degree and not much else. And as for Goldsmith. Embarrassing.
Absolutely Darien. This educator knows the importance of the balance needed and the fact that Music and Art both encompass elements of Maths as well as sheer joy which is a great motivator to attend school in the first place. The late Sir Ken Robinson always made very clear the importance of creativity in education.
Very very embarrassing and just plain stupid!
Beautifully put Darien and in fact we have know for some time now that ‘learning’ Is not one size fits all. What a remarkable journey your son has been, and still is on.. you sound justly proud. As for this government, l have run out of words to describe my disappointment, my embarrassment, my horror and disgust in almost every utterance. Dear god where will it end.
Yes yes yes!!🌟
Goodness that was quick, there we are 100 likes. Thank you 🙂
I'm not entirely convinced it's a great way to measure how much a newsletter is liked, having gamed the system by prompting you to like it. 😂
Perhaps better to leave that unsaid. In any case I'll get rid of the paywall this afternoon, might just leave it a bit having sent out Emily's newsletter on disinformation.
You’re a star Nick x
Perhaps the urgency being applied to the teaching of maths above all else, is that some time in another Nat led government,(30 or 40 years from now when intelligent voters will be extinct) there will be a finance minister who actually knows how numbers work. Maybe one who has a degree in Abacus calculations. That would be a bit more appropriate than a journalist with a degree in literature who can budget for a family of 4 (or 5,I just can't get the numbers to add up!)
As for Goldsmith, below is a letter I sent to the Herald before the TVNZ 1 news had finished,in complete disbelief for someone with a portfolio like his.
Paul Goldsmith, having invited his Australian counterpart, Tony Burke, to a Maori celebration, Matariki, had his staff remove all reference to te reo Maori and indeed the indigenous name of our country because he "didn't think an Australian would understand it!?" I'm Australian and understand perfectly that many others like me, in our communications across the ditch use the name AotearoaNZ because that's what enlightened people do. Goldsmith simply didn't think at all. He also suggested that "until a referendum is held to change the country's name, it's New Zealand". Did his forebears, on arrival, ask Maori if it was OK to change the country's name then? If ever irony has cause to raise its critical eyebrow in politics, the Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage, having made these statements is it. Goldsmith is a candidate for an Olympic gold medal for putting feet in mouth. He should be disqualified. He brings his country no pride.
Sent from my HUAWEI P30 Pro
Very good letter Jeremy. I find it unbelievable that the Minister would remove all te reo from an invitation to celebrate an event which is a Maori celebration. And don't forget the little toad ( cane toad) Seymour who is part of this lot declared he did not support a public holiday for Matariki at all and was going to remove it if he got elected.
Thanks Cheryl. It's just a shame it had to be written, by anyone, Aussie or not.
This says it all for me... when I think of NZ. Dave Dobbin and 'Welcome Home'. Just to name one of the many songs that is woven into our Kiwi life. I lived overseas and I loved hearing Te Reo, I missed it. This song brings it all to me again. Brings tears to my eyes. When one of my loved ones comes home from wherever they've been... this is it! watch the video and tell me you don't feel it! My grandchildren in the UK are learning Te Reo, it's part of their culture! Bugger Goldsmith and his petty shit. And Seymour and his pathetic behaviour. We have our hearts full of all that speaks about our country and as you say, the horse has well and truly bolted. Bring it on! We will fight for our country and what it stands for! This version in Te Reo is spine chilling! (copy and paste) https://youtu.be/Aa73ujK8m2w?feature=shared https://youtu.be/Wlz2uEuxyyk?feature=shared
YES! ✊🏽
I recently started to relearn the piano after many decades of not playing and have remembered how doing music, movement or art actually helps you with other academic work (something about neurons or muscle memory?). Government obviously doesn't understand this.
Music is certainly very mathematical.
Ah that'll be why my brother was such a great guitar player he found maths easy my Mum played the cello when she was at Avondale College & the piano. I played the fool & couldn't get to grips with maths but funnily enough it made sense in Book keeping which is probably really old fashioned now you just get Zero or something like it to do it for you. I would have loved to do art at school never got the opportunity. I think the more opportunities kids can get to try things the better cos you never know what's going to send a spark thru you. Oh Luxon he's such a failure.
To be fair I think Luxon miss read their coalition agreement, where it said abolish all things Maori, he pronounced it as defer arts and music, same meaning in the CoC but poles apart to us.
On a lighter note, I recall after working overseas for a few years flying back to Aotearoa to catch up with family, boarding an Air NZ flight and hearing Po kari kari ana played through the plane, this big, burly oil driller burst into tears and looked out from my window seat so others wouldnt see my sobbing with pride.
I can picture that memory - nice one John.
A rich curriculum that encompasses literacy, (including te reo and tikanga) numeracy, science, social studies, technology, the arts and health and PE gives students a chance for everyone to excel and show their talents which lifts self esteem. A narrow curriculum reduces success and creates an environment of failure. This happened under National Standards! Luxon has no idea what’s going on in schools as he doesn’t care.
Everything this government is doing makes me angry, dismayed, disappointed. Part of me hopes they have some grand long-term plan and this is the foundation of making things better. Part of me is terrified that they have a grand long-term plan and this is the foundation of taking everything backwards.
Feels like I’m in a time travel horror movie, transported to pre-treaty settlement, racist days before the Waitangi Tribunal introduced us to the three Ps of partnership, participation, protection; the same days when the three Rs were all that mattered and no time for that arty-crafty rubbish. It’s waking me up at night, worrying about how the actual F we will rebuild Aotearoa once these creeps are tossed out on their ears.
Good point Nick that this "no te reo" policy was decided by THREE MEN during coalition negotiations. There is no mandate. You can't emphasise that often enough - the same applies to so many of the brutal actions of this government.
Without the arts where would we have been during the pandemic lockdowns? We need beauty as much as we need math.
Another day of COC bs.
Yes, the 3Rs are critical but, not at the expense of all else, you'll just stifle peoples flair and curiosity. Hell we could all end up like luxon willis seymore.
Oh geez no!
It gets worse - Just look at the cover of todays herald. I can't link to it but check out David Evans Bailey's post on We Stand With Māori on Facebook just now. Sponsored racism at its most ugly. What a sad and hateful country we are becoming.
Yes I've seen it, bloody disgraceful who they'll take money from.
It's really starting to ramp up. Indigenous rights get in the way of grabbing resources. With the Treaty Principles bill making an appearance soon, the cacophy will become deafening. Mr Whoopty Doo and his cohorts are complicit and the comments by Key, emerging from the crypt, are convenient and too late. They were happy for this in their lolly scramble for power.