If you expect pathetic you probably will get it

Recently heaps of fellow principals attended the NZPF conference in Wellington. I got a few tweets coming from there from @carolynstuart . @lenva was also in attendance but she doesn't have the principals funded 3g coverage and there was no wifi available to get her thoughts out there. So I made some sarcastic remark about NZPF being old farts not knowing about twitter and carried on with my day. I suppose that some principals can take the attitude that twitter is for people with too much time on their hands and is a load of crap, fair point. I suggest most however don't even know what it is and how it could be used. Still it shouldnt be a judge of a good conference. I'm just using it as a small measurement tool of digital principals. However it begs the question as to weather Principals are in touch with their digital side when wifi isn't a priority at their conference and no-one cares or comments. Then you also ask if we see it as essential in our own learning.

So I digress. A colleague of mine subscribes to the eAdmin training from the MOE. She sent me through the latest offer of professional development for leadership teams and principals. This is really funny, embarrassing and somewhat insulting. I reckon it could be one of those secret stings, you know those FBI tricks where they send wanted criminals free tickets to NBA basketball games and tickets for their kids, when they turn up they are arrested. Maybe if you go on this course with the eAdmin team you get ERO, National Standards visitors, and letters from people wanting charters and more grief.

So read below and be insulted, but also remember that you can't throw stones if I use the "conference without wifi and no-one cared" as a digital gauge.

I have run workshops with over 50 principals in the last 6 months and all have left setting up and using their own wikis, most have gone away using the cloud as a default. What are the eAdmin Team doing? Give yourself an uppercut guys! File structure OMG.

Sorry eAdmin Team I don't mean to offend but this is not what should be being taught to Principals. (feel free to use my sting theory)

Oh and all NZPF people, you aren't old farts, you are great people doing a brilliant job and I tip my hat to you. BTW no chance of offending anyone enrolled on the course, they probably haven't seen the interweb yet.

Just trying to get a point across thats all. If you expect pathetic you probably will get it.

PS How funny is the Macintosh line at the end - MACINTOSH ha thats so 1997. Wellington now has saturday shopping incase you didnt know.

Kia Ora _______

We would like to invite you to make a booking for the Managing Your Computer Files e-workshop running in term two: 2nd-27th May.

"Do you have problems finding the file you're looking for?"

"Are your folders a mess?"

If you answered yes to either of these questions then this 1 hour online interactive e-workshop is for you. Managing Your Computer

Files e-workshop is designed to teach you the concepts of good file management and give you practical examples and techniques on

how you can achieve this in your school.

In this e-workshop our trainer will show you:

• How to create folders and subfolders
• How to move a file/folder to another location on your PC
• The recommended way to Naming your electronic files - we will share with you some recommended tips!
• How to use one of windows search features to find your saved files
• How to create shortcuts to the files that you use regularly

The Managing Your Computer Files e-workshop is designed for:

• principals
• deputy principals
• administration staff
• Note: This session is not suitable for users of Apple Macintosh computers.

iPod iPad iCant be bothered, iM in denial ?

The stories from people who have heard their ADE Joe Morelock speak are impressive. I think this is a good example of ipods ipads being done well. Read the links, click through, interesting stuff.

Canby School District have an iPod touch & iPad 1:1 Programme

Every 3rd grade child gets an iPod Touch/ iPad.

They have shown some huge increases in literacy and maths scores.

Main wiki on iPod use.

Using iTunes as a Digital Portfolio.

The teacher action research blogs - the stuff that is actually happening.

Using voice memos for reading fluency.

Geeky stuff on syncing.

They are not electronic worksheets.

Q & A

Question : Is Mary Chamberlain not renewing her contract with the MOE because she sees what is on the horizon and just cant stomach it?

Answer : You bet ya.

Question : Why has it taken Pat Lam two seasons to finally put pressure on Joe Roks.

Answer : He now has an assistant coach who isn't a "yes man".

Question : Why do i cringe and hide when i hear eportfolios ?

Answer : The teachers do hours and hours of work and the leaders take all the glory and the kids couldn't really give a shit especially in two years time.

Question : Why is the labour party such a load of shit ?

Answer : Because Phil Gough is as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike.

Question : Have Auckland University sold Astlle to the ministry of Education?

Answer : Who knows but its a bloody good rumor, and we will all be forced to do eAstlle as national testing kicks in.

Question : Does anyone actually give a shit about facebook privacy settings anymore?

Answer : No not really.

Question : Does Ken Robinson have anything else to say other than, education was built on an industrial model and now times have changed but education hasn't?

Answer : No, but he is very charming and witty.

Question : Will anyone run an educational conference where the social networks will form the guts of the conference?

Answer : Not while we bow and hail international peddlars selling their glossy crap.

Question : How long will it be until schools run real coffee shops?

Answer : It depends if you are an inner city tosser school, or does it?

Question : Is twitter for twits.

Answer : Shit yes.

Question : Should schools be operating without Facebook and Twitter?

Answer : Not really, but the tweeter will have to be a twit, see above.

Question : Was that bad shit in Japan or what?

Answer : Unbelievable.

Question : What do all the high school teachers doing Cambridge exams do after September 3?

Answer : Tutoring of course ($$ kaching), at "some" schools they even tutor kids they teach, using the school as a base! tut tut, wheres your ethics?

Question : Who can actually hear Stewie Griffin?

Answer : Brian (the dog, thats for you mumbleboy) and then after that its situational.

Sweating the small stuff

Talking with a Christchurch Principal we chatted about the change of thinking in staff. Things that were trivial and unimportant have been placed in the trivial and unimportant box. This has been the default stance by so many people, including the many teachers in the christchurch area. People have been forced to take things the way they are and to not sweat the small stuff. I remember having a long conversation with my sons high school principal about how his school had travelled to India and worked with schools in the poorest parts of Delhi. When he returned to school he had a saying that was called "A I" which stood for "After India". The things he saw, the hardship, the poverty, the loss of life, the living conditions, brought so much reality and balance to his outlook. He believed this experienced was life changing stuff.

Recently the same Principal wrote in their newsletter about how wearing a neck tie was :

"about being aspirational in dress standards"

"boys gain confidence and are simply more teachable once they adopt aspirational and clear dress standards"

and this classic was that, wearing a tie :

"is seen in the minds of boys as being aspirational and being serious about their exam marks"

Clearly this Principal has completely forgotten his "after India" experience.

Often we have special needs students and they are very hard work. Over the years I've seen these kids come and go, they provide a massive challenge to schools. The parents can often be stressed, many times I have heard people judge these parents. I always pause and take a dose of reality, imagine being that parent, they have that special needs child forever. These people live with a massive dose of reality.

My questions are -

How long does this dose of realism remain ?

How can teachers, school leaders and parents not living in situations of true hardship get a dose of realism ?

Who is a true realist on your staff, and do you admire them ?

How do they act, and what can we learn from them ?

Is it fair to fob things off that is the small stuff, but is important to them ?

Seems its a juggling act sweating the small stuff as well as avoiding sweating the small stuff.

Nothing needs to be said

Boston Legal - Alan and Denny come to NZ

Surely everyone is a fan of the ever smarmy Alan Shore and our cherished red neck Denny Crane. Well let me paint a scenario, an episode of Boston Legal that just has to happen. Some of the jokes spilling from my somewhat childish mind are too rude to say but im sure HBO wouldn't hold back aka shirley schmito. However I digress. Alan Shore always needs a formidable challenge, a fight against the government would suffice, how about a cause, say the dumbing down of education, how about a fly fishing trip squeezed in for Denny? Are you starting to get the picture. It may be time for another SLEEPOVER. what about a road trip? or even better a visit to the colonies.

Alan : "Denny we are going to New Zealand"

Denny : "don't they shag kangaroos there Alan"

Alan : "they fish"

Denny : "Ive always wondered what happens in the pouch"

Alan : "they fish"

Denny : "do they shoot"?

By now friends of boston legal are salivating, and the rest of you have clicked "next blog" hoping for "extracting-teeth.com - a do it yourself guide".

So Alan and Denny head to NZ to take up the cause of the Boards Taking Action Coalition, he is taking the govt to court. Alan is somewhat bemused how the govt can legislate Nag 2a and have the first educational goal of NZ as "Realise the full potential of every student". Alan plans to fight the law, the law is an ass and he will proove it as he always does in a nice 51 minute slot + advertisements. However Denny is along for the trip, he discovers the lakes, mountains, and is loving it, only distracted slightly by the court stuff and the occasional "denny crane" quote for the media. Now you could only imagine the conversations in the back rooms talking about education, the double breasted suit, the calm folding and endless buttoning of Alans jacket.

Of course Alan plans to call John Key and Anne Tolley to the stand... the ending is all too beautiful, the sharp witted Shore making mince meat of a crime against kids. And Crane, not liking Alan's anti government stance, but the audience loving his endless quips, growls, whistles and looks at Aunty Anne.

GOLD - Denny Crane

Home School

I have a few issues about the ability of parents to home school kids.

Its a parents right !

Well I've got a few "What ifs".

What if the parents aren't capable ?

What if the kids are chronic truants and the parents have supported them to miss school ?

What if CYFPS have a long history with the family and they now want to homeschool the kids ?

What if there isn't a single book in the house ?

What if the kids are miles behind at their current school ?

So here is what I have discovered. The MOE helps families write their plans (application) and teaching programmes. They approve nearly all applications (schools get a say but rarely is the information enough to stop the parents rights). ERO visits about 8 kids per year as a "check up". ERO give the usual three weeks notice (time enough to buy some books) when they visit. No families have home visits before allowing home schooling. Checks with CYFPS are not done. The only paper work they need to do once approved for home schooling is a Justice of the Peace declaration that says "we are doing the work". No national standards here, actually no standards at all. Parents get paid in two installments the $700 odd dollars for home schooling (fair enough if the system is not being abused). Some facts above are subject to the podgorani exaggeration methodology however they are believed to be accurate at the time of writing.

So there are a few concerns, no blame here, just concerns. If you want to build a kitchen, move toilets, build a garage, you have to jump through many hoops with the MOE. However a kid can be removed from school to vanish from the system to hide from authorities, deprived an education without a home visit. It needs sorting. I did a quick email around and all of my "what ifs" are true stories that came from my colleagues. Food for thought.