Tomorrow's tips

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 561, 8 November 1994, Page 4

Tomorrow's tips

• The following words are taken from a report prepared by a consultant for Federated Farmers (Straight Furrow, 24 October 1994). "Many schools are not achieving the improved educational outcomes expected under Tomorrow's Schools .... the model of self-managing schools is flawed. The model assumes parents have the skills to manage, the confidence to challenge principals and the judgments required to make and monitor policy." "It is, in fact, difficult for boards to make a difference at their schools because they don't know how to monitor curriculum and they are illequipped to push principals along."

"Schools are not selfmanaging: they are in fact run by principals. In terms of educational outcomes, their success still lies with the expertise of the principals who in effect, are responsible to themselves." End of quote. The report goes on to suggest fundamental changes to the way schools are managed. However I think the present form of boards of trustees could work well if able people were persuaded to stand for the elections next year. My "best bets" would be (not necessarily in order of preference): present member Bruce Cranston, Phillip Wilson, Harry Cast, Jefferine O' Sullivan, Agnes Mareikura, Grant McMaster, AnneBates, Sue Deadman, Barbara Leemy,

Alan Nation, David Cossar, Kevin Deadman and Darnella Hawira. Somewhere among that list there should be a very good team. As for the claim that boards don't know how to monitor curriculum, there are two excellent teachers, Diane Manson and Robyn Olds, both experts in the true verticalgrouping, who might be persuaded to share their knowledge at mates' rates rather than consultants'.

June

Bates