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New Zealand Catholic Primary Principals’ Association Executive

  
Press Release        11 March 2011 – for immediate release                                Attention: Education and Political Reporters
 National Standards fly in the face of social justice say Catholics  The New Zealand Catholic Primary Principals’ executive, resolved today that the government’s National Standards policy flies in the face of basic principles of social justice, fairness and equality.   President of the Association, John Coulam, of Marian Catholic School in Hamilton East said, “The National Standards do not recognise the dignity and sacredness of every student.  Further, they have the potential to negatively label students who are already marginalised through socio-economic, health or family circumstances.” The controversial government policy has been raising alarm bells throughout the education sector since its hasty introduction in 2009.  “The standards were ill-conceived, untested and assume that every child arrives at school with the same background knowledge, family resources and experiences,” said Coulam today.  “As Catholic Principals, we have grave concerns that children from as young as six years old could be unnecessarily labelled as failures, just because they might take longer to progress than some of their peers who started way ahead of them,” he said.  “This is neither fair nor just, and in their current form the government’s National Standards are out of step with the special character of Catholic schools where equality and social justice are highly valued principles.”  ENDSFor more information contact: NZ Catholic Principals’ President: John CoulamMarian Catholic SchoolHamilton East 3247 Ph: 07 856 7515Mob: 027 2538634
 

NZCPPA MEETING SNIPPETSWELLINGTON 9th – 11th MARCH 2011 

RE Digital Resource / NCRS Consultation.

  • Br Kevin Wanden wrote to the NZCPPA and requested an opportunity to discuss the digital resource at the March meeting. Kevin commented that it would be appreciated if people ordered the resource on line.  He had a meeting with Diocesan representatives in October 2010 and this was followed by a bulletin to schools.
  • Consensus of NZCPPA was that the resource should be reviewed on a 3 yearly cycle.
  • Another aspect discussed was that the consultation group wanted to access the resource online. Kevin is working on this. “Watch this space”
  • With regards to cost, the plan was, and still remains that the development cost was to be paid over three years.
  • With regards to the Whanau book cost hike, it is simply because printing costs have increased. Black and white versions will be printed and eventually they will, in all likelihood, go online.
  • The advisers are starting to work on an update of the DRS Handbook. Catherine Rivers, on behalf of NZCPPA, requested an opportunity to be consulted over the draft and Kevin supported this idea.
  • The Advisors are also looking at the blue RE curriculum document and making suitable adjustments so it aligns with the new curriculum. Agreement that current practitioners will be part of the process.
  • Kevin advised that what has emerged from the Sexuality and Relationships courses is that teachers have requested some guidelines / resources that they could use in their classrooms. A reference group has met and is working on this. The intention is to develop lessons that schools could use or dip into rather than something that is prescribed. A draft will be prepared and sent to every school for comment. Following that it will be sent to the Theological College for comment.
  • NZCPPA thanked Kevin for the work that he is doing and improved level of consultation.

 NZCEO Report.

Susan Apathy attended the meeting and made the following points. ·        With regards to the Catholic Schools Convention, schools should budget for this in November and can prepay deposit in mid year.  NZCEO would love a flood of names of people or suggestions for workshops, speakers etc.·        Susan briefed the exec about the Christchurch situation – Cash donations would be gratefully received.·        Property submission to Government – NZCEO working on this.       Birth statistics will impact on schools in the next year or two.·        NZCEO seeking from schools examples of good practice for Baptism programmes.·        There is an increase the numbers of teachers who were certificated to teach in Catholic schools.·        The NZCEO new Strategic Plan is about to go up on the website.·        Integrated Schools Property Management Guidelines – is completed and has been sent further up the MoE chain for signing off.·        School websites re parental donations. Please check your websites to ensure that these are meeting the legal guidelines. Some schools are requesting money before the child is enrolled. This is illegal. NZEI.Ian Leckie addressed the meeting and discussed recent developments within NZEI. The most significant of these was that:·        19 schools in Christchurch will not reopen in the forseeable future. This affects 10,000 children. 6000 children have enrolled in other schools.·        NZEI concerned for the staff and support staff in these schools with regards to their employment.·        Many social implications to the earthquake. For example many homes now have multiple residents / families.·        NZEI no longer part of the National Standards Sector Advisory Group. It seems that the MoE is emulating the New York model. Emphasis is being placed on teacher performance.·        The MoE have determined that children will no longer refer to children as underachievers but under-served. NZEI recommends using under resourced as opposed to under-served.·        NZEI’s campaign is no longer to defend schools but acknowledge that we are in the business of improving education. Good to excellent. 

General:

·        As a result of discussions with the President of the Christchurch Catholic Primary Principals Association a decision was made that the Mufti Mania reserve from 2009 and 2010 of $12,207 be donated to the Canterbury Catholic Primary Principals  Association. The reserve mufti mania funds were set aside each year for expenditure in the event of an emergency and have now been released to Christchurch.·        Study Awards and Travelling Scholarship – No one has applied. Deadlines are fast approaching. Watermans will sponsor afternoon teas and the Watermans rep will demonstrate how to use the RE Resource using Mimios.·        Website – New web site is up and running www.nzcppa.com ·        National Standards – Concern expressed once again about Br Pat Lynch being on the Consultative Group. Press statement was prepared and was sent to media outlets about NZCPPAs stance on National Standards. It reads “The New Zealand Catholic Primary Principals Executive on behalf of its membership, is concerned that the Government is not applying the principles of social justice in relation to the National Standards. Social justice implies equity and equality for all. The National Standards do not recognize the dignity and sacredness of every student and have the potential to negatively label students who are already marginalized through socio economic, health or family circumstances. As Catholic Principals we have grave concerns for the students in all schools who are going to be unnecessarily labelled from six years of age. This will have a detrimental effect for many of our communities throughout Aotearoa.”·        Make a Difference Proposal – Although there hasn’t been a great deal of interest, the project will continue.·        Concerns from local principals – National representation on MoE working groups, inconsistencies in interpreting preference criteria.·        Discussion took place around the inconsistencies of granting Preference Cards. Consensus was that individual Priests continue to interpret the criteria differently and there is little that we can do about this. If changes were to be made we would like to see a criteria that includes grounds for “compassion.”·        Pacific Partnership – NZCPPA to give $2000 to NZCEO so that they can use these funds to bring a Principal or person of influence from the Pacific to the Catholic Schools Convention 2012.·        CCCC Mufti Mania Day 2011 The Mufti mania money funds will go directly to the CCPA for distribution. ·        NZEI Principals’ Council Rep. At the request of NZCPPA the NZEI have made a position available on the NZEI Council for a NZCPPA representative. Meeting expenses will be covered by NZEI.·        Same Mass deeper meaning. –Concerns expressed that the Mass is doing nothing to attract young people and other restrictions were likely to result in declining numbers in our Churches. People are feeling disconnected from the church.