Student Walkout
Press Release Friday 21st June
Following the student walkouts last week, high school students organised a walkout today. Students met in Aotea Square
at 2pm, accompanied by music and free food supplied by ‘Food Not Bombs’. We walked out in support of our teacher’s in
their battle with the government, against uniforms and dress codes in schools, and against the new NCEA assessment
system.
We support our teachers as people trying to get a better deal from the government for their hard work. We hope the
walkout will show the government and the public that we support our teacher’s actions, and hope this will apply further
pressure on the government.
We feel that uniforms and dress codes are irrelevant in schools. They have nothing to do with learning; on the other
hand, we feel they hinder individuals’ personal development. We realize it is not always the schools fault for
advocating uniforms, as this is the only way in which they feel they can attract students. It is the publics’ view of
uniforms in schools we wish to sway. We are fighting against the introduction of uniforms in the few mufti schools left
in Auckland.
We feel the NCEA is changing the role of assessments in schools. Any assessment system means that students are working
to get the assessment level, and not working to learn. We feel the NCEA is even worse than the NZQA system, which was in
place. It does not show individuals’ strengths and weaknesses in certain areas of subjects.
This event was inspired, organised and run by students.
Ph. 021 177 4724
studentwalkout@hotmail.com