EMBARGOED UNTIL 5 AM 28th MAY, 2013
“Priority” Groups Join Together to Say No to Charter Schools
More than 50 representatives of groups the government stays charter schools will help have signed a joint statement
saying they don’t want them.
Signatories include spokespeople for the Maori and Pasifika communities, IHC, Every Child Counts and the Child Poverty
Action Group, as well as academics, principals, teachers, psychiatrists and members of parliament.
Group spokesperson Waikato University Professor of Maori Education Russell Bishop has recently returned from the United
States where he observed the charter school experiment first hand.
He described charter schools as “part of the problem, not part of the solution”. He described the initiative as “a
serious wrong turn for education” that exploited vulnerable children
Attached (and below) is the letter and full list of signatories.
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Dear Minister
Investing in what works
Everyone agrees that all children should receive the education that meets their needs: that engages, motivates and
supports them to learn to their full potential. In Aotearoa we have the knowledge to make this happen, but sadly it
seems that we sometimes lack the political will.
This government’s charter school plans are a distraction from investing more in what we know works for the young
learners we represent and work with. Some of these things include increasing opportunities for bi-lingual education,
supporting high quality te reo learning in kura and mainstream settings, programmes such as Te Kotahitanga and the
various AIMHI initiatives. While the government has recently announced more resourcing for some of these, others have
had funding withdrawn or frozen.
Charter schools will also take the focus away from developing the special character and Kura Kaupapa Maori models which
already give New Zealand state schooling unprecedented flexibility. These models need more support, more opportunity to
share good practice and innovation, and not to be undermined by the latest, politically driven fad.
Charter schools are part of the problem, not part of the solution
On the advent of the government passing the charter schools legislation, we express our deep concern that this
initiative is a serious wrong turn for education. The legislation allows for-profit and foreign-owned organisations to
set up schools. It permits unqualified people to replace qualified and registered teachers and principals. It removes
the right of parents to take part in school governance. And it takes no account of how new charter schools may impact
on existing schools. There is a serious concern that in the process of introducing charter schools, groups of students
are being put at risk.
Charter schools exploit vulnerable children
Charter schools are not the solution for New Zealand’s most vulnerable learners. Overseas, charter schools have not
raised achievement for children who need it the most. For example the US-based KIPP (Knowledge is Power Programme)
charter schools which have been held up as a successful example, have a “push-out” rate of 40% for African American boys
before Grade 8 (Year 9). This is the opposite of what we need in New Zealand for our Maori and Pasifika boys.
Our most vulnerable learners need more assistance, not less. They need schools responsible directly to parents; they
need trained and qualified teachers who are supported in an ongoing manner by effective professional development that
has shown results; they need their schools to provide information when parents request it; their parents need access to
the Ombudsman. Why would these most vulnerable of children get less than every other child in New Zealand and why would
they be subject to being profited from just because they are deemed to be struggling? Don’t experiment on children; do
what works.
Yours sincerely
Professor Russell Bishop
Professor of Māori Education
Faculty of Education
University of Waikato
Dr. Damon Salesa
Associate Professor
Department of Pacific Studies
University of Auckland
Deborah Morris-Travers
Manager
Every Child Counts
Trish Grant
Director of Advocacy
IHC
Dr. Tamasailau Suaalii-Sauni
Senior Lecturer
Pacific Studies & Samoan Studies Programmes
Vaaomanu Pasifika Unit
Victoria University of Wellington
Dr. Peter Brunt
Art History
School of Art History, Classics and Religious Studies
Victoria University of Wellington
Dr. Teresia Teaiwa
Senior Lecturer and Post-Graduate Coordinator
Pacific Studies
Victoria University of Wellington
Anne Milne
Principal
Kia Aroha College
Philip Harding
President
NZ Principals' Federation
Dr. Leonie Pihama
Senior Research Fellow
Te Kotahi Research Institute
University of Waikato
Ngaropi Cameron
Chief Executive
Senior Family Violence Programme Facilitator & Educator
Tu Tama Wahine O Taranaki Inc
Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith
Professor of Education and Māori Development
Pro-Vice Chancellor Māori
University of Waikato
Dr. Margie Hohepa
Associate Professor
Wilf Malcolm Institute of Educational Research
University of Waikato
Dr. Carl Mika
Lecturer in Policy, Cultural and Social Studies in Education
University of Waikato
Dr. Hinemoa Elder
Fellow of the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
Professor Trish Johnston
Head of School of Indigenous Graduate Studies
Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiaragi
Jenny Joy Lee
Dr. Mera Penehira
University of Waikato
Marley Matamua
Operations Manager
Te Kotahi Research Institute
University of Waikato
Dr. Rangi Matamua
Lecturer in Te Reo Māori
Massey University
Dr. Ranginui Walker, DCNZM
Deirdre Walker
Herearoha Skipper
Pouwhakahaere
Pro Vice Chancellor Māori Office
The University of Waikato
Ngaropi Cameron
Manager, Senior Family Violence Programme Facilitator & Educator
Tu Tama Wahine O Taranaki
Ronald Ngata, BSS (Hons)
Maryann Lee
Educational Designer
Centre for Educational Design and Development
University of Auckland
Dr. Ani Mikaere
Kaihautu of Te Whare Whakatupu Matauranga
Te Wananga o Raukawa
Angeline Greensill, LLB, TTC
Lecturer
Geography, Tourism and Environmental Planning Programme
School of Social Sciences
University of Waikato
Helen Te Hira
Dr. Amohia Boulton
Senior Researcher
Whakauae Research for Māori Health and Development
Whanganui
Dr. Robert Gregory
Adjunct Professor of Political Science
School of Government
Victoria University of Wellington
Dr. Wally Penetito
Retired Prof. of Education
Te Kura Māori
Faculty of Education
Victoria University of Wellington
Metiria Turei
Member of Parliament
Co-Leader of the Green Party
Lesley Rameka
Senior Lecturer
Educational Psychology and Pedagogy
Faculty of Education
Victoria University of Wellington
Dr. Cindy Kiro
Head of School Te Kura Māori
Victoria University of Wellington
Seth Brown, DPhil
Senior Lecturer
Institute of Education
Massey University
Dr. Jenny Boyack
Massey University
Steve K.W. Lang, PhD
Senior Lecturer
Institute of Education
Massey University
Dr. Tim Burgess
Senior Lecturer: Mathematics and Statistics Education
Institute of Education
Massey University
Brian Finch EdD
School of Educational Studies
Institute of Education
Massey University
Dr. Roberta Hunter
Massey University
Dr. Michael Irwin
Institute of Education
Massey University
Auckland
Dr. Tracey-Lynne Cody
Lecturer Arts Education & Initial Teacher Education
Massey University
Dr. Peter Rawlins
Senior Lecturer
Institute of Education
Massey University
Le’aufa’amulia Asenati Lole-Taylor
Member of Parliament
Dr. Kama Weir
Institute of Education
Massey University
Maurice Walden
Wellington Tenths Trust Board Member
Damon Heke
Te Taitonga Kapa Haka Trust
Kapa Haka Tutor, Community Liason
Kelly Henare-Heke
Te Taitonga Kapa Haka Trust
Kapa Haka Tutor, Community Liason
Dudley Adams
Clendon Park School
Deputy Principal
Avele Tanielu
Teacher in Charge of Samoan Language
Papatoetoe High School
Penelope Togiatama
Pasifika Liason
Papatoetoe High School
Mohi Thompson
Kaumatua
Manurewa Intermediate School
TeAriki Tuiono
Teacher Te Whanau Awhina
Clendon Park School
Matene Karena
HoL Māori
Alfriston College
Barbara Tauranga
Kuia
Opuatia Marae
Dr. Alyson McGee
Senior Lecturer
Institute of Education
Massey University
Annette Sykes
Barrister and Solicitor
Partner Aurere Law
Dr. Penny Haworth
Institute of Education
Massey University
Nanaia Mahuta
Member of Parliament for Hauraki-Waikato
Carmel Sepuloni
Su’a William Sio
Member of Parliament for Mangere
Dr Diane Lysette Mara
Associate Dean Pasifika
Faculty of Education
University of Auckland
Professor Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop
Professor of Pacific Studies
AUT University
Michael O’Brien
Director
Child Poverty Action Group
EMBARGOED UNTIL 5 AM 28TH MAY, 2013
ENDS