Tag: satire

  • A Rainy Day

    In relation to:

  • Winter is coming

    Other things than teacher shortages that can be blamed on the winter season…

    • Charter schools aren’t really working because it’s winter…
    • Winter is largely responsible for Māori student underachievement…
    • Overcrowded homes with multiple families living under one roof is only a factor because of winter…
    • There is no mental health crisis, it’s just winter…
    • Cold and damp living situations only happen because of winter…
    • Underfunding schools happens because of each year’s winter…
    • House prices are only high because it’s winter…
    • Teacher stress and workload is only an issue because of winter…
    • Winter causes families to want to live in cars…
    • There is no child poverty, it’s just winter…
    • Youth suicide. Winter…
    • Terrorism. Winter…
    • North Korea vs. US. Winter…
    • Titanic, Hindenburg, Tangiwai, Wahine. Winter…

     

    In response to: There isn’t really a teacher shortage…

  • Taillight

    Over the last several months, we’ve seen an increase of ‘Principal-related’ jobs that have stacked on-top of the role that Principals already have to play. For one, I know that for many Principals, Novopay was one stress that has turned them greyer than ever, and continues to cause week in and week out stress as they become glorified pay clerks for their staff. Many Principals have off-loaded this role to their admin team; but many wish to take the responsibility of paying their staff on themselves, and won’t sleep soundly until they know each member has the right pay.

    Add to this the new legislation coming in such as the Health and Safety Act, and the Vunerable Children Act, which boards and Principals now inundated with new policies, new procedures, and paper work to sink HMS Bismark all over again.

    Some Principals are now facing the ongoing struggle to wrangle other local schools and boards together into a community of learning, even though they may or may not want to.

    Of course then there’s the ongoing pressures of financial audits, property regulations and funding, the charter and strategic plans, and that’s all to be done with the knowledge that ERO may or may not be far away depending on your school.

    Then, after leaving schools alone for the best part of a term, along come the senior advisors from the Ministry, who are meant to be a sounding board, a guide, someone who works alongside principals and schools. Do they ask how things are going? Do they ask what is on top? What is impacting the school? No. Do they actually visit the school and see how its going? Talk to principals, staff, children, to find out how the school is operating? No.

    No they are asking two questions.

    What is your data like? What are your target students results?

    Well, quite frankly; that’s like checking the taillights at a serious car accident.

     

    Don’t forget to comment below if you’ve heard similar stories! Share with your friends and colleagues.

  • Primary School changes uniform due to Health and Safety risks

    On the eve of changes to the Health & Safety Act, schools are in a panic with the liabilities they might face should children in their care be injured in any way. With the changes, school Principal’s can be held personally liable, with some trying to place their homes and assets into trusts to avoid losing them in possible legal battles over the Act.

    One school has worked out the way forward.

    They’ve changed their entire uniform to advance current safety standards throughout the entire school.

    The school has already had climbing trees and bullrush on their banned behaviours list for some years now. But with injuries still happening because kids will be, well you know, kids; drastic times called for drastic measures.

    After the Board meeting in which the new legislation around Health and Safety was discussed, the school decided that changing their uniform was the only option for the school as they move forward into the future.

    The Uniform

    The current uniform sports the typical school grey, with an optional green or black jumper. Black shoes are expected, and socks should be pulled up at all times.

    The new uniform does away with this, and looks to function over form and comfort. The school has sourced the material to make the change as low-impact on struggling families as possible, but say that the new uniform will come in handy at home after school as well. The polymer fabric is designed so that students remain well wrapped up in winter, and with it’s clear outer coat, students can now express their individuality with their clothes visible underneath.

    The uniform is a one-size fits all model, and can be worn by both the boys and the girls at the school. The school community, including it’s Board of Trustees is encouraging all schools to revise their uniforms, and says that their design will not only revolutionise the idea behind uniforms in schools, but also bring down the back-to-school costs for all parents. Any school wishing to use their uniform design should get in touch with the school so that details can be passed on to each interested party. Even the powers that be in the ‘Beehive’ have been encouraged by the idea, and is considering the possibility of making the uniform compulsory for all schools in the near future.

    We have managed to attain an early photo of the uniform as it is now. While it is still in the development phase, the main design of the uniform will remain largely the same. Please see attached photo.

    As you can see, the children are also modeling the optional sun hat, which are important in the summer terms.

    What are your thoughts? Do you like the new look?

     

     

    Actual Article

    A school has stopped its kids climbing trees because of fears it will be slapped with a hefty fine.

    Source: Primary schoolkids banned from climbing trees because of liability fears | Stuff.co.nz

  • Email from the Minister

    ———- Forwarded message ———-

    From: “The Right Honorable Minister” <HerMajestyParata@ministryofed.govt.nz>
    Date: 4/02/2016 7:26 PM
    Subject: Ongoing Expenditure and Orders
    To: “Accounts” <MrFudge@ministryofed.govt.nz>

    Good morning sir,

    However, it is a short lived good morning as this morning has not been good at all. In fact it has been dreadful.

    We are all out of manuka honey which I was feeding to the Ministry’s prized stallion, “Whinnie”. His coat was looking a little dreary and I heard somewhere that smearing honey on their coat helps bring out a certain lustre. Of course, Whinnie deserves only the best of honey, and so I have ordered a large batch of 750g jars of Northern Hawkes Bay manuka honey. Of course, I will have the local supplier thrashed if these do not arrive on time. Please just add this to our outgoing expenditure for the month.

    In addition to this, I would like to make note of the lightbulb that has blown in the caretakers cupboard at our Horowhenua office. This is of course a huge breach of occupational health and safety, and will require a further seminar for all cleaners and custodians to attend. The only provider I have been able to find at short notice is in Sydney, and so I have gone ahead and booked flights and hotels, as is company government policy. I have also been in touch with Big Mike for him to start getting plans in place to rebuild the entire reception area in the Ministry of Education building in the Capital, seeing as Horowhenua are required to report to us. Seeing as this is a huge imposition on our staff, it is only right that they benefit in the way of being able to enjoy a fresh look as they enter their work place. I am hoping this will raise moral a little.

    I have told Big Mike, however, to watch the bottom line. He mentioned to me that instead of putting in an additional elevator, that he had a contact who had managed to get a cheap golden staircase which he would be willing to sell to us at minimal cost. This should cut the upgrade by at least $2million dollars from the proposed $30million.

    I am aware of the significant costs already spent on the stationery upgrade last month. Our custom made gold coated biro pens had “Ministry of Enducation” printed instead of “Ministry of Education”. I have been in touch with the printer, who while they cannot refund us, they can make another run at only 80% of the cost, seeing as there is now one less letter they have to print. I have okayed this deal.

    Lastly, I have asked our hygiene stockists to supply instructions on the inside roll of the Ministry designed loo paper. This should assist members to replace the toilet paper themselves, instead of having to hire the wait staff to come and perform their wipe duties. This should save the ministry about $400 a year. I have already terminated the contracts for the hygiene team.

    Please advise as to the arrival of my personal hover desk. The legs on my desk are getting tired, and will need to have a rest soon. The hover desk, while still being developed, should alleviate the health checks and risks that the legged desks have. I have gone ahead and approved the purchase of more of these for every Ministry of Education office around New Zealand, even though it may not be fully finished yet.

    I’m sure you’ll let me know if there are any issues with this. As usual, I’ll no doubt ignore your advice and refer you to HR. We cannot afford another Novopay debacle; although this was not really issue as it meant we did not have to pay the teachers for a while. I’m pretty sure they didn’t care anyway.

    Right. Off to set up the new charter school. This one is teaching purely in Latin, and will feature upside down learning. Evidently it’s been scientifically proven that any new learning actually has weight, and for children to really learn something properly, they should be turned upside down so that the information seeps down into their heads. Sounds more than plausible.

    Sincerely

    Her Majesty
    Ministry of Education
    New Zealand Government

    ———————————–

    Note: Privileged/Confidential information may be contained in this message and may be subject to legal privilege. Access to this e-mail by anyone other than the intended is unauthorised. If you are not the intended recipient (or responsible for delivery of the message to such person), you may not use, copy, distribute or deliver to anyone this message (or any part of its contents ) or take any action in reliance on it. In such case, you should destroy this message, and notify us immediately. Aforementioned email addresses, names, and expenditures are indeed made up and are intended for political satire.If you have received this email in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail or telephone and delete the e-mail from any computer. If you or your employer does not consent to internet e-mail messages of this kind, please notify us immediately. All reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure no viruses are present in this e-mail. As our company cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage arising from the use of this e-mail or attachments we recommend that you subject these to your virus checking procedures prior to use. The views, opinions, conclusions and other informations expressed in this electronic mail are not given or endorsed by the company unless otherwise indicated by an authorized representative independent of this message. Please disregard this message if it has caused undue harm or offense.
    This article has been a follow up to the posts here: http://unleash.alingham.com/2015/the-true-cost-of-charter-schools/ and here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/76717264/ministry-of-education-spends-25m-on-stairway-to-heaven-in-office-revamp  with more to follow, no doubt. http://www.newshub.co.nz/tvshows/story/ministry-of-education-faces-backlash-for-20-million-fit-out-2016021019#axzz3zXcRH7g8

  • Whoopshhhhh!

    In relation to:

    • Hon. Hekia Parata – Minister of Education: Pictured Article.