Cedar Park Regional Medical Center’s Post

I Nearly Agreed with the PPTA – and then I didn’t Recently the PPTA begged parents to be far more supportive of teachers and schools re the skyrocketing rates of “stand-downs” in NZ schools ( stand downs up 18% 2023 to 22,000). I agree to a significant degree that parenting is a huge factor in the behaviours of students – or at least those turning up – in our schools. I do not believing parenting skills have declined by 18% so something else must be going on. Today the PPTA were in the news again. This time bagging David Seymour for suggesting parents might be fined for absent kids and that children with a sniffle should come to school. I happen to agree that both of those proposals have problematic aspects. But then … PPTA President Abercrombie … outlined all kinds of family based reasons for kids not attending school. The PPTA need to realise and take responsibility for their own actions: strikes. - paid union meetings. - moaning about teaching as a job. - negotiating more teacher only days. - having a nationwide collective contract that does not recognise the need to incentivize schools and regions that really struggle to staff well. they have actively worked against school choice – including pretty much putting all of their resources from 2011 – 2017 opposing 11 small Charter Schools (including spending millions of their members subs on this). Where President Abercrombie really lost the small part of my brain I allocate to the PPTA is that he neither took any responsibility for the creation of the attendance crises … nor did he propose the two most obvious effective solutions: - the improvement of teacher quality. - the improvement of school quality (including a clear purpose for being there and highly credible qualifications pathways). Knowing the NZ school system as I do … at least half of the high schools I would really struggle to recommend without caveats. At least 100 of our 460 high schools I would simply steer people away from. If they actually want to make a difference the PPTA need to have a very big look in the mirror. ps – good to see many voting with their feet – good to see that families are discovering the efficacy of online learning. (NB – no longer involved in Mt Hobson Academy (www.mthobson.school.nz/) but there fees are incredibly reasonable – as opposed to what was mentioned. They are brilliantly staffed and great curriculum). Alwyn Poole Innovative Education Consultants https://lnkd.in/gSWGwDp7 alwynpoole.substack.com https://lnkd.in/guYAjPNs www.wood2water.co.nz www.russellinfo.co.nz

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14: FAMILY DAY On this day, schools across the nation invite parents into the classroom to experience what the day is like for their child. According to experts, parents need to take an active and assertive role in their children's education on a daily basis for optimal success at school. Ongoing research shows that parental involvement in schools improves student achievement, reduces absenteeism, and restores confidence among parents in their children's education. Parental involvement means reading to your children, checking homework every night, limiting television viewing or screen time on school nights, developing a relationship with your child's teacher, and simply asking children about their school day. Whatever the level of involvement, it is important to be consistent in order to make a difference in your children's lives. National Invite Parents to School Day represents NEA's vision of calling upon all Americans to do their part in making public schools great for every child so that they can grow and achieve in the 21st century. On a personal note, teach parents to become the advocate for their child’s education but show them how important it is for parents to get involved and make a difference especially during their high school days! Getting involved is very rewarding! Ask about the volunteer program at your campus. #nationalinviteparentstoschoolday #advocacy #publiceducation #makeadifference

One word: grateful. Just to be given the space to advocate for every child every day gives me such hope for the future of education in NC and beyond. Whatever comes next, I know I will face it with humility, appreciation, and passion. I will continue to advocate for students, just as I have for the past 24 years. #gratitude #keepgoing #educationalleadership #advocacyinaction #schoolchoice https://lnkd.in/eFuvmAy3

📢 Today is the day! A Day Without Child Care. 🗓 Were you able to go to work today because you have access to child care? If you don't know about this, read the following article from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) to learn more about this day of advocacy.

Yesterday during our Leadership Pittsburgh Inc. session, we discussed the critical issue of education, particularly the teacher shortage affecting our region. The shortage is most acute in early education, where nearly 30,000 people are on waiting lists. Sadly, this shortfall disproportionately affects women, who are often forced to leave the workforce due to inadequate caregiving options. Today, my daughter’s Pre-K class was closed for the second consecutive day due to a lack of teachers. As a working parent, I understand the struggle of finding adequate caregiving options. However, not everyone has the flexibility to work from home and care for their children. To address this issue, we must invest in initiatives that incentivize careers in teaching and caregiving, enabling meaningful societal contributions and supporting our youth. It's time to change our basic education funding and work towards better pay for our early childhood educators.

With strategic advocacy, we could spur the evolution of P-16 policies and practices, removing barriers that have traditionally impacted students of color and students from low-income backgrounds, without having to rely on #affirmativeaction. https://lnkd.in/evU4MRDJ

The vital thing about the re-introduction of Charter Schools in NZ is that EVERYTHING is done well. I have no doubt Hipkins is NZ’s worst and most ignorant Minister of Education ever. He said this last week: “If people are concerned about kids who aren’t achieving in mainstream schooling, the area to look is alternative education ... ” When banning Charters in 2018 Hipkins said he would develop Character Schooling. He did nothing and turned down several brilliant applications. He oversaw a NZ where: – many of our primary school teachers cannot do basic English, Math, or Science. – the top 30 high schools see an average of 87% of their leavers attain UE, for the bottom 30 it is 2.7%. Charter schools are a part of the solution but the last introduction of them was an appalling policy and implementation failure. It was saved by a few high quality and dedicated educators and entrepreneurs who carried the camel across the desert. Parata had no enthusiasm. The incompetent MoE ran interference. The unions were delighted to have something to bang on about and distract people from their failings. The contracts contained aspects that were stupid and were first seen by those willing to start the schools on the day they had to sign - followed by a 3 month run in to start. Charter School organisations took the MoE to mediation on up to 6 items. The media did what media does – took press releases from the left and ran them as fact. And yet … the skill and perseverance of a few individuals, organisations and supportive families has allowed some widespread enthusiasm and support for their introduction. They are needed – but everything must be done well. - The contracts must be good. The goals set exact, important and achievable. - The authorisation boards, and whoever is writing the policy and contracts, should be meeting constantly with previous providers (the Ministry reports of the last tranche are abject nonsense) - my understanding is that few previous providers have been consulted at all. - Authorisation and monitoring must be completely independent of the Ministry and any reference to protecting bums on sets in the Ministry’s network of schools. - The schools must be completely transparent in all aspects. When I was involved in the two Villa Education Trust Charter schools they were acknowledged as being the most transparent by evaluators and had very high relative results for NCEA from their Y10 leavers who went into State schools. Their first two external evaluations as Designated Character (State) Schools had their results diving and investigations being started for avoiding OIA’s. - They must be allowed to grow when they succeed and closed when they fail. Just restarting Charter Schools will do very little good at all. Starting them expertly and in good numbers – could significantly improve NZ Education for the good of NZ children, their families and society as a whole. Alwyn Poole https://lnkd.in/gSWGwDp7 alwynpoole.substack.com

📢 Attention Parents and Concerned Community Members! 🚫 I want to bring to your attention an unfortunate incident that I recently experienced at "Ali Public School" while attempting to enroll my child for prep class. My wife went through the admission process, and we were informed that our child is good but needs a little improvement. Despite this feedback, we were willing to work on the suggested areas for improvement and decided to proceed with the admission process. However, our experience took an unexpected turn when we were asked to attend a meeting with the vice principal before finalizing the admission. Taking time off from work, I arrived at the school the next day, only to be kept waiting for an extended period in the waiting room. After passing 20 minutes, inquiring multiple times, the staff assured me that the vice principal was ready to meet. To my dismay, upon entering the room, it was empty – no vice principal in sight. After waiting patiently for another 20 minutes, I sought clarification from the staff. Shockingly, I was told that it was my fault for sending my child to another tuition/academy centre not run by any school teacher. This was an unexpected and baseless accusation, as we were never informed of any such requirement during the admission process. I strongly urge the management of "Ali Public High School For Girls Raiwind" to reconsider the unfair treatment meted out to parents and to eliminate such damaging politics from the school environment. It is disheartening to see such unprofessional conduct, especially when it affects the future of our children. I implore the school to prioritize transparency, fairness, and accountability in their admission processes. As responsible parents, we should not have to navigate through unnecessary hurdles in providing our children with quality education. Let us unite against such practices and stand up for the rights of our children. I encourage fellow parents and concerned community members to voice their opinions and reconsider affiliating with "Ali Public School" Raiwind campus until these issues are addressed. #stopschoolpolitics #faireducationforall #alipublicschool #concerns #politics #education #lahore #alipublicschool #RaiwindCampus #educationforallchildren #childrights #EqualOpportunityInEducation #transparencyinadmissions #parentalrights

Equity vs equality... I was never able to attend education events as a practitioner myself, they were out of my reach, even the fair priced ones. But I had that thirst for knowledge, reflective dialogue and the desire to be inspired by meeting people in person who are doing fantastic work in the field of education. So this morning got me thinking about equality vs equity 💡 ... Equality is often the most common term used, but we don't discuss equity enough, and the two are often confused... 👉 Equality = treating everyone the same 👉 Equity = everyone is provided with what they need to succeed Although there is little time left until my own conference, I thought I would still try to put this reflection into action... I'd like to gift a conference ticket - https://lnkd.in/eNhThb2m to an educator who would love the opportunity to be part of the day. And if they cannot make it this weekend, then I will carry the offer forward to next year's conference. So I ask the LinkedIn community for help - please share the name of an educator who you think would love to attend the event, and otherwise may not have been able to. Either tag them in the comments, or send me their name...and that educator might even be you! #EarlyChildhoodConference #EarlyYearsEvents #EarlyYearsConference #EarlyYearsCPD #EarlyYearsShow #TheVoiceOfEarlyChildhood #EarlyChildhood #EarlyYears #Conference #Events #EducationConference #EducationShow #CPD #Equity #Equality #EquityInEducation #Community

Do you feel empowered to advocate for your child's needs within the school system? 📚💪 Effective advocacy is crucial for ensuring that children receive the support and resources they need to thrive. As parents, we often find ourselves navigating a complex educational landscape, trying to ensure our children get the best possible support. Advocacy is not just about speaking up—it's about understanding the system, knowing your child's rights, and collaborating with educators to create the best possible learning environment. When parents and educators join forces, they can make a significant difference in a child's educational journey. This collaboration is essential in navigating Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), 504 plans, and other educational supports. An informed and empowered advocate can ensure that a child's unique needs are met, paving the way for academic success and personal growth. Parents, your voice is powerful. Educators, your insights are invaluable. Together, we can transform the educational experience for every child. How can we empower more parents and educators to become strong advocates for each child's unique needs? Share your experiences and strategies. The power to create change lies with us. 🌟✊ #AdvocacyInEducation #EmpowerParents #SupportEveryChild