Letters: A clear and structured curriculum will help raise academic achievement
Curriculum structure key to quality education
Hurray for Patrick Drumm and his opinion piece “Long road back to equitable learning for students” (June 29). It was most refreshing to read his very accurate comments about education over the past quarter of a century. How can a quality education be maintained nationally if there is no real common and specific curriculum?
Having taught in England with no national curriculum, what a wonderful surprise it was, upon arrival here in 1969, to be presented with a copy of the National Curriculum. You knew what had to be taught at each year level, and the Education Department - no Ministry then - and the Education Boards produced very helpful and informative handbooks supported by an expert advisory service.
It was the teacher’s task to make the required content meaningful to the students. To do so, as you still need to do today, you had to know your students and their communities, but the content remained consistent across the country.
The decline of this curriculum structure would probably have a strong correlation with the decline of our levels of achievement as recorded by our PISA results.
The looser the expectations of a curriculum, the less robust it becomes. Thank goodness the tide at last appears to be turning, and as it turns, here is hoping that, to quote Patrick Drumm, “The journey back to quality education for our young people is underway”.
David Crickmer, Henderson Valley.
Chat GPT-MP
The current coalition Government seems very keen on replacing many front-line interface services and decisions with AI. Act leader David Seymour is even talking about putting Pharmac decisions in the hands of artificial intelligence.
Well, here is a suggestion. How about instead of forcing welfare recipients to have to talk to AI robots when they have an inquiry, why not let AI take over political decision-making.
Replacing politicians with AI would certainly save on all the expensive salaries and perks or lavish accommodation allowances for multi-property-owning MPs.
It’s no sillier than replacing front-line public services staff with soulless AI to cut costs.
Jeff Hayward, Auckland.
Same-day enrolments
People are criticising the Government’s Electoral Amendment Bill, claiming it disadvantages those who traditionally leave enrolling until election day.
Same-day enrolment was only introduced by Labour in 2019 and first used in the 2020 General Election. One election is hardly a tradition.
Voters have months to enrol. If someone waits until election day to do so, it is reasonable to question how much importance they have given to participating in the electoral process.
Mark Young, Northcote Point.
New political face
So in the Opportunity Party we have a new fresh young face in politics.
Qiulae Wong’s party is working hard and is generating considerable interest - approaching 5% in the polls.
I just hope voters carefully balance all the facts before becoming infatuated or smitten with this new entrant and do not go ga-ga at the polling booth.
We are still recovering from the ill effects of the last time that happened.
David Pickford, Whitianga.
Means-test Super
Isn’t it obvious that superannuation should be means-tested? I, as are many other “Boomers“, am still working and intend to keep working as long as possible.
There may be the argument that “I’ve paid my taxes“ etc but the debate must be about what is it for? For those who physically can’t work past 65 or hate their job, fair enough, but do those millionaires over 65 (as an example) need it, or even notice it, in their accounts?
Hamish Walsh, Devonport.
Raising the age
It puzzles me that when the subject of raising the age to qualify for NZ Super comes up, the fact that this was done before is never mentioned.
My parents received it at 60, but by the time my husband and I reached that age you had to be 65 before it kicked in.
The qualifying age was raised incrementally over a period of years, and being a bit older, I received it at 64, while he had to wait until he was the magic age of 65.
So it can be - and has been - done.
Gretchen Leach, Devonport.
Our clever mayor
Who would have known how clever Mayor Wayne Brown is if he hadn’t laid it all out for us in his opinion piece (June 29) or how modest his travel expenses were in comparison to Shane Jones’.
Ratepayers shouldn’t be complaining about the forthcoming average (for some a lot more) 7.9% rates rise.
I’d just like to know when our Tāmaki Drive beaches will be safe from sewage contamination to swim in all summer.
Coralie van Camp, Remuera.
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