I can’t remember my first day at school, but my dad can. He was told off for eating his lunch at morning-tea time. Told off as in 1940’s told off.
Schools have changed significantly over the years. They are more creative, more interactive, with better teaching and more opportunities. They have also made huge in-roads into catering for various learning styles.
I think the next big leap for schooling is focusing on strengths. Our national program still seems to focus on creating students who are all OK at everything. They still struggle to deal with a kid who excels in Math, but has work to do in reading.
The focus goes on reading, which reduces the enjoyment of the child and therefore effects math.
Took this photo as I was wondering how Jayden’s first day of school would go. All 3 of our children have hit school at 3 very different strengths.
I wonder what his strengths will be?
Category: New Zealand Inc (Page 2 of 2)
When your kids are 3 they are all artists. Regardless of how recognisable their drawing is we encourage them over and over again as they mass-produce their drawings and scribbles and … art.
By 10 many kids will realise that they don’t draw as well as other kids and by the late teens, you are either an artist or your not. Most feel useless at art and stop creating.
Art is defined “the creation of beautiful or significant things” and art is more than drawings or paintings. Sadly our societies, schools and families stop encouraging our kids to be artist, the way we used to when they were 3.
This leads to less creative adults.
Consequently less beautiful or significant things are created.
[178 | 365 Art – This is a shot of Siren drawing a picture for Talia at the Rototuna School market day]
I was talking to an ex-colleague the other day who fulfilled her dream and went to Costa-Rica. She said that she stayed with a really poor family by some beech for 2 weeks, and they were the so incredibly happy.
Poor happy people!
Then I found a recent article that states a full 27 Million Americans are now on anti-depressants. 10% of their entire population.
Rich unhappy people!
Maybe poor people don’t take anti-depressants because they can’t afford them. I am sure there are plenty of sad poor people around. OR maybe if we, (Western culture ‘we’), weren’t so worried about climbing the socioeconomic ladder, we wouldn’t be so sad.
Maybe then, we would focus on doing things that bring true happiness and not focus on buying things that brings happiness.
Maybe…
Malcolm Gladwell’s book ‘Tipping Point’ speaks of single events that then trigger other unrelated people to do similar things. I have been wondering if the Hawkes Bay Police siege might be a Tipping Point.
There have been a couple weird shootings that Police have been involved since the siege in Hawkes Bay with Jan Molenaar.
Last month, Shayne Sime, a paraplegic man was shot, and a connection made to the Hawkes Bay shooting and it was referred to in the media as "suicide by cop".
This week actor Rob Mokaraka was shot when he 'engineered' a confrontation with Police. He has a distant connection to the Jan Molenaar shootings.
Gladwell talks of a high profile person committing suicide in a car crash, and then the number of car crashes increasing, as people almost have permission to do the same.
I hope that Jan Mollenaar’s actions in Hawkes Bay aren’t a tipping point for people wanting to go out in a ‘blaze of glory’. I hope the media coverage doesn’t put more police personnel in harms way.
So now to the implication of this post…
It seems many Tipping Points are negative ones. I wonder what it would take to create a truly positive Tipping Point.
One that really makes a positive difference in the world.
One that the media would follow with as much interest as police shootings.
I am not sure it is possible?
I think there is little doubt that the economy is slowing. Christmas spending, and therefore transport volumes, where very late. Figures just out from show that Retail EFTPOS transactions are down in January.
Add to that an election year and high fuel and interest rates and it can only but slow down.
This is further reinforced by a quote I read in the Herald about Freightways result.
"In the current operating environment of low organic volume growth and rising costs, Freightways has been careful to continue to make decisions for the long term good of the business," the company said.
"As such, our investment in facilities, technology, customer service initiatives and most importantly in the training and development of our people has continued."
I agree with Freightways. Training, Development [and retention] are critical tis year.
There I was waiting. Killing time, hanging around for my appointed time at the doctors. Having parked myself on a padded bench seat not much more comfortable than an old church pew I search for something to read.
I flick through a readers Digest (June 2007) and discover an article about the most trust New Zealanders and Brands.
Top Brand is Cadbury, which is interesting because unlike Whitakers they don’t make “good honest chocolate”. In the bottom slot at number 25 was Palmolive. A couple brands of interest to me are New Zealand Post at #14 (a number I am sure they would like to improve), and Farmers at #24 (which actually really surprises me given their history).
Anyway the #1 most trusted person in NZ in June 2007 was …#1 Sir Ed (No surprise). He rates above Sir Peter Snell (#4), Queen Elizabeth (#19), Sam Morgan (#30), Helen Clarke (#58 ironically the most trust politician), Matthew Ridge (#71).
Now of the 75 people who were on the list, who do you think is at number #75? None other than Bishop Brian Tamaki.
Yip.
Want to say more but wont.
Makes you think a little about what it is that make people trust you or your brand.
I think words like consistent, authentic, connected, reliable and considerate would come to most people’s minds.
These are words that normal kiwi’s don’t associate with politicians or Palmolive or Brian Tamaki.
I am sure they all think they are trustworthy its just people don’t believe them.
If people don't believe your message. They dont trust you.
I read listen to this on a Brian Tracy CD yesterday about being productive.
We live in a knowledge based, information based society.
Successful people are simply those who know more than their competitors. One of your most important responsibilities is keeping up to date with your chosen field and staying ahead of the pack, by continually taking in more information.
The amount of knowledge in every field is at least doubling every 7 years. That means you must double your knowledge every 7 years just to stay ahead.
The basic rule is; to earn more you must learn more. Or to put it another way; you are earning all that you possibly can today with what you now know.
You need to become an information gathering person to achieve and maintain excellence. If you want to be the best you must pay the price in terms of reading, listening, learning and growing.
You have gone as far as you can with what you now know. If you want to go further than you are now, you can only do it by taking in and applying new information.
He goes on to say that everyone who wants to get ahead should read for at least an hour a day. If you do this he suggests you will be regarded as a national authority in your field within 5 years.
In terms of the quote above. I think that there is portability to every role. Imagine if you wanted to be a leading sales person, what would happen if you studied that field for an hour a day. Just by the mere fact you are learning new things and continually challenging yourself you must improve!
What if you want to be an awesome mum and studied that topic for an hour a day. What about a leader or a pastor or an accountant?
The hard part. Resolving to do it!
Imagine living in Iraq at the moment. Imagine going to the markets and always having to scan the people around you, always wondering if that guy is the next suicide bomber.
Think for a moment about the shock and outrage as news filters around the city of another 200 people being killed in your city that day.
500 people in your country this week!
Over 62000 people since America arrived!
You have already had more than a few of your friends and family die or been injured.
‘We are ‘fighting terrorism’ in Iraq, that is why we are there, said Tony Blair this week. This story has changed so many times: first we were removing the WMD threat, then we were removing a dictator, then we were bringing democracy and free elections, and now we are fighting terrorism. ‘It is a worthy cause,’ echoed Dick Cheney.’ ^
How would you feel about Tony Blair “fighting terrorism’ for you?
How would you feel if you found out that the media in a small country in New Zealand found the ruthless, unnecessary and sad death of 33 Americans 4 days ago more important that 200 people in your city today? The 200 people dieing was the third news story in and only made it to that slot because it was one of the bloodiest days in months.
What the media reports is in direct response to what we want to see. We want to know about the US shootings, just as people would if it happened here. ‘The shootings happened in a free country’ we resonate, ‘What happens in Iraq is sad, but that’s what happens in the Middle East.’
How would you feel if you lived in Iraq?
Did you choose to get born in Iraq?
Did you choose to have America invade?
Did you choose to have an ill-equipped police force and poor intelligence that cant stop the bombings?
Wouldn’t you long for the freedom and the life you once knew?
How would you feel?
Implication: It blows my mind how insensitive we have become to real issues in the world. It appals me. But I don’t know what I can do about it.
Recently I attended the parent information evening at the Rototuna Primary School. I have always felt that the school was doing a great job, but that evening reinforced it for me.
The school motto is "He Rawe Mo Aka Tonu – Our Best Always"
They teach values through the "Rototuna Learner" pictured here. The six key values are:
Communicator – Give and receive – Kids are taught to be great verbal, written and verbal communicators
Researcher – Figure it out – Kid are taught to be naturally inquisitive and to problem solve.
Thinker – Think about it – My favorite, kids are taught to think. My kids are often doing mind maps at home.
Risk Taker – Have a go – Kids are taught to step out of their comfort zone and give heaps of things a go.
Team Player – Work together – How important is team work.
Self Manager – Manage me – They teach the kids they are responsible for things. Kyla class are responsible for doing their own homework.
How cool is it that my kids are learning these values. These values could easily be used in a business, and yet my 5 and 7 year old are learning them. These are the values of people who contribute to society, of our future leaders and of well rounded individuals.
If their short time at primary school can equip them with these values, and they can build on them through out their life. How far could any of the kids at this school go?
As I sat at the meeting I found myself wondering, how many of these kids could be their generations leaders. I had renewed hope in the next generation. I also wondered what the difference in education would be at a decile 1 school (Rototuna is a decile 10) I suspect it would be disheartening.
Well done to Phil and the team. It is a privilege to have my kids at your school.
This is a part of John Keys speech yesterday.
My father died when I was a young child. I do not remember him.I was raised, along with my sisters, by my mother, in a state house in Christchurch. Back then I thought I was poor and, by most standards, we were. As I grew up, though, I recognised that what my mother gave to my sisters and I was far more valuable than money.
She instilled in us the desire to improve ourselves by our own hard work, the confidence that we were able to do it, and the hope that it was possible to do so. She instilled in me an ethic of hard work and determination and a genuine belief that "you get out of life what you put into it".
How many kids in New Zealand are never taught these values? How many kids will grow up not knowing that anything is possible and not knowing anything but dependence on the state.
Imagine if we could teach parents to inspire their kids again! Imagine if they regained the appreciation for hard work that I think is getting lost in the youth of today.
John Keys impresses me. If he gets to be PM, what a hard job he has before him.
Finally I am reminded that I am so blessed to have the parents I have. They have always believed in us, supported us, taught us to work hard and encouraged us.