Doing

I’m currently working on a part 2 to my initial report into the NZ curriculum changes. At this stage I am in the ‘drawing things together’ phase. What the latest OIA docs make clear is the MAG came in with a plan, and reviewing the refresh work done to date was not a big part of it, despite that being their primary purpose. The report will be sent to the letterboxes of those who opted in to receiving them as soon as it’s done.

The reports themselves are only available as physical copies. I love thinking of the chain of wonderful, gainfully employed people called post office workers collaborating to get it into your letterbox. Modern magic.

Done

The report into the maths textbook procurement process was sent to letterboxes in early February. That report revealed the extent of the Minister’s relationship with one of the successful providers, a relationship that pre-dated her taking office and clearly shaped the thinking of the Minister about the maths action plan, including the name structured maths.

If you’d like to opt-in to receiving these reports, the price is $39 for the year.

To do

Appeal the decision to withhold all but the first email in a thread titled ‘Culturally Responsive Instruction’. Given the actions of this government around te Tiriti, the stripping out of it as a foundation of our curriculum, and the defunding of most cultural education initiatives and supports for learners, there is a clear public interest in knowing the MAG’s position on this topic.

Keep chasing ERO to release the documents and correspondence they had with Elizabeth Rata regarding the English curriculum rewrite, as they promised me they would late last year.

Compare the English (country) curriculum with our new one, as the emails show great enthusiasm amongst the MAG for that curriculum.

Keep working through the emails I have that add much more detail to what the MAG was up to and thinking from January onwards.

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Lastly, I’ve been quiet lately as I’ve been quite ill with gallstones. Hoping to have surgery sometime in the next month, and then I’m told I’ll be feeling amazing, so look out.

I hope you’re well.

Bevan.