Turn on the tech - talha khan

Turn on the tech

TALHA KHAN wants all schools and students to have better access to common and advanced technology and expects a more ‘engaged environment’ as a result.

Technology is our future. Wherever I look, technology 'Technology creates a more being used for entertainment, studying and communicating When I think about how much engaged environment' technology is used in our schools, I versus screen. wonder if there is a better method to add the use of technology to our studying lives. Granting permission to use phones in class, as long as students are using their devices appropriately, the so-called Technology is largely beneficial. Our ‘distraction’ becomes a solution. There political leaders need to help every are tons and tons of data to back the gain more with their tech and I’m not choice a smart phone can be an assist to just talking computers or cell phones, I students. mean robots, better laptops, advanced monitors. My research shows technology creates a more engaged environment. Technology Our schools already use a lot of Is presumed to be a distraction, but it can technology. In my school we have become a tool in education. monitors, laptops, and sometimes we’re allowed to use our mobile phones but I wish the computer would load faster, or I could be permitted to use my phone in class while I’m gathering research. I’ve seen technology used in the classroom to encourages active participation between pupils. When a teacher gives a book or a textbook the immediate reaction I have Most students love tech, it’s enchanting, heard or analyzed is eyes scrolling it’s easy to use and we need to regularly through paragraphs, sighs and grunts, upgrade our schools to help our teachers interjections because the information is and our students. eight pages long. The use of technology is limited at Of course, reading an eight-page long present. We aren’t really allowed to pull essay can be helpful but then I notice this our phone out as we write sentences in physical reading tactic doesn’t work all our book. Whether it be for research or the time. This is because when a teacher not, there’s always going to be a small gives out laptops, for writing essays risk of losing your phone. online, getting ready for a Kahoot Quiz I think the reason schools limit phone use or using the internet to surf research, the is because they see these small devices immediate reaction is pupils lining up to as a distraction. I understand students use the laptops. sometimes aren’t so dependable and They want to be connected with the they don’t stick to the rules. internet; use resources they can search Regardless, we can’t deny using google up in their own way. That way, I think or Bing or an application can be helpful. the research is not served on a platter If a student took out his/her phone in but also actively learned through the order to research a question’s answer student’s research. beyond the use of a textbook, the answer Each student inside a classroom is will come faster and the person can unique. Different mindsets, different move on to the next question, while backgrounds, different in many ways. having their devices as an assist. This can be an obstacle because being Not only would they push through the different can present a challenge to ten or twenty questions they get but adjusting how a student learns or in slower students will have the ability to moving from their comfort zone of finish on time. The use of technology learning. can be efficient. It doesn’t matter where Suppose students who are fond of you get your answer - calculator, phone, drawing can learn through pictures and laptop, textbook - to gain knowledge diagrams, people who love to watch you need to know what you are studying TV or learn through videos can locate about and use repetition. Same questions, answers from documentaries or clips on similar questions over and over gets the YouTube. information into our minds, not paper Being permitted to use these advanced sources helps elevate the places knowledge comes from. Technology is so much more fascinating to young minds, and teenagers flock around these pieces of technology. Perhaps we can push this to become a stronger method of learning. Tech can also improve collaboration in our classes. Teachers can observe if there is an increased frequency of activeness and development when students are using their technology. Many technology-based tasks involve other aspects, and this leads to situations where students need to seek help from their peers or the teacher. Additionally, when students are assigned to small groups, the students who are more technologically advanced can assist their inexperienced peers. Working with technology helps students prepare for the future. According to a CompTIA study, nine out of 10 students indicated using technology in the classroom would help prepare them for the digital future. Teaching pupils how to use PowerPoint, excel and such software and by introducing instructional technology in the classroom at a young age can help preparation for future digital needs. Teachers can help students by using to technology to annotate, check and assist in helping a student study. Technology will always evolve and it’s important to have comprehensive access in classrooms. Not only better functioning computers, robots also can be given for robotics and science classes. Phones can help with research and connecting with the world wide web. Some schools do have strong technology use and some don’t and it’s sad because due to the lack of interesting technology and the permission to use technology some students aren’t able to achieve capacity in their education. It is favoured at some schools and not at others. It would be a big help for a lot of students and teachers to deepen the involvement of technology. Technology is our future and we can do more with this to advance, upgrade and make our schools better for everyone.

Timewasting online

ISHWARI BAYNOSA, right, looks at the part technology plays in learning, and the lure of its many sidetracks.

It can be worthwhile considering what technology helps you with in your studies, and how it also works against you. Most students at a certain point start using technology in class. Tools like iPads, computers and smart boards feel like a fun thing to be able to use. You probably have been on the internet and websites like google for research and help with your work, because most of the schools in New Zealand use technology to help with subjects such as typing, maths and English, and more topics that we sometimes require for technology. It now seems it would almost be impossible to live without the internet, but sometimes you might not need to use the internet for your work, you could look in a dictionary instead of looking it up on the computer. Sometimes you could click on a website that isn’t for your age, so you should keep an adult around if you need help. At school you can think; ‘Do I need a teacher with me on this website or am I ok?’ Sometimes it can be good to have a teacher around and sometimes not. When we go on technology we research, play games and chat to friends. But this technology is different, this technology is called a Bee Bot and we program it. We use Bee Bots to learn to code and we learn more about how to use our technology in smart ways. But most schools don’t get enough education on technology, so we need to let more kids increase their learning on technology. Kids love their games. I love playing games more than doing homework, but sometimes I can get carried away. Sometimes I play games for hours instead of working on my homework, and then quickly force myself to get it done last minute. I regret not using the time I had on the computer to my advantage. It didn’t feel nice and I will from now on I resolve to work on homework before I play games. Let’s see if I can stick with that resolve. Most of the time technology is fun but wasting time with the distractions it offers means a lot of work builds up to be done. It’s a good idea to have a plan and make sure the real work comes first, not the games and distractions.

Tarred with the same brush

TAYLOR QUEDLEY sees a world full of racism.

Racism is an interesting word. But what does it actually mean? In my thinking racism means being bullied, hurt or shamed for the colour of your skin or who you are. For example, on May 25 African American George Floyd was killed when police caught him allegedlyturning in fake money, as they attempted to arrest him police placed their knee on his neck to hold him down. What the police didn’t realise is that they had been strangling him as George Floyd continued to shout ‘I can’t breathe, you are strangling, me I want my mum’. George Floyd’s last words were ‘don’t kill me’. Many people were shocked and scared, especially black people. After this event people started using the phrase and hashtag black lives matter or BLM to show their support. Although this happened in America this happens all around the world as well as New Zealand. The Christchurch shooting last year in New Zealand where someone attacked mosques unfortunately killing 51 people showed what can happen here. People like to say New Zealanders were not racist but in 2018 Hollywood director Taika Waititi called out New Zealand for being racist. Waititi said ‘people may think one joke, one comment, one assumption, one stereotype doesn’t matter, that they are trivial. But they do matter - and the cumulative effect on people experiencing these is huge’. There are many effects of racism, like people may feel that they are useless, they don’t matter. Both the George Floyd and Christchurch shooting events also count as outcomes of racism. Unfortunately, racism happens a lot all around the world all day, every day. I want to help stop this from happening and i want you to help.

Fortnite Friday

ARDYN McCARTHY has been on the winners’ podium.

Everyone had something that touched their heart from their childhood. There is a game that made my childhood fun. We called it Fortnite. Fortnite came out in 2017 and really blew off in early 2018. To me and my group of friends, it wasn’t just a game, it meant a lot more to us. I remember every Friday after school my friends and I would head straight home grab some snacks and get on Fortnite to play together. Sometimes it would be hard obviously because sometimes we had somewhere to be or we had to persuade our parents why it’s good for us to play Fortnite. Fortnite Friday was our day. Sometimes we would stay up all night just talking to each other while playing our favourite game. While time passed, we progressively got better at the game and we got invited to a competition. When we got the news we were thrilled. We started training really hard. Then it was the day and our first match was on. We ended that game coming 3rd and from there on we were doing better and got silver overall. After that weekend my friends played more and more. To this day we still play together and it’s still fun.

Flu almost snuffs Olympic torch

HIMETO KISHIMOTO feels for her home nation’s Olympic opportunity.

The global pandemic almost closed the world’s oldest sporting event. Tokyo Olympic organizers said before the COVID-19 flu outbreak, Tokyo was getting ready to host the world’s greatest sport event, and ‘the plans focused on providing the highest levels of Japanese hospitality, and excitement through innovation’. The COVID-19 outbreak changed the whole situation, so they announced ‘Tokyo 2020 will be a simplified Olympics’. This was to prevent infections and additional expense. And to succeed, they needed all team members to work together. The Olympic Games were held over 2,700 years ago, in Olympia, in south west Greece. There were no gold, silver and bronze medals. Winners were given a wreath of leaves and a hero’s welcome. At that time, the main event at the Olympics not a sporting event, but a sacrifice. The games at Olympia were an offering made to Zeus, the king of the gods. Only men and unmarried girls were allowed to attend the Olympic Games. Married women were barred. If they were caught sneaking in, they could be thrown off the side of a mountain as punishment. Eventually women were allowed to take part in in the Olympics. The first Olympic games to promote female athletes was in the 1900’s. Women debuted for sailing, golf and tennis in 1900. Women competed in croquet too on the same year. And as times moved on, women debuted in more sports, leaving some sports still only for men. So now the number of participation of women in the Olympics has been rising since the first participation in 1900. I have no idea why they were so strict those days, but I’m glad they changed the rules and everyone is enjoying the Olympics. This year, 2020 was second time Japan- and specifically Tokyo- hosted the summer Olympics, first being in 1964. But the 2020 summer Olympics is the first event to have been postponed, rather that cancelled. Their motto is, ‘United by emotion’. I think that is really fancy and heroic. I felt really disappointed because I was looking forward to it and it is taking place at Tokyo, where that is my home country. It opens on July 23, 2021 and closes on August 8 2021. Some people say it will be too long until the Olympics next year. But it doesn’t even take a year. I wouldn’t say it’s too long. And also, now that it has been postponed, the athletes can use this precious time to train and practice whatever sport they have. The people and companies involved with the project of Olympic have built a lot of stadiums, arenas, centers, courses, parks and venues. They have also been making medals from recycled metals. The gold will be taken out from used electrical objects and so in order to make medals, eight tons of metal are needed. The number of staff, volunteer, audience is about 20 million, and viewers around the world are 4.8 billion. I think many people are looking forward to it, too. The joining country count for Olympics is about 200 and 160 countries for Paralympics. Fifteen thousand athletes were and are expected to compete. Even though the Olympic schedule has changed, they haven’t given up yet. They are keeping positive. There are a lot of companies supporting the Olympics. Among them is Toyota. We all know that company. Toyota has organized and is still organizing an electrified automobile. Toyota will supply around 3,700 mobility products and automobiles for the games. Most of it or 90 per cent of the authorized vehicle fleet will be electrified. By making these, they are supporting the athletes and other people involved in the Olympics. I think it is very interesting. I’m sure you think it will be so cool to drive without anyone driving. This will be the first year Olympics has done these things to encourage staff and other members. Six new sports were approved on August 3, 2016. They are baseball, softball, karate, sport climbing, surfing and skateboarding. That brings the total number of sports at the Olympics to 33. It gives me more interest to watch those new games, especially surfing and skateboarding, because I thought surfing and skateboarding was a sport to have fun, not to play seriously. I would want to see how they will compete against each other. I trust them that they can do their best and go over this however the future goes, because I am Japanese. I have been watching some Japanese news almost every day, so I know they have been putting their best effort in training. If they have succeeded over COVID-19 and take on environmental issues, economic crisis, and technological innovation, this Tokyo Olympics will be a special event like never before. We are all in this, let’s encourage each other and move along together.

Doors were closed for CORNELIUS AUPITO when his mind was clouded with doubt.

My people are successful, my people have finally put themselves out there in the world. My people have finally accepted who they are. They have embraced our cultures and they aren’t ashamed. We aren’t ashamed. For years I have looked down on myself for being the way I am. The way I look, as well as hearing the stereotypical comments made towards me and my culture. I’ve questioned myself as well as my worth. Can these stereotypes be broken? Now I’m 17 and being a Polynesian today is a blessing, everyone praises us for our rich history, people are beginning to understand and to be where I’m from and seeing many of my people become successful, for me completely rids any previous doubts I had before. Now I’m filled with hope, to know that many of my people have made it big in the world, it is truly refreshing and fulfilling to be inspired by them. It’s important for me because I’m young and can realise the opportunities and new career pathways opening up for me and the

We’re all going through tough times right now, and it can be hard to stay calm when things are stressful.

Being stuck at home during the lock-down has been a stressful time for all of us. Sometimes it’s hard to stay calm in a busy household. Our Prime Minister Jacinda Adern told us to be calm and be kind, but how do we stay calm in such stressful times like now?

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a great way to de-stress. Sometimes when your mind starts to wander, you might start thinking some troubling thoughts that make you feel upset.

Some of these thoughts can be worrying, like what if I fail my test tomorrow? Or what if people laugh at me for asking a question?

All of these could happen but it’s nothing you’d want to think about anytime of the day.

Mindfulness helps you become aware of your thoughts and feelings and accept them more rather than get upset by them.

Instead of worrying about things, mindfulness helps you stay in the present moment by focusing on what you’re doing.

A good way to practice mindfulness is to focus on what you are doing. If you’re washing the dishes, focus on the warm water and the soapy bubbles. Staying in the present moment rather than worrying can help you stay calm when you’re feeling stressed or anxious.

Breathing

Breathing is most important when you are stressed or anxious.

Have you ever been in a situation where someone has upset you and you start to feel angry? You feel like you have to retaliate but you know that this won’t help the situation and will make things worse. many other kids my age and ethnicity. New doors of opportunities that have now opened which were until recently closed for me, when my mind was clouded with doubt. I can be whoever I want to be now, without any restrictions. My people are expanding the opportunities we have, opening up new career paths and opening up new doors for us, the younger generation, to follow. We’re becoming one with the rest of society, because truth be told we were a ‘minority’ and that was what I believed. Most stereotypical thoughts that cross non-Polynesian minds are that we are school dropouts, we are wannabe gangsters, we are loud and disrespectful, we are just a burden and we are meant to be low-lives. You see now those ‘stereotypes’ are slowly becoming just that,

Take a deep breath

MACKENZIE JACKSON says its time to chill.

stereotypes. Anger and anxiety cause our breathing to become shallow. The brain lacks oxygen, making us more stressed. Instead of retaliating, try deep breathing by taking a long, slow deep breath in, and then exhale, this will help you relax. Deep breathing can help regulate the systems in your body which help you stay calm. This can have many benefits, especially by lowering your heart rate, regulating your blood pressure, helping your body relax, all of which help decrease the amount of cortisol (a stress hormone) released in your body. Afterwards instead of retaliating you can just walk away and ignore that person.

Te Whare Tapa Wha

This is a Maori model of general well-being that refers to the four walls or sides that can help maintain your health. Taha Tinana is your physical well-being that needs to be kept strong through exercise. If you don’t exercise, that wall will fall down. The same applies to all walls, if you have a fight with a family member, the wall Taha Whanau might fall down. To rebuild it, you could apologise to this family member. If you don’t have enough time to yourself, or your schedule is too busy, the Taha Hinengaro wall might fall down. To rebuild this wall, give yourself some time to relax. Looking after your spiritual wall is also important with things like getting in touch with your spiritual side through your religion or taking a walk in nature. Right now it’s so important to stay calm and stay kind. If you ever feel stressed or anxious, I hope these steps help.

'Anger and anxiety cause our breathing to become shallow.’

Life after lockdown

NATALIA NOONE-JONES on the positive changes she has seen in our habits and environment as a result of COVID19 pandemic lifestyle constraints.

I would like to be able to say the lockdown was over as quickly as it came upon us, but 'It may have been the great realisation’ Having laptops and chrome books has been helpful when handing around sheets of it wasn’t. paper was out of the question. outdoors has become stronger and more We only had little notice about the lockdown people are now enjoying the simple activities Some businesses are now leaning more before it began but it lasted over a month we’ve still been allowed to do during the towards having employees work from home and felt like a decade for many of us. Our lockdown. and for some students, attending online daily lives became disrupted, unable to leave classes may become the new normal. the house if it was deemed unnecessary. Kiwis have become more appreciative of what we have, though we can’t travel out Not all learning is digitalized, but it could be Routines were scrapped, and some people of our country, we’ve learnt to enjoy what more common in classes now to be working created new ones to bring back a sense of we have here. Travelling within NZ is being online, with all the tools you need at the click normality in these uncertain times. Though encouraged now more than ever. of a button or at the tap of a key. our activities being restricted seemed negative, this gave people more to look We are seeing more New Zealanders This could certainly help with education and forward to. The environment gained greatly visiting our tourist attractions and getting make learning more efficient, but, of course, from our time in lockdown and though it out to enjoy what NZ has to offer. Kiwis are it doesn’t suit everyone. doesn’t seem like it, I believe we did too. While we couldn’t get out much, cars were supporting local tourism and businesses now they are in a time of need. Now we are out of level 4, everyone seems keen to socialise and get together again left untouched in driveways. Petrol was I believe this event has grown Kiwis to be - but at a distance. We’ve all had a different bought less than usual and less toxic fumes kinder and more considerate of each other, experience and while some enjoyed it, others found their way into our atmosphere. because even though we’ve all had different were itching to get back to their regular lives. Other countries noticed massive differences in the air quality and are able to see farther circumstances, we’ve all gone through lockdown together. Though we are no longer in lockdown, I believe some of these things are being without gasses fogging up their air. Scientists Lockdown has also changed the way we work, continued. Some people are still eager to say it will be another 15-20 years before New teach and study. For some, the lockdown has learn online, work from home, get outdoors Zealand air becomes as clean as it was during been the push they needed to change how and leave our cars behind just as we did the lockdown. they do things. during the lockdown. But while our car usage declined, what were Students have found technology is being It may have been ‘the great realisation’, as we doing instead? Since the lockdown, walks, used more in schools than previously. This some people call it, or just new habits we’ve runs, bike rides and other forms of outdoor has been seen especially in the first few gotten used to. exercise seem to have become more popular as well as more frequent. New Zealanders’ desire for getting into the weeks of most schools coming back, when equipment use was limited, social distancing and hand sanitizing was still compulsory. Either way, I think this is good, a step towards a better future - a kinder, greener and more efficient future.

DIY with a difference

FINN LLOYD – bright ideas can be built.

To make something yourself can be the greatest of feelings. Whether it’s a chair, table, or pen- holder. But this modern-day world has changed this, to some extent. Now children can design on their devices, or play games all day. Creating something can have an incentive - make something useful. You may have the ability to create a robot, or a charger for a console. If you can make something, then do it yourself. Use that classic can-do attitude. Use your greatest tool- your mind. You can get outside, have some fun with mum and dad, or even older siblings can help. But if you have a bike, or even your own 3D printer, you can explore the many ways to do this online or with the bike ride down to the library as many have have 3D printers. You can play around with bricks to start, or even pen and paper. You can use the amazing online applications to create something your own. Unique to you. And you get to marvel at the things your vivid imagination has created. Don’t forget your main purpose - to do it yourself. In a different way, of course.

NATALIA NOONE-JONES wants better use made of younger thinkers and future leaders.

Over the past years we have had many older politicians running and speaking for our country. I believe it is time for a change. It’s time we had younger people in parliament with a different mindset who can speak for the younger people in the country. Currently the 50-59-year-old MPs dominate parliament and the average age is 50. What we need now is new, fresh ideas and some new perspectives on issues. Having a variety of ages is important in parliament to have a variety of different views. Your background, age, gender, and experiences help you to understand what it’s like for others who have these things in common with you. At the moment, who is there in parliament who would understand the view of younger people? Why should children be taking time off from their education to protest so politicians realise how we feel? Don’t you think there should be politicians who understand how certain issues are important to younger people, and

What is your opinion on the age groups in parliament at the moment?

I think that it is interesting to have different age groups. I don’t think that having one age group in the most important parliament where the most important and powerful people are. Older ones generally have more experience and know what’s worked before but on the other hand young people have fresh ideas and relate better to younger people. Minka, year 9 I have no problem with them, I think it's fine so long as they’re doing a good job. Age is just a number, as long as someone is wise, age doesn’t matter. - Talha, Year 13 It’s not too bad, I’m quite liking the fact Jacinda Ardern is in parliament at the moment because she’s young and a good influence. - Emily, Year 12 They're all too old. Most of them are old white men, and youth is really important. Young people have a lot at stake with climate change and old politicians don’t have enough skin in the game. I think you people are one of the most under represented groups in parliament. There’s a big push to get more women and minorities into parliament, there’s not a lot if you think about it. - Ella, 3rd year at the University of Auckland.

Do you agree we should have more young people in parliament?

‘Yes, it would be a nice change, but to get to senior roles they should have to work their way up, so senior people should be in senior roles because younger members need to prove they can do it at such a young age first.’ - Minka, year 9 Yeah, it's not a bad idea, the world is evolving. I think it’s good to have younger people in parliament from our community. - Talha, Year 13 Definitely, I think it would be really important to have young people in parliament because they can be a very valuable asset for politicians. And from what I’ve learnt from sending emails to politicians is they don’t always share the same views as young people, and after all, we are the future, so I feel we should be listened to.- Emily, Year 12 Yes, of course, there’s a lot they can offer. - Ella, 3rd year at The University of Auckland.

Do you think it’s good to have a young female prime minister?

Yes, definitely because for too long we have had old male leaders. I think Jacinda’s giving our country a new reputation and new ideas. - Minka, year 9 can act on our behalf? Not only can younger politicians relate better to younger people, but they understand newer advances better. There are many elderly people I know who have difficulty with new technology because they’re not used to it. Sometimes New Zealanders need new concepts to help with certain problems we have: a group of people who have grown up with old concepts won’t be able to provide these. Younger politicians understand the most current issues and can bring in new ideas to parliament that others who have been at the job for a long time probably can’t. Everyone thinks differently, so I have interviewed other students about

what they think about having more young members in parliament. Yeah, it’s a really good insight. She has a good perspective, I think it’s great to have a female prime minister. - Talha, Year 13 Yes, I think it’s very good because it shows the gender equality movement has a good impact and Jacinda is able to speak for other women. - Emily, Year 12 Excellent, a really excellent thing. What’s really great is we’ve had more female prime ministers than some other countries. Jacinda is very different to other female prime ministers, it's important to have young women, they don’t need to be old and single to lead. - Ella, 3rd year at The University of Auckland

Would you consider being a politician?

Definitely, yes, I would love to because I love leadership and making an impact on people I care about and the environment. - Minka, year 9

I would do a decent job as a mayor, I think. I look out for people and I know quite a bit about politics. So yeah, I think I would. - Talha, Year 13

Probably not for me, although I would like to voice my opinions and views and help young women be heard more. I don’t think I could do the politician job because it seems quite stressful and not a job I would find easy. - Emily, Year 12 Yes, I think I would. - Ella, 3rd year at The University of Auckland As a young person, do you have any ideas to give to politicians? Not really anything specific except definitely changing the difference between male and female pay, I think it’s great that they are taking away guns, also we need more action on climate change, children shouldn’t have to be taking time out of school to protest for it.- Minka, Year 9 Think about the future, the world is changing, people are evolving. Think about the people because tomorrow is only a day away. - Talha, Year 13 I think it is very important politicians listen to people of all ages and backgrounds because we are a diverse country and it would make NZ a better place to live in.- Emily, Year 12 I think when you talk to young people it needs to be more than just a token, it needs to be meaningful. You need to be able to adapt your viewpoints on what young people think, actually act on what we think. - Ella, 3rd year at The University of Auckland

We still need those wise, experienced people but we need young people speaking for us who know how we feel with a new perspective, new ideas who think differently to the older members that are currently there.

EMILY PARAMORE took the questions chosen by the STUDENT VOICE editorial team and asked each of the parties likely to be part of an incoming government to discuss their education policies in the context of those questions.

1. How will you ensure all students are treated appropriately while still allowing students with specific learning disabilities/ challenges and those with advanced learning skills to reach their full potential?

The Green Party believes that we should nurture all learners’ personalities and skills to enable them to lead lives with hope, joy and satisfaction. The Green Party will ensure that New Zealand’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child are met. The Green Party would ensure that all students identified as having learning difficulties have access to free or low-cost professional assessment to determine their educational needs, and further ensure these students receive the support necessary to achieve at school. We would also fund new Learning Support Centres for special needs students within mainstream schools to meet demand. We would also support targeted funding for gifted and talented learners and the provision of additional gifted advisers and other professional development initiatives. We would encourage acceptance of accelerated learning in school if accelerated learning is determined to be in the best interests of the child.

2. How will you support and fund public and private schools from decile 1-10 to provide better sports equipment, resources and safe facilities?

The Green Party believes that all state schools should be fully funded to a level where high quality educational delivery is not dependant on the collection of fees (both domestic and international), private donations, fundraising, nor private investment. We would ensure that schools have sufficient funding to enable all students to have the opportunity to participate in co-curricular, learning experiences outside the classroom and local extracurricular activities.

3. How will you encourage more advanced learning in schools to prepare students for the future? For example, more opportunities for students to discover what they want to do with their life and how to be better prepared.

The Green Party recognises the value of and supports having quality careers advice in schools, this is achieved by ensuring careers advisors are provided with comprehensive training. The Green Party supports the teaching of practical and social skills in primary and secondary schools, civics education, learning about New Zealand’s place in the world and the use of workexperience programmes within secondary schools to aid students’ transition to the workplace. Enabling students to learn in communities can aid students in figuring out what they would like to do when they finish school.

The Green Party would ensure that transitional programs and school guidance counselling services are adequately funded to ensure the best outcome for students leaving school. We would work to facilitate good relationships between schools, local businesses, and tertiary educators to ensure that students are aware of, and able to pursue, a wide range of post-school options.

4. What will you do to ensure students care about their learning and are taught at their level?

All children in Aotearoa New Zealand deserve the best possible start in life, and education plays a huge role in this. The Green Party believes in students having choices in education and access to a wide range of education programmes that meet the diverse needs and unique learning styles of individuals, as well as the needs of the whole community. The Green Party supports an education system that fosters lifelong learning for everyone and develops the skills needed to fully participate in society in ways that are sustainable, equitable and peaceful.

5. How will you ensure students have a strong educational future they have control over and make their own decisions about?

The Green Party encourages and supports people to take responsibility for their own learning and for helping others learn effectively. We support students’ right to participate in decisions relating to their learning, including in relation to in school operations. The Green Party wants to establish a unit within the Ministry of Education designed to support schools, and the education system in general, to listen and respond to the voices of children. The Green Party supports a high quality education system that meets the aspirations and needs of students in a changing world. The Green Party believes education should be accessible to everyone. There should be more apprenticeships and that students should be provided with an education and set of experiences that will help them understand and deal with the complex world they are inheriting.

1. How will you ensure all students are treated appropriately while still allowing students with specific learning disabilities/ challenges and those with advanced learning skills to reach their full potential?

ACT and every parent around the country believes that fair access to education is absolutely essential to better outcomes in life. We understand that each student is different with their specific needs and parents need to be able to give their kids the best environment to perform, learn and develop in. Part of ACT’s 2020 election platform is to provide parents with greater choice in selecting a school based on needs, not geography through a Student Education Account. This account will provide $250,000 for each child and parents will be able to use it to enrol their child at any registered educational institution that will accept their child’s enrolment, public or private. This provides parents the ability to enrol in the best school for their child’s needs. For students with learning disabilities, a portion of overall funding will be held back from Student Education Accounts and distributed to schools serving students with special needs.

2. How will you support and fund public and private schools from decile 1-10 to provide better sports equipment, resources and safe facilities?

Schools must be given the flexibility to respond to a diversity of needs and all children – not just the well-off – should have a choice in education. ACT’s Partnership Schools were an example of this philosophy in action. We could get much better value for that money for all children, but especially disadvantaged children, if it was used to empower families to choose their school, public or private. Those who want to continue at their current school will be able to do so, however those who don’t will have greater choice. Schools will need to ensure

they have the proper equipment, resources and facilities if they want to keep parents sending students to their school. This is how we can ensure that regardless of decile, all schools can ensure students are properly resourced and catered for.

3. How will you encourage more advanced learning in schools to prepare students for the future? For example, more opportunities for students to discover what they want to do with their life and how to be better prepared.

As part of Partnership Schools, schools focusing on catering to advanced or particularly gifted students can be established for those who need a more challenging form of study to prepare them for the fields they wish to pursue in their career. As far as students discovering what they want to do with their lives and being better prepared this

1. How will you ensure all students are treated appropriately while still allowing students with specific learning disabilities/ challenges and those with advanced learning skills to reach their full potential?

Your question holds several questions. Firstly you ask “how will you ensure all students are treated appropriately?” = what does appropriately mean? If you mean how will we ensure that all students are treated with respect and have their diversity acknowledged (be that ethnic background, gender diversity or whatever) then that would be the work that I have been doing as Associate Minister of Education around bullying and discrimination. We would expand the use of the “anti-discrimination” tool that was developed by the Ministry of Education post the terrorist attack in Christchurch. We would alter the Education Act 1989 so that I could require all schools to have an anti-bullying programme that includes student voice – at the moment under the Tomorrows Schools model I cannot require them to do so. We would financially support the expansion of the “Student Armies” volunteering kit so that more classes could participate in local volunteering thereby building stronger relationships both between students and community. Then you ask about those with “specific learning disabilities/challenges” - this would be my work around the Learning Support Delivery Model. We would roll out the next tranche of Learning Support Coordinators to the rest of the education sector in 2022 – this would have given enough time for the first tranche of 623 Learning Support Co-ordinators to have perfected the job description and the delivery model with the Ministry of Education. We would also look to implement “Specialists without Regions” for those rural and provincial schools whose students have specific learning needs but is a key part of delivering choice to parents and students so they can find a school that best suits their interests. Student Education Accounts will also follow a student after their school years so if they do change their career direction they will be able to continue to use their remaining funding.

4. What will you do to ensure students care about their learning and are taught at their level?

One of ACT’s biggest achievements has been the establishment of Partnership Schools as part of the education system. These schools give parents to ability to choose the right school for their child’s needs. If they require a special academic environment the Partnership Schools model allows for these types of schools to cater to specific needs teaching students in an environment that makes their coursework applicable to who are unable to access specialist attention because we have been unable to entice these specialists to live in their town or area. By bringing the specialists to the child say once a month, training a local teacher aide to support the child during the other three weeks of the month we can provide some of the support that these children need to be their best. Finally you ask about those with “advanced learning skills” – I am going to assume here that you mean gifted students. Over the last three years in my work as Assoc. Education we have returned funding and recognition for gifted students. We would build on those initiatives from the last three years to continue to enhance support for this specific learning need.

2. How will you support and fund public and private schools from decile 1-10 to provide better sports equipment, resources and safe facilities?

Again you ask several questions in one. Firstly the taxpayer does not fund private schools for their facilities, resources or sports equipment – these are private businesses and these assets belong to the owners/ proprietors of that business – the taxpayer should not fund their private assets. They do received funding per child for teaching and learning. With regard to public schools – all facilities and resources in public schools are already afunded by the New Zealand taxpayer. With regard to sports equipment there is an allocation in the operations grant of every school for the delivery of this part of the curriculum but the New Zealand taxpayer also funds millions of dollars to Sports NZ who provide equipment and tutors into schools to support sports. them. Parents choosing the right learning environment for the student will help get the best academic results possible.

5. How will you ensure students have a strong educational future they have control over and make their own decisions about?

ACT’s plan for a world class education system through Student Education Accounts will give every learner the control over how, where and what they study. The tertiary component will allow school leavers who do not wish to study immediately to hold onto the funds in their account for lifelong learning. At retirement age, any funds still remaining will be converted to cash for their retirement. We encourage everyone to read our full education policy available here: https://www.

act.org.nz/education-policy

3. How will you encourage more advanced learning in schools to prepare students for the future? For example, more opportunities for students to discover what they want to do with their life and how to be better prepared.

I am interested in what age you are thinking of when you ask this question. I will assume that we are talking from 15 onward – although careers advice weaves its way through the New Zealand curriculum from 5 years to end of year 13. Over the last three years I have worked with Minister Hipkins on enhancing careers advice, providing more resourcing for Gateway opportunities and the development of the school leavers tool kit. I would have to say this however – to truly know what one ‘wants to do with their life” one needs to first know what one does NOT want to do. This means taking different jobs to find those that don’t suit you, that you don’t like – this could mean taking a gap year before Uni or post-secondary study to work or intern before choosing any study topics that under the current system will still gain you a debt. Many of our students go straight to Uni without really knowing why they are taking those courses or where those courses might take them.

4. What will you do to ensure students care about their learning and are taught at their level?

I cannot force people to “care about their learning” – and I do not know what you mean by being “taught at their level”? Are you advocating “streaming”?? To answer the first part of the question I would say that students need to be able to connect their learning to opportunities – to possibilities that excite them – life is not all fireworks and happy days – there will be times that hard work and doing the boring bits just has to be done but if the end goal is obvious and the path from the boring bit to the exciting bit is clearly laid out then the student should be self-motivated enough to stay the course.

With regard to “taught at their level” – all primary school classes are multi-level – there is good evidence to show that this benefits all students – a trained and qualified teacher will know how to support those students that need support and extend those students that need extension – ensuring we have high quality initial teacher training is the best way to address this question.

5. How will you ensure students have a strong educational future they have control over and make their own decisions about?

Again I am unsure of your question. All students have control over their educational future? They have the choice to participate and take the opportunities offered or not. They choose subjects, they choose to apply themselves, they choose to attend school or much around. They have control. And every choice they make has a consequence – if I was to suggest anything to strengthen their confidence in their decisions it would be to ensure that they were informed of the consequences, that they mapped their journey but recognised that they can alter that pathway – life is a highway with off ramps and on ramps, pot holes and barriers – students need the confidence and support to know that they do have the power over their own future.

1. How will you ensure all students are treated appropriately while still allowing students with specific learning disabilities/challenges and those with advanced learning skills to reach their full potential?

National is committed to supporting children with additional needs to ensure they are able to engage fully and receive the education they deserve. We have also announced that we will be reducing class sizes at primary schools. We think that having fewer students per teacher will allow each child to get more teacher attention and will enable more learning to take place. It should also result in teachers having more time to work with individual students to ensure they are all making progress and achieving to their potential.

2. How will you support and fund public and private schools from decile 1-10 to provide better sports equipment, resources and safe facilities?

National will ensure that all schools are funded sufficiently to provide a high quality education for our students. We plan to invest in school infrastructure, including new schools, additional classrooms and sport and recreational facilities so that every child is able to learn and play in a fit-for-purpose environment. We also believe in targeting more funding based on need. In Government we began the shift away from the decile system towards a risk index approach that would allocate greater funding to those schools with more students at risk of under-achieving or other negative social outcomes. We were pleased that, despite some delays, the current Government came to accept our approach was a good one and are now implementing it (albeit under a new name, the equity index). We will continue and refine this approach to ensure that no matter where you go to school, you are given the opportunity to succeed.

3. How will you encourage more advanced learning in schools to prepare students for the future? For example, more opportunities for students to discover what they want to do with their life and how to be better prepared.

National is proud that during our last term in Government we were able to invest in ultrafast broadband and to deliver all schools in New Zealand access to fast and uncapped internet connections. As we’ve seen recently, there is still a digital divide in this country, but it is our belief that students and schools should not be disadvantaged by geography or the cost of data. We will continue to build on this approach to digitally upgrading our education system, and we will work with teachers to ensure the curriculum is fit to prepare students for the future. We also want to ensure students have the career information they need to ensure they are thinking about their future career early on, so that they can make the best decisions about how to prepare for it.

4. What will you do to ensure students care about their learning and are taught at their level?

We want to provide parents with options about the type of education their children receive. Like the rest of us, students are diverse and not every approach will be right for all. We believe that if students have at least some choice about the type of school they attend and the educational philosophy and approach that is taken, they are more likely to find a good match to their own learning style. A good match between student and school will lead to more engaged students and better educational outcomes.

5. How will you ensure students have a strong educational future they have control over and make their own decisions about?

For students to be in a position to make decisions about their educational future, they need to have real options and opportunities to choose from. We know that for some, this already happens. For example, the student who finishes NCEA and is able to decide which University to go to or what degree to take. However, there are still far too many students who disengage with the education system at an early age, who don’t finish NCEA, and have few educational choices to make. National believes that investing more at an earlier age, including through smaller class sizes and more resources for those most at risk of disengaging, is the best way to ensure more students have real, meaningful choices to make as they move through secondary school and into tertiary education.

1. How will you ensure all students are treated appropriately while and those with advanced learning skills to reach their full potential?

Labour is committed to providing opportunities for all students to thrive and succeed. We have worked hard since 2017 to boost education across the board, making it fairer and ensuring it meets the needs of all learners. That includes those with additional learning support needs, who are benefiting from significant funding increases to start to rebuild our learning support services, including learning support coordinators based in hundreds of schools across the country, and to finally providing pay equity for teacher aides.

still allowing students with specific learning disabilities/challenges

2. How will you support and fund public and private schools from decile 1-10 to provide better sports equipment, resources and safe facilities?

Many of the school buildings across the country were old and needed upgrading when we came into office. In past years, schools had to defer those upgrades in favour of spending their property budget just to meet basic health and safety requirements. That’s why we funded a one-off cash injection of up to $400,000 to fast track school upgrades, for almost every state school in New Zealand, supporting our schools through the biggest capital injection

for school maintenance funding in at least 25 years. We’re also reducing the cost of education, taking the pressure off parents and supporting schools by providing $150 per child to schools who don’t ask parents for donations and removing NCEA fees, benefiting more than 145,000 households.

3. How will you encourage more advanced learning in schools to prepare students for the future? For example, more opportunities for students to discover what they want to do with their life and how to be better prepared.

We know it’s important for kids to prepare for life when they leave school, which is why we created the School Leaver’s Toolkit and will continue to roll it out. This toolkit will help kids get the core skills and knowledge they need to help launch their post-school lives. It’s important to prepare young people, so they have the skills they need and can avoid common pitfalls that can easily trip them up. That’s something which is too important to leave to chance. The toolkits include information on moving out of home, getting a job, money and tax, government and voting and more. It’s designed to support

Many years ago, people thought women were not capable of being leaders. Today, things are different. Women have shown the world they have the same rights and skills as men. The New Oxford dictionary of English defines leadership as the action of leading a group of people or an organisation. Leadership inspires people, empowers people, and leads change. In 1893, Kate Sheppard showed the world women should have the right to vote. She was a leader. It was Rosa Parks’ brave ‘No’ that began a change to segregation laws. She was a leader. It was Jacinda Ardern who showed the world she cared, after the Christchurch mosque shooting in 2019. She is a leader. These are just three of many female leaders who have made a difference. There are lots of different traits people need to be great leaders. Some of them are honesty, caring, respect, resilience, positivity, communication, and being a good decision maker. I believe Jacinda Ardern has good leadership traits. In 2017, Jacinda Ardern became the country’s youngest prime minister, at the age of 38. In students with practical information, and provide teacher with tools and resources needed to integrate the learnings into their local curriculum. We will also continue work to make our senior secondary qualification, NCEA, more robust, consistent, inclusive and accessible.

4. What will you do to ensure students care about their learning and are taught at their level?

We responded to calls that our kids needed to know more about our history and identity, and have made a commitment that New Zealand History will be taught in all schools and kura by 2022. We’re making sure that future generations understand the many paths our ancestors walked to bring us to today. We have also listened to educators and scrapped National Standards as soon as we came into Government. Progress is still reported, but kids are no longer measured against arbitrary National Standards. We knew that schools and parents had lost confidence in National Standards – they were too narrow, neither national nor standard and did not do what the previous National Government told us they would do. Focussing on progress across the curriculum 2019, Suzanne Moore wrote an article about Jacinda, and she described her as a lioness. The title was: Jacinda Ardern showing the world what real leadership is: sympathy, love and integrity. This was related to the Christchurch terrorist attack in 2019, when she showed empathy and support for the Muslim community. Her photo was even on a skyscraper in Dubai. Jacinda Ardern really cares about people. Being caring and compassionate towards people is a great trait to have. Leaders also need to be good decision makers. They need to know what the consequences of their decisions are likely to be before they make them. During the coronavirus pandemic, Jacinda Ardern had to make good decisions to decide when to move down or up a level. She had to listen to others, and hear their opinions, before she made the final decision. Accountability is necessary because even prime ministers need people to help them be better leaders. It also means to take ownership and responsibility for their mistakes. I think Jacinda is trustworthy because she follows up on her promises. For example, New Zealand needed her to lead us through Covid 19, and we needed to trust her to make the right decisions. means that learners have the support and opportunities needed for their own learning.

5. How will you ensure students have a strong educational future they have control over and make their own decisions about?

We will make sure New Zealanders are taught the skills needed to make their way through and adapt to a changing labour market. The world of work is changing and it’s important that our education system keeps up, especially in our post-COVID world. We’ve strengthening our careers guidance system including a practical Job Hunters’ Handbook. We’re assisting the country to recover from COVID-19 by paying the costs of learners to undertake vocational education and training through to the end of 2022, in any apprenticeship and in other targeted areas of study and training that will give them better employment prospects. And we will provide temporary financial assistance for employers to retain and support their apprentices. We’re also making changes to vocational education to tackling its long-term challenges and create a strong, unified, sustainable system that will provide the opportunities to

Growing leaders for tomorrow

RUBY MURPHY outlines leadership qualities helping to build the path to ensure women can take advantage of their skills and rise to the top in our communities.

improve the skills or all New Zealanders. When she said the country was going to move down a level, we almost always did. And when we didn’t, it would be for a good reason. In fact, many of the countries doing well through Covid 19, have women leaders. This proves girls are rising to the top. Another important thing as a leader, is to be positive and bright in any bad situation. Being motivational and being able to set the atmosphere every day creates a positive environment around you. Whenever Jacinda spoke to the nation, it made me feel positive things were going to get better. Some people are naturally good leaders, but that doesn’t mean you can’t develop leadership skills over time. Anyone can become a leader, by giving things a go, and being confident to stand up for what you believe in. You could start by being a school librarian, class councillor, or a patrol leader in girl guides. You never know, one day you could be a prime minister. At Flanshaw road school, our motto is: ‘Growing leaders of tomorrow’. I like this, because it helps me to remember to never give up, give things a go, and always stick to what I believe in.