Dumb Dart Throwing, Dumb Qualification

Concerned Teachers P.O. Box 5035 Papanui

Media Statement

Thursday 12 October 2000

Attention: Education/Political Reporters

Dumb Dart Throwing, Dumb Qualification

"Teachers who were forced to make darts at training days for the replacement for School Certificate resented the time wasting involved and felt it was highly unprofessional," said Concerned Teachers spokesperson Peter Calvert. Mr Calvert was commenting on revelations made in Parliament today by Donna Awatere Huata.

Ms Awatere got the MInister to confirm that teachers recently spent a morning session at taxpayers expense, constructing then throwing paper darts as training for the National Certificate in Educational Achievement .

"Two days of potential teaching time in Term three were wasted on activities that were plainly too dumb to be of value in a National Qualification. Telling teachers that they could learn from assessing paper dart making how to assess a Shakespearean script was a bad joke," said Mr Calvert.

"But as well, dart throwing is the ultimate insult to a teacher. Teachers prevent students throwing darts in class. It shows discipline is out of control when it happens. To have to make them at a course was obviously someone's idea of a joke but it backfired," said Mr Calvert

Mr Calvert stated that teachers had approached his organisation upset over the incident and felt it was indicative of the whole training for NCEA - naïve and unprofessional.

Ends:

For More information contact:

Peter Calvert 021 2111 825

E-mail ConcernedTeachers@xtra.co.nz

Website www.concernedteachers.com

Or: To speak to an actual teacher who attended a dart making session at NCEA training:

ring Judith on 025 62 38 246

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