Another Principal Takes a Stand on Principle
Another Principal Takes a Stand on Principle
MANA Leader Hone Harawira
Tuesday 29th May
Congrats
Ross Intermediate
“One of the secondary effects of the Ministry of Education’s nasty and mean-spirited attack on Moerewa School was to scare other principals into keeping their mouths shut” said MANA Leader, Hone Harawira.
“So I congratulate
Palmerston North’s Wayne Codyre, Principal of Ross
Intermediate, for refusing to be cowed, and for his strong
and sincere comments in challenging the Ministry’s
decision to increase class sizes”. Codyre stated
“The government is trying to silence principals from
trying to make public statements against policy. In 10 years
as a principal I have never used a school newsletter to make
any strong political statement. Today I have no
choice”. Codyre said Ross Intermediate would have to
sack four frontline teachers and increase their average
school class from 29 to 36, under government’s new policy
on bigger class sizes.
Harawira said that
bigger class sizes are not supported by educational
research, by teachers, parents, or school boards.
“Principals all round the country know that bigger
class sizes will mean less one-on-one attention for students
and the loss of some excellent teachers” said Harawira.
“And they will draw wide support if they decide to take
action to oppose this short-sighted policy.”
ENDS