Unions endorse charter school approach

With NZEI calling for a teacher aide in every New Zealand classroom, “Try three,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“Mastery School NZ is NZEI’s dream, on steroids. Located in Christchurch, the charter school uses its flexibility to put three teaching assistants in every classroom for the same funding as a state school, as work experience for student teachers. Mastery typically has one teacher and three student teachers per 20 students.

“If NZEI got their way, charter schools would be abolished. They would close a school that’s actually delivering their idea, and some. They heard Nicola’s testimony on the importance of teacher aides in ensuring her children get the education they deserve. It’s in their press release. Despite that, they would deny other families the right to choose that education for their own children. It’s a bit rich.

“It’s not that charter schools have more money to spend – they’re funded the same as equivalent state schools. The difference is that charter schools have more freedom to educate children in ways that suit their communities. This freedom allows Mastery to work with Canterbury University to give student teachers work experience as part of their teaching courses, while students benefit from high teacher ratios.

“Of course, what makes sense for one school might not for another. Some student populations will benefit more from teacher aides, others might be better off if that same funding was used on specialist facilities, or rewarding high-performing teachers.

“The problem with NZEI’s approach is it assumes Wellington knows best and would push every school into the same spending pattern, instead of trusting school leaders to listen to families and use their funding accordingly.

“ACT welcomes good ideas, even when they come from left-wing unions. But one size doesn’t fit all. The beauty of the charter school model is we can try new things, and if they work, those ideas can be copied in the wider system.”