NCEA Review -biggest change to the NZ education system for over 20 years

Forums › Off topic › NCEA Review -biggest change to the NZ education system for over 20 years

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

11925 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9675

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2692690 14-Apr-2021 14:41

Handsomedan:
But this is the whole point...using Te Reo in this way, when the number of Te Reo speakers is so low IS woke and it lends an air of unscientific wokeness to the statement.

If it was written in English with a Maori translation (or the other way around) there wouldn't be any confusion or "snowflake" reactions.

Kids are far more used to te reo and cope with it fine.

I'm sure the reactionaries will have a hernia. Bad luck their team.

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2638
Inactive user

#2692691 14-Apr-2021 14:42

Handsomedan:

But this is the whole point...using Te Reo in this way, when the number of Te Reo speakers is so low IS woke and it lends an air of unscientific wokeness to the statement.

If it was written in English with a Maori translation (or the other way around) there wouldn't be any confusion or "snowflake" reactions.

The only snowflakes I see are those feeling threatened by a bit of Te Reo.

Lias

5655 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3978

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2692697 14-Apr-2021 14:52

chevrolux:

The only snowflakes I see are those feeling threatened by a bit of Te Reo.

I have no issue with the use of common Maori words.

I have a pretty huge issue with the concept of Maori spiritualism being anywhere near a science curriculum, just like I'd have a pretty huge issue with creationism or any other type of religious or spiritual belief being involved in a science curriculum.

I haven't supported banning religion in schools for many years just to see it replaced with Maori spiritualism. Anything based on faith rather than empirical evidence has zero place in any school curriculum, never mind the national science curriculum!

I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup. Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2638
Inactive user

#2692732 14-Apr-2021 15:13

Who said anything about spiritualism? Just because the first thing you saw on google may have talked about spiritualism doesn't mean that was the intent of the Reo.

yitz

2239 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 594

#2692735 14-Apr-2021 15:21

You may be aware there are proponents of the Western knowledge system being racist and I support more inclusion of indigenous knowledge into the curriculum but due to limited teaching time there is an expense that needs to be considered. In the last round of cuts 10 years ago major topics in biology such as human anatomy and physiology, cell theory and biotechnology were taken out as being assessed at this level such that nowadays you can take five years of biology at secondary and not have used a microscope. It is easy to say a lot of knowledge can just be googled but there is some concern about the inequalities that may arise from so much not being formally taught.

SirHumphreyAppleby

2939 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1860

#2692739 14-Apr-2021 15:30

Lias:

Anything based on faith rather than empirical evidence has zero place in any school curriculum, never mind the national science curriculum!

In primary school my mother refused my repeated requests to be excused from any religious teaching. I constantly clashed with the priest over the lack of scientific basis for his beliefs. As an adult, seeing the world turn to custard around me, I realise that their teachings did have some merit. Modern 'fact' seems to be established more often than not by blatant assertion, never considering that things are the way they are for a reason. Religious teachings may be flawed, but I also believe they are the result of accumulated knowledge, and should not immediately be dismissed as readily as they are being today.

I believe there is a place for Maori teachings in the New Zealand sciences, but like religious texts, more as a footnote than a core principle on which to base an entire subject.

As for language, I believe that with the exception of proper nouns that have no English alternative, English text should be in English. It's nothing to do with race, rather understanding. I've used a 'UK English' dictionary all my academic and working life specifically to avoid unintentionally using words which aren't understood by a wider audience.

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

Lias

5655 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3978

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2692742 14-Apr-2021 15:34

chevrolux:

Who said anything about spiritualism? Just because the first thing you saw on google may have talked about spiritualism doesn't mean that was the intent of the Reo.

Blackjack included one on his post about the Microorganisms standard (which I verified on the MoE website by way of due diligence)

They will recognise that the concept of mauri is associated with changes in environmental conditions.

Mauri (along with Mana and a variety of related concepts) are spiritualism. I looked at several of the STEM subject standards guides, all of them contain elements of Maori spiritualism and belief that are simply not science based. You can call me racist till you're blue in the face, but these things have zero place in a science curriculum.

frankv

5705 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3666

Lifetime subscriber

#2692750 14-Apr-2021 15:43

surfisup1000:

I can only suggest that parent's should choose school's that offer the Cambridge system.

I only wish that someone had suggested to some people's parents to choose a school that taught the proper use of apostrophes.

blackjack17

1713 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 865

#2692751 14-Apr-2021 15:44

This is a blog post from a physics teacher who is grappling with these issues.

https://kiwiphysics.wordpress.com/category/blog-posts/

As a science teacher I do struggle with the inclusion of 300 year old knowledge along side modern scientific knowledge. The Maori were expert navigators that could navigate via the stars great I can teach that but what does mātauranga Māori have to go with germ theory? The particle nature of matter? I feel that I can't question this without being accused of racism.

All indigenous cultures had expert knowledge at surviving in their environments, however the explanations behind this knowledge doesn't always stand up in the same was we don't teach Lamarck's theory of evolution, or the four Empedoclean elements.

But all that aside

I do feel these standards are being rushed through with the main aim to lift achievement, not by improved learning but by reducing expectations. I also feel that there has not been sufficient consultation or publicity on these massive changes and the ministry seems unwilling to delay the implementation of these changes. I know people on the SEGS that developed the big questions and standards and they have received some very conflicted messages regarding desired outcomes.

While these standards are only intended to be for level 1 students, they also have to provide the foundational knowledge for levels 2, 3 and beyond.

I do hope that if you feel strongly about these changes in anyway then you make a submission. It does not take long.

Electric kiwi signup credit Sharesies credit

mdooher

Hmm, what to write...
1443 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 910

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2692760 14-Apr-2021 15:54

I have avoided commenting on the Maori language content. Do I care? sort of.

The reason they are using a not insignificant number of Maori words is the same reason managers talk in corporate speak. They are trying make themselves sound more important and knowledgeable than they are actually are.

In both cases, I as a pleb, will have to look these word up, and so clearly I am beneath them.

The benefit/problem with this approach of course is that it makes your material less universally understandable and so the pool of those who will challenge you is smaller

You now only get those that understand the "lingo" and those that go out of their way to learn it first.

In the case of Maori words you effectively stop international moderation.

I haven't been arguing about the inclusion of Maori terms in the curriculum because I think it is a red herring. If you object to it you are branded racist.

The real problem is that the curriculum is crap. Science is the combined knowledge of all mankind. Sure some cultures might find some things more important than others, and that could be included. But at level 1 NCEA you want the basics of Physics Chemistry and Biology, nothing else, there is simply no time.

Matthew

gbwelly

1263 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 776

#2692768 14-Apr-2021 16:05

With Vision Mātauranga being integrated into crown research institutes, the new curriculum looks like it would align better with some future employers. Might make learning a bit more interesting for students too. It does seem you'll still get your bacteria, fungi and viruses, just in a different way in the example above.

For example "As part of their learning in this standard, ākonga will delve deep into a context that is relevant to them and their community. They will engage with the mātauranga Māori concept of kaitiakitanga as they recognise the importance of environmental guardianship." could be something pretty cool like constructing test equipment and using it to conduct air quality testing in their area.

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

yitz

2239 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 594

#2692778 14-Apr-2021 16:24

To be honest this stuff is not new at all, the 1993 curriculum envisioned this and this part has never been fully implemented until what looks to be now 30 years later.

https://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/content/download/63077/504797/file/ScienceInTheNewZealandCurriculum.pdf
( https://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Archives/Previous-curriculum-statements )

I feel these sorts of tasks would be suitable for a project if a student chooses to at some stage, sort of like the Theory of Knowledge component of the IB diploma, but should not be all that they do in a year.

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10018

#2692830 14-Apr-2021 16:44

Lias:

Mauri (along with Mana and a variety of related concepts) are spiritualism.

What the....?

If you want to start attacking theistic / spiritualist beliefs, perhaps start with the predominant and deeply embedded bearded man in the sky worship in anglo-centric culture.

First hit on google:

Mauri

(in Maori culture) life force or essence.

"removing the rats was a vital step to reviving the mauri of the island"

As an atheist, I like that word - and the use of it in that example.

Mana is also a great word, shame there's not enough of it around.

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10018

#2692831 14-Apr-2021 16:49

mdooher:

The reason they are using a not insignificant number of Maori words is the same reason managers talk in corporate speak. They are trying make themselves sound more important and knowledgeable than they are actually are.

Congratulations for making possibly the dumbest and unsubtly racist comment so far in this thread.

mdooher

Hmm, what to write...
1443 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 910

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2692832 14-Apr-2021 16:59

Fred99:

mdooher:

The reason they are using a not insignificant number of Maori words is the same reason managers talk in corporate speak. They are trying make themselves sound more important and knowledgeable than they are actually are.

Congratulations for making possibly the dumbest and unsubtly racist comment so far in this thread.

snap

Matthew

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5