Ko Kaukau tōku maunga

Ko Whanganui a tara tōku moana

Ko Awakairangi tōku awa

Ko Oriental tōku waka

Ko Pākeha tōku iwi

Ko Rush tōku hapū

Ko Perry Rush tōku ingoa

Kia ora e te whānau

It is a privilege to write to you as National President of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation.

Welcome to the 2020 school year, an election year no less. Working together, we can power up our collective professional muscle and set out our expectations for all political parties to consider. 

I have taken time away from my principalship at Hastings Intermediate this year and I am very grateful to the students, staff and Board for allowing me to step away. I am also grateful for your support in electing me to the position of National President. Thank you. It is a responsibility that I take seriously.

The privilege of this job is that it lets you wonder out loud. I’ve been wondering about a few things lately.

I wonder why government has funded Learning Support Coordinators but not Student Counsellors for primary and intermediate schools.

I wonder why we haven’t addressed the soup that is mathematics teaching. Achievement rates are declining.

I wonder why we don’t congratulate more schools working in open, collaborate and flexible ways as brave and forward thinking. I wonder why we aren’t talking more about the sort of teaching and approaches that enable these environments to be effective for every learner.

I wonder whether a Leadership Centre in the Teaching Council will straitjacket leadership with a fixed curriculum and ideas about ‘a certain sort of leader’ or whether it will fully embrace leadership in all its diversity and place the emphasis on practice-based leadership.

I wonder why, in the third decade of the 21^st century, 180 years after the signing the Treaty of Waitangi, we are still debating whether Te Reo Māori should be compulsory in schooling.

I wonder how teachers can teach the practice of visual art, drama, dance and music when many pre-service training programmes in universities have no such practice-based component.

I wonder why we aren’t talking more about the experience of being a young person in this modern age. We have one of the highest youth suicide rates in the OECD. What practical steps are we taking to address this appalling situation?

I wonder when we will act on managing the damaging aspects of 'social media' and 'open internet access' for young people.

I wonder how we might showcase the schools with outstanding and innovative approaches to localising their curriculum.

I wonder whether we can articulate our beliefs about learning, concisely and with conviction.

This year, I encourage you to participate in the conversations you have been wanting to have about school leadership and schooling.  We shouldn’t be shy about attacking the issues that will bring change. It is our responsibility to influence schooling.

I am concerned that successive governments have beaten the sass out of school principalship. Let’s find it again. Let’s be true to our commitment to hold practice-based leadership and respect for diversity at the heart of everything we do even if that offends our political masters. It is the wellbeing of young people and the integrity of the learning experience that holds us accountable.

In the 'Useful Information' section of this newsletter (see below), I have included a few headings introducing some critical issues we are dealing with right now including the Coronavirus, the Education & Training Bill, Teaching Council fees increases and a new digital technologies tool.

Have a fantastic year and start by expecting change. I want to hear your wonderings and more than that, I want to see action on the issues that matter. I value your feedback about all things educational or otherwise. Do please be in touch.

Ngā manaakitanga

Perry Rush
perry@nzpf.ac.nz