Getting kids back to school
A new school attendance report undoubtedly presents us with a big problem. It also uncovers such a broad range of contributing factors that “collective responsibility" may be the only solution
Mōrena and welcome to The Bulletin for Friday, November 11, by Anna Rawhiti-Connell. Presented in partnership with Z Energy.
In today’s edition: Reserve Bank defends against criticisms; leading epidemiologist “cautiously optimistic” the worst of the Covid crisis is behind us; gearing up for the Rugby World Cup Final; but first, how to approach the problem of worsening school attendance
A third of students do not see going to school every day as that important (Image: Getty)
School attendance falls by 10% in six years
The Education Review Office (ERO) released a report yesterday that warned New Zealand has worse school attendance than other English-speaking countries. Reported on by RNZ’s John Gerritsen, one of our most experienced education reporters (his story was syndicated widely), the ERO found regular attendance, defined as attending more than 90% of the time, fell from 70% in 2015 to 60% in 2021. Four in 10 parents said they were comfortable with their child missing a week or more of school per term and a third of students did not see going to school every day as that important.
No silver bullet or grand solution
Broadly, the report found there is a lack of understanding about the importance of attending school, or to flip that, the detrimental effects of missing school. The report has a few examples of local school and community initiatives in play to address the issue. Northland schools lifted attendance by 2% after joining together to create a campaign to send a unified message about the importance of school attendance. In some ways it reminds me of the grassroots efforts to lift Covid vaccination rates that proved instrumental in our success. What’s pretty apparent reading the report is that there is no grand cause or silver bullet solution. Four different causes and potential solutions are offered in four letters to the editor in the Herald this morning.
Parent argues school isn’t the only place where education takes place
Responding to the report, leader of the opposition Christopher Luxon would not rule out fines for parents if they let children skip school in term time. Academics in Australia and Canada advise against taking punitive measures. Fines have been introduced in the UK. BBC Panorama recently investigated that system and found they were being unevenly issued and were a last resort for many schools. Founder of a popular parenting website Maria Foy, also provided a counter argument to the idea that missing school for some of the reasons listed in the report meant kids were missing out on educational experiences. "I really do think school is important, but I also see the other side where outside of school is equally as important to educate our children," Foy said.
Whole of government approach also required
The report also says a whole of government approach is required. You just need to read the list of barriers to attendance cited in the report to see that. It’s only one example, but dots could be joined between transport (listed as a barrier), and housing, urban planning, roading and transport policy. New Zealand recently scored very poorly in a global ranking of children’s exercise on the number of kids taking “active transport” like walking or biking to school. The reason? Safety concerns. If you’re a working parent worried about that, you drive and commutes then chew up time. In Chicago, schools recently canvassed their local neighborhoods about what might be affecting students’ attendance. Not only did they uncover a problem with unreliable transportation but the community provided solutions. Bus routes got changed. Before schools resort to fines in the UK, many are checking whether kids have bus fare.
Nature Boy: meet the photographer who captured Auckland’s wild west
Pioneering West Auckland nature photographer Olaf Petersen is the subject of a new book and an exhibition at Auckland Museum. Petersen spent years documenting everyday scenes of 20th century Auckland life – from the sand dunes at Lake Wainamu to a rainy day on Aotea, Great Barrier Island. Click here to read more about some of Petersen’s most iconic photographs, and visit Auckland Museum to immerse yourself in his work. (Sponsored)
Reserve Bank defends actions
The Reserve Bank published a review of its past five years of monetary policy yesterday morning. It found inflation should have been countered earlier, but monetary policy decisions were consistent with the data and information available at the time. Orr dismissed recent political criticisms, saying the review had been assessed by independent experts."I have no comments about the politics. I also don't feel unique - globally, central banks throughout the world are under immense attack - much of it which becomes very personal very quickly," he said. In other banking news, the government made its anticipated announcement on open banking yesterday as well. Implementation is at least two years away.
Leading epidemiologist is “cautiously optimistic” the worst of the Covid crisis is behind us
Sir David Skegg received the Blake Medal last night at a ceremony in Auckland. He was recognised for his contribution to the pandemic response, HIV/Aids, Mad Cow Disease and reproductive health in developing nations. He spoke to the Herald’s Jamie Morton this week saying he was “cautiously optimistic” that the worst of the coronavirus crisis was behind us but warned we should remain ready for some nasty twists. I’m not entirely sure when we’ll be perfectly ready for some reflection on the last couple of years, but I recommend Morton’s piece as start for some lucid and forthright perspective from Skegg.
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Nicola Willis is breaking with tradition
The National Party's deputy leader has spoken out against Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr, calling for an independent review if National are elected in 2023. Skyrocketing house prices and record-high inflation are being blamed on the government's money printing scheme during the pandemic. Willis says an external review would answer the question - how can this be avoided in the future? Willis speaks to Bernard Hickey in the latest episode of When the Facts Change.
Click and collect
Pharmac confirms funding for seven new medicines
A series of fundamental change to arms control to be in place before the end of the year
Court and justice staff to take industrial action
300 pride flags will be raised around Hobsonville Point for Hobby Pride, a response to homophobic behaviour over recent months
“Pretty damn good campaign” award to Aged Care Matters. Click here to see what Jacinda Ardern and Grant Robertson might look like at 80
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Porn Week on The Spinoff continues as Don Rowe meets the man with a PhD in porn addiction, Alex Casey profiles “the queen of ethical and feminist porn” and helps Tara Ward count down 10 TV ads so sexy they might as well be porn. In non-porn, Stewart Sowman-Lund has the wild story behind the archive of over a million historic NZ photographs soon to be going up for auction, Shanti Mathias watches a new play about the impossibility of authentically representing Aotearoa’s diverse Asian communities and Sela Jane Hopgood watches Duckrockers, the uncannily accurate 80s throwback prequel to Sione's Wedding.
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Super Blacks Ferns Friday
There’s one game that will dominate the weekend and that’s the final of the Rugby World Cup between the Black Ferns and England tomorrow night. Kickoff is at 7.30pm and if you didn’t get tickets and want to watch at home (there are no fan zones - a missed trick if you ask me), the game is free-to-air on Three. If you want to head out somewhere to watch, Stuff has some Auckland-based suggestions. Check your local rugby club too.
The team has been named, with one change made to the side that beat France. Charmaine McMenamin comes in to replace Liana Mikaele-Tu’u who’s out with a thumb injury. Kendra Cocksedge, who retires after this tournament, shot straight to the top of my MVP list by revealing she listens to Céline Dion as part of her pre-game routine. Ruby Tui isn’t a fan and prefers rap.
Both Jacinda Ardern and Christopher Luxon have sent video support messages involving passing kiwifruit and balls. Wayne Smith has reflected on his time with the team and shared his plans after the tournament ends, while former Olympian Sarah Cowley Ross asks what’s next after the unprecedented momentum that’s been created.
It’s Friday so…
Sticking with the education theme, Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School has been performing a stage version of the movie, School of Rock, all week. American actor Jack Black starred in the movie, which came out 19 years ago. Go forth and enjoy your weekend thinking about how the kids might have reacted to watching this video message that Black sent them this week. Graded A+ for energy from Black and feel-good factor 🤘
We need to know how many kids are utterly miserable at school, for what reasons. Also what proportion are unable learn, and why. And then there are all the external and additional pressures of recent times - but I suspect for many kids they are the last straw rather than a sudden intrusive cause of disengagement or non-attendance.