The school curriculum and teacher professional standards in Aotearoa New Zealand emphasise culturally responsive pedagogies for Maori learners. However, there is a gap between rhetoric and practice. Drawing on expert-interview methodology, and based on an interview with Tamsin Hanly about complex curriculum issues, this interview article seeks to…

This article directs to the Dialogues of Leadership Education section of "Scholar-Practitioner Quarterly," Volume 4, Issue 4, wherein the contributing authors examined the question of priorities of leadership education for a democratic society. In this article, the author extends that earlier dialogue, and draws into specific relief the language…

This short commentary offers praise for Tom Wartenberg's book "Big Ideas for Little Kids" and raises questions about who is best qualified to lead a philosophy discussion with children, and how we are to assess the benefits of doing philosophy with children.

In her paper, Burke questions whether top-down proficiency mandates will positively impact teacher practice. Her main argument is the following: The requirement that foreign language (FL) teachers demonstrate an advanced level of proficiency does not guarantee that they will be more effective K-12 FL teachers; on this point, the author agrees with…

Drawing on a national survey of New Zealand early childhood teachers' views on ethics and professionalism in their practice, this article discusses three key themes that emerged as core conceptual elements in how teachers in education and care settings defined professionalism. The three themes were: a distinct pedagogical style; specialist…

The overriding objective when teaching accounting should be to help prepare students for a successful career as an accounting professional. To this end, employers and practitioners should be asked what skills they would like to see in their new employees. (JOW)

This article uses the concept of emotional labour to understand some of the changes that are ongoing in the teaching profession. While research has explored the impact of the new performance culture upon teachers' work and identified a marginalisation of the caring and emotional aspects of teaching, the concept of emotional labour allows us to…

Business professionals and instructors often view writing skills as one of the most important qualifications that employees should possess. However, many business employees, including recent college graduates, have serious writing deficiencies, especially in their ability to use standard English. As a result, American businesses spend billions of…

Discusses complex and ambiguous process of counseling and range of skills needed by counselors. Notes that the training of counselors is also a complex task and describes the work of Viviane Robinson and Jan Halliday, who are examining counselor training from an information-processing perspective. (NB)

The 1980s will see more emphasis on the practical use of foreign languages and on teaching for international understanding. Language teachers should have the ability to speak the language and have had experience abroad. (Author/MLF)

The author observes that the report from the Council on the Continuing Education Unit, "Principles of Good Practice in Continuing Education," is a list of reductive, formal stipulations that imply that adults are not capable of self-directed learning. (CT)

The teaching of data processing in the secondary school is examined, including teachers (certification, work experience), textbooks (selection, concentration), community (advisory committees, career exploration), students (recruitment, aptitude tests), instruction methods (simulation, audiovisuals, field trips), course content (machine technology,…

Studies and identifies characteristics and attitudes most desired by employers. Provides a rationale for educators to take an aggressive role in adding employability skills instruction to their school's curriculum. Includes four brief sample employability skills activities. (HB)

Discusses the supervisory class visit and subsequent tutorial as an important part of the teacher training process. (JOW)

An employer notes complaints about the level of arithmetic skills in school leavers. That technology will affect employment skills is noted, but a flexible teaching approach which will help students describe what has been done is endorsed. (MNS)