Teaching graduates warned off profession

Instead of the usual graduation ceremony commendations for "commitment, dedication and hard work", Massey University teaching graduates have found themselves all but warned off their chosen profession.

Emeritus Professor Ivan Snook told the assembled graduates in Palmerston North they were entering a "major site of struggle".

Almost 20 years ago the Government transformed the structure of education in New Zealand, he said.

"What changed was the nature of teaching, the nature of learning and, arguably, the very nature of the students you are to teach."

As a result, Professor Snook said, a litany of problems plagued teachers.

They included book-keeping and compliance replacing pastoral care; testing squeezing out teaching; skills training replacing education and compliance pushing out creativity.

Professor Snook said teachers faced increased surveillance, were seen as skilled technicians rather than professionals and were prevented from promoting social justice under the guise of "political correctness".

Under such a regime teachers were simply asked to prepare young people to be workers.

"Their future as informed and thoughtful citizens is neglected," said Professor Snook.

"If you scan the educational policies of political parties as we approach a general election, you will see there is more to come. They just cannot leave education alone."

Iain Galloway, president of the Massey University Students' Association, said he had not been at the ceremony, but others who were said Professor Snook received a standing ovation from the staff, "if not the audience".

Professor Snook, who retired 12 years ago, told the Herald he had not set out to be controversial but had wanted to offer "realism plus idealism" in the speech.

"I thought about it long and hard ... what they will be doing is terribly important and they should keep up their ideals but know there will be a number of obstacles."
He said educational reforms over the past 18 years had failed.

- additional reporting, Angela Gregory