Swimming in Schools

This is a copy of the text I sent to Ian Ferguson regarding swimming and specifically swim instruction at schools.

Dear Ian

I saw you tonight on Close Up and I could not agree with you more regarding children learning to swim and schools having pools. I do feel however that many within the lobby group are missing the point re schools in pools.  There are still a number of schools (like ours) that have pools and run very good programmes for their children.  Those schools need to be looked at and questions need to be asked as to why and how the schools continue to manage their pool, and this information then to be shared amongst schools and their board of trustees.

We have a 30 to 40 yr old (18m x 6m) concrete pool that works just as well now as it did when it was built.  Over the last  to 8 years we have made a conscious effort to maintain and upgrade it.  We have provided seating, shading, new surrounds, fencing and to top it all off solar heating to ensure we have 25 to 27' temp in the pool.  the vast majority of the funding has come through community grants and sheer hard work by the community.  We have received community grant funding for instructors, mid-winter swimming programme at QE2 (before earthquakes) and trained up a staff member to run after school swim programmes.  I must say the NZCT has been fully supportive of any initiative with regard to swimming.

I do feel that some schools have taken the easy option of filling their pools in without really looking hard tat the long term consequences. I know that it costs us a lot of money to run our pool, chlorine, extra caretaker hours and general wear and tear.  But it is a cost we have been prepared to wear for the benefit of our school and local community.  I would be lynched if i proposed to get rid of the pool.  It is a tremendous asset.

Maybe groups could look at those schools that are making it work and use them as models.  North Canterbury i believe is very proactive in not only having a number of schools that still have pools, but we have a proactive sports trust that subsidises instruction for hundreds of school children.  This year all yr 3,4, and 5 students are getting 10 lessons for $10 either at the school or the local community pool.

I am more than happy to help with anything regarding this or share photos or just provide support to schools who are thinking about the future of their pool.

Regards
Stuart

2012 Programme

We are in the throws of putting together a comprehensive and challenging Outdoor Education Programme for our year 8 students.  I firmly believe we need to challenge the PC society we live in and start giving our young people real challenges so as to test their resilence and perserverance.

We are hoping to involve all the students in kayaking, sailing, overnight and day tramps and a number of other activities that they will organise themselves.  We also need to be aware that our year 8 students do need something different from the rest of the students at school.  If what we put together can inspire our students to continue with activities outside the 4 walls, I will be happy.

How well are we preparing our children to start school?

Do you talk at the dinner table?  Do you have a dinner table?

Before playstations and sky, we all used to have dinner as a family at the table and we all talked.  It might not have always been productive or positive talk but as a family we talked.
In my twenty years of teaching, one of the most notable changes I have noticed is the decline in the oral language skills of 5 year olds. We can then translate this into a decline in the written language skills our young people bring to school.
The more we talk to our children at a young age (or at any age) the more skills they develop, the better prepared they are, the greater their vocabulary etc.
I realise our lives are busier now than they were 20 years ago, which makes it even more important that we make the time to talk.  Those years before our children start school are the formative years, we cannot get them back either.

Challenging Our Students

Yesterday we took over 50 students to the top of Mt Thomas in the North Canterbury foothills. Despite the marginal conditions, we persisted with the tramp and I am sure all who participated feel we made the correct decision. This does not mean to say that we put children's safety at risk.  At various time during the walk we stopped, consulted and made decisions as to the next step. 
Maybe too often we make decisions that err too much on the side of caution, when really we should be giving our children challenging (not risky) situations where they are pushed.
As a school leader these decisions are even harder because we are dealing with other peoples children and the ramifications of getting it wrong are potentially dangerous.  However, those in education are also charged with trying to bring about the best in our children academically, physically, emotionally and socially.  I am proud of what our children achieved yesterday. What are your thoughts?
Cheers
Stuart

Bullying

There has been a lot of discussion around the topic of bullying lately.  To be honest all schools will have issues around bullying at various stages of the year, most of it is around verbal bullying and a lot of it happens when teachers and adults and not around.

As teachers we have too make judgement calls when children come to us and complain that they have been bullied or that another child has spoken disrespectfully to them. We will take actions we think are necessary to punish the bullies, but we also try to teach the victim how to react if someone is not talking respectfully to them.

I as a parent I know we won't always get it right.  Especially when it is one child's word against another.  it is the same with teaching.  We do however treat those that do bully seriously.

February 22nd. After the earthquake.

I would love to hear your thoughts on how well we communicated to you after the earthquake.  I know for a lot of parents it was a stressful time, especially if you were in town when the earthquake occurred.
Stuart