Change - pun intended
"In theory there's no difference between theory and practice but in practice there is."
I'm not clever enough to come up with the above statement myself. But my father, Tony Gilbert Snr is.
Today he sent me an email describing the scene 52 years ago today when he was a young teacher at Alexandra Primary, an expectant father and negotiating the change with his students to the "new" decimal currency in New Zealand.
It got me thinking a bit about educational change and how all the planning and preparation in the world, is nothing without real-world meaning.
At Arinui we deal with appraisal, but whatever it is called it is about supporting teachers to learn and grow their practice - not in theory, but in practice. With change afoot, we know teachers will find a way to be better and we are committed to being with them.
Here's Dad tale:
" Today always reminds me of Jimmy Chalmers, friend of Gordon Whyte and fellow shopkeeper.
At the beginning of 1967 Education Department officials flooded schools with decimal booklets and plastic play money so that everyone would be well prepared for our currency change.
As teachers we did our best to prepare for this with daily lessons, shopping games and homework activities.
Confusion reigned.
Daily, kids would scoot round to Jim’s shop for a pie at lunchtime and on the 10th of July 1967 they handed over their shillings and pence, returning with food and change in ‘new’ money.
They understood the currency immediately!
Jim Chalmers and his Educational Institute could have saved the Government a great deal of money."
