And Slaters Go Plop

Today the release of the new New Zealand Curriculum was announced and I have to say I’m very impressed.

Included in the new curriculum is a new section on values where our upcoming generations will be taught: (from the website)

Through their learning experiences, students will learn about:

• their own values and those of others
• different kinds of values, such as moral, social, cultural, aesthetic, and economic values
• the values on which New Zealand’s cultural and institutional traditions are based
• the values of other groups and cultures.

Through their learning experiences, students will develop their ability to:

• express their own values
• explore, with empathy, the values of others
• critically analyse values and actions based on them
• discuss disagreements that arise from differences in values and negotiate solutions
• make ethical decisions and act on them.

This is the best news I’ve heard for a long time. Just a couple of days ago I was discussing the education system with my brother-in-law who is a teacher and I expressed how I wished that kids were taught values and critical thinking.

I’m extremely happy and if this post is ever read by anyone who has been involved in the new curriculum I would like to pass on my personal thanks – you’ve restored my faith in our system.

I look forward to a new generation of critical thinkers!