Subtitle: A trip to Japan as depicted by feet in front of various manhole covers. Read full post…

Tomorrow, I will be attending a memorial service for an ex-student who passed away. Read full post…

I hate being a teacher, sometimes. Part of the job means building a relationships with students. That means showing whanaungatanga. That implies aroha. That implies a level of care beyond the academics, beyond grades, beyond awards. You want to see them grow and succeed as though they were part of your own whānau, your own family, your own children. Read full post…

It was always going to be a long shot that the coalition government would come to the table with a proper offer for the kaiako (teachers). Surprise, surprise, they didn’t. One percent raise over three years, lower than the rate of inflation, results in an effective pay cut. On average, kaiako are already paid quite a bit less than their counterparts over in Australia; certainly, quite a bit less than one minister thinks. Read full post…