School Is Cool

The site for the competition is now up - www.schooliscool.org.nz. It's early days, but there are a few gorgeous entries up already.

At the same time, here at NZEI comms we're holding our breath. Will this site fly? Are we asking too much from already too busy teachers? Will the right-wing bloggers get hold of it and twist it into another anti-union, anti-teacher rant?

The actual site is really whizzy, and maybe this competition is the pilot - for next year's even better competition - while we work out any teething problems. Should the entry period have been longer? Should we have offered to load the artwork for teachers - it's only a few minutes, but we all know how absolutely flatout teachers are.

On the other hand, will we finally make some headway on countering the government's line that the system is in crisis, failing - and therefore corporate-style policies are needed. We're the 5th best system in the world for heavan's sake! 3rd in the OECD. Compulsory education - like rugby and dairy cows - is one of the things we do really really well in New Zealand.

Check out the site - it'll give you idea. www.schooliscool.org.nz. Even better register, make some comments. Send the link to family, friends, colleagues.