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Wassup with the Ministry of Education?
20th June 2008

Come on Ministry! If you want to promote Maori success in education, couldn't you come up with a better idea than ridiculous badges?

Our schools need assistance with funding to promote regional and community education incentives not have money wasted on badges with words that we want people to move away from if they want to succeed in life. Could you imagine someone wanting to be a lawyer and expecting to say "wassup" to the Judge? Get off the grass!

Promote proper literacy and we may see greater successes.

$65,000 could have paid for the CEPNZ's Numeracy and Literacy Pack but into every school in NZ.

Truant-Free Zones Gaining Wider Support
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE 14/02/07

In response to "Truant trapping has wider appeal" in the Manawatu Standard, Tuesday 13 February 2007.

I am glad to see that Palmerston North Police are looking into creating a truant-free zone in the region. The same discussion is underway in Whakatane.

The private organisation CEPNZ (Character Education Programme of NZ) has been supplying resources throughout the country since the end of 2003 to help in setting up these truant-free zones. To date, every school and town that has fully implemented these guidelines and resources has seen a reduction in truancy.

Despite the government injecting $8.5 million into truancy initiatives in a selected number of areas, one in every four state schools in NZ have chosen to use the truancy resources developed without government funding by the CEPNZ.

Everything takes time but if all regions were to follow this path and all local authorities were to cooperate in this project, we could see a huge decrease in truancy and youth crime and an increase in the number of children receiving a full education. Together, we can make a difference.

For further details see Terminate Truancy 2007: http://TT2007.cepnz.com

Release Ends.

CEPNZ Supports the call for a ban on the sale of Fireworks

From "New Zealand is ready for a fireworks retail ban":

Guy Fawkes at a glance:

It is about time for all concerned citizens to support a call to ban the sale of fireworks to the general public. Let's face it...laws are put in place when the people fail to act in a civil and responsible manner. The complete disregard for safety by the few (becoming the many) now means that the time has come for the law to further regular the sale and use of fireworks in NZ.

Download a copy of the petition HERE and gather signatures to present to the government. When your pages are complete, send them to Fireworks Petition, CEPNZ, PO Box 20-616, Glen Eden, Waitakere City 0641.

CEPNZ withdraws support for Rotorua Truant-Free-Zone
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE 12th July 2006
See Scoop

In October 2005 the Rotorua District Council launched a truant-free-zone poster for use in their CBD. At first, the CEPNZ was pleased that the council had taken up the resources purchased by five Rotorua schools before that date and we supported this district wide initiative. It turned out that this was not the case.

In communicating with the council it was found that this was an initiative developed by local authorities, Retail Rotorua, government and non-profit organisations and that CEPNZ resources were not used and therefore, there was no reason to mention the CEPNZ.

After requesting a copy of the poster used in the Rotorua CBD Truant-Free-Zone, it was our belief that the wording used on their poster (developed by Retail Rotorua) was a near copy of the wording used on the original poster designed by the CEPNZ eighteen months before the Rotorua 'launch'.

Judge for yourself
Poster wording comparison:

This fact and the comparison was put to each of the Ministers responsible for the logos displaying their support for the Rotorua poster. It was also suggested that if the Ministries of Police, Education, Local Government and Social Development would like to continue displaying their logos on this poster and showing their support that they might like to show their support for the original posters and truancy resources developed by the CEPNZ or buy the CEPNZ anti-truancy resources so that they could have the rights to this highly successful, nation-wide programme.

The reply from the Minister of Education was that they were not interested in buying the CEPNZ truancy resources but they would advise Retail Rotorua to change the wording of any future production of their posters.

Has the horse not already bolted? The Rotorua district has had much media coverage of their campaign and refer to a 'pilot scheme' in the Owhata and Te Ngae shopping areas in 2004. Is it a coincidence that Owhata School had purchased a copy of the CEPNZ Truancy Resource Pack on the 1st February 2004 that contained our original poster? This school was within their rights to duplicate our poster and use it in their local shopping area but these rights did not include the near duplication of our wording by Retail Rotorua without the mention of the CEPNZ.

Therefore, the CEPNZ has withdrawn its support for the Rotorua truant-free-zone 'initiative' as hundred of schools throughout the country and two district councils have purchased the CEPNZ truancy resources for use in their districts and the rights to duplicate our posters in establishing truant-free-zones in their shopping areas.

MEDIA RELEASE ENDS

Additional Note: At the same time as offering the Ministry of Education the rights to the CEPNZ Truancy Resource Pack, we also offered them the full rights to our successful ZT Bully Pack to save them from spending millions on re-inventing the wheel. This was also declined. Further comments on this news item can be seen on the CEPNZ Blog.

If you would like to be a part of the growing number of schools and regions using the CEPNZ Truancy resources, see our Terminate Truancy 2006 initiative.

CEPNZ has Answer to Text Bullying.
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE 18th May 2006
See: SCOOP

The "ZT Bully Pack" developed by the CEPNZ (Character Education Programme of NZ) is now being used by 205 schools throughout the country. This resource, launched two months ago, helps schools to develop a school-wide policy of Zero-Tolerance (ZT) for bullying and methods to catch and eliminate text-bullies within their community.

The CEPNZ believes that schools that completely ban mobile phones from their grounds will not have any effect in reduce text bullying. The ZT Bully Pack provides schools with the resources needed to record, monitor and catch text bullies.

Schools can not turn a blind eye to what is becoming a major problem in our society by eliminating mobile phones from one area of the community. In effect it is the same as saying "Well, it didn't happen during our watch!" Text bullying will still continue unless schools take action to regulate the use of mobile phones instead of banning them and develop monitoring processes as outlined in our resources.

The CEPNZ is not funded by the Ministry of Education and schools are required to pay about the same price of a music CD for the use of the ZT Bully Pack through their school.

As the CEPNZ Truancy Resource Pack (used by over 25% of schools) has proven its effectiveness in reducing truancy and non-attendance, we hope that the ZT Bully Pack will eliminate bullying from our schools in the months to come. For further information, please see our website: www.cepnz.co.nz/bully.html.

MEDIA RELEASE ENDS

Winning the War against Truancy.
Scoop
Wednesday, 15 February 2006
Press Release: Character Education Programme of New Zealand

Over twenty five percent of schools throughout the country are now using the CEPNZ Truancy Resource Pack released two years ago.

A recent survey has shown that all schools that have fully implemented the strategies contained on this resource have had a reduction in truancy and non-authorised absences.

The key to the success of the Truancy Resource Pack (TRP) lies not only in the enforcement of attendance regulations but in the formation of a working relationship between the school and its local community and the use of the CEPNZs’ online truant reporting system.

Shop owners from one end of the country to the other are displaying our “No Truants” poster and have been supplied with information on how to keep an eye out for and report suspected truants. Also according to the survey, the introduction of these posters has been warmly received by retailers as they act as a deterrent for would-be youth offenders and shoplifters.

Through the CEPNZ “Terminate Truancy” campaign, it is hoped that all schools, business associations and district councils will see the benefits of these privately developed resources and introduce them to every region of the country. When this happens, we will see a marked decrease in youth offending and an increase in student attendance as both parents and children alike realise that in our country, we understand the importance of education, we respect the law and we recognise the responsibility of ensuring that every child takes advantage of their opportunity to learn.

If parents think they can take their children on a holiday now that school is back, they must realise that non-authorised absences are the same as parent-endorsed truancy. They are helping them, through their example, down the path of disrespect for authority and the law. Make sure kids get the education they have a right to…ensure they are in school.

Letter to the Editor, New Zealand Herald
School Attendance
From Stuart Macmillan,
CEPNZ
Published 16th August 2004

The comments of your columnist Tapu Misa (NZ Herald 11/8/04), reflects the type of attitude that is prevalent in our society today. This "so what?" mind-set over the importance of school attendance obviously stems from the "she'll be right" mentality of the '70's.

In fact, these comments display a lack of respect for the law which states: "Children are legally required to be enrolled at, and regularly attend, school between the ages of six and 16. Parents and caregivers can be prosecuted if they do not meet this requirement."

This type of attitude displayed by adults, in the home and in the media, impacts upon the values system developed by the child. This is why we have such widespread truancy and anti-social behaviour in our youth that our schools and community have to cope with.

Yes, travel broadens one's horizons but we have four school terms and four sets of holidays during which parents can take their children on these excursions without breaking the law or affecting the routine of the child or the school.

It is about time that the 'jet set' realises the influence their actions are having before future governments adapt the same stringent laws as the UK of instant fines.

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE 5th August 2004

CEPNZ: Leading by Example
Thursday, 5 August 2004, 10:40 am
Press Release: Character Education Programme of New Zealand

(See: www.scoop.co.nz)

In response to an outcry from the Libertarianz Spokesman For Education Deregulation, Peter Osborne, the CEPNZ stands by its position to make Character Education a priority for NZ schools.

"Schools have purchased our resources by their own choice through their own operations funds and while the Government provides the money (through our taxes) for the state education system, we have always sought ways to make it easier for schools to access programmes like ours. To those schools that have found their funding stretched to its limits but have wanted our programme, we have supplied it to them for free." says co-manager of the CEPNZ, Stuart Macmillan. "We will never compromise our own principles in any dealings with the Ministry of Education or allow any 'political correctness' to water down our message. We only seek a better way to make our resources available to all schools that would like to have them by choice, not force."

The development of good character and virtue by the individual is and always will be a matter of choice. But where the individual is left to "formulate their own moral standards", as Mr. Osborne puts it, without guidance, we end up with a society that lacks in empathy, personal responsibility and respect for the rights of others within our community.

As Mahatma Gandhi said, "You must not forget that man is essentially a social being. He has risen to his present status by learning to adjust his individualism to the requirements of social progress. Unrestricted individualism is the law of the beast of the jungle. We must learn to strike a mean between individual freedom and social restraint. It could be done by self-discipline. If the individual did not discipline himself the state would try to discipline the individual, and too much official discipline kills democracy." But while elements within our society continue to choose not to discipline themselves and act in a socially acceptable and responsible manner, official discipline is a necessity. If we were a nation of citizens that exuded good character, there would be no need for official laws, as they would be observed by natural order.

This is the reason why the CEPNZ was formed in the first place - to provide the guidance by which each school and community can create its own environment in which the development of good character by the individual can be nurtured and anti-social behaviour can be eliminated by the individual through individual choice. If Mr. Osborne would have visited our website (www.cepnz.co.nz) he would see that we stress that the parents are and always will be the foremost moral educators of their children but schools are a microcosm of our society and that if neither the home or the school environment is conducive to the development of good character, the morality of society will continue its decline.

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE 3rd August 2004
(See also: www.scoop.co.nz)

CEPNZ: Providing Character Education for schools

Since the beginning of 2003, the CEPNZ has been providing resources and guidelines to schools for the development of a Character Education Programme within their identity. Although the CEPNZ does not promote political agendas, United Future has been the only parliamentary advocate of our view that Character Education is the only answer to help our children to develop attitudes and values that are consistent with the universal principles we call virtues (honesty, responsibility, integrity, respect, etc). This is in accord with the 1993 Curriculum Framework.

Character Education is not about adding another subject to the curriculum. It is about creating the right environment within the learning environment in which the principles of good character are expected, emphasised and esteemed. You only need to look at youth statistics to see that the only way in which a change for the better can be brought about is through a change in attitude within the individual. This is not possible if neither the home or school environment is conducive to the development of good character.

In a report commissioned by the Ministry of Education in 2003, John Church of the University of Canterbury outlined what he found to be the causes and effects of anti-social behaviour in children. In this report, it is stated: "A number of studies have shown that, prior to school entry it is possible to halt antisocial development and accelerate prosocial development in 75% to 80% of antisocial children." The report goes on to say that as the age of the child increases, the effectiveness of intervention decreases. The CEPNZ believes that Character Education is a life-long process that needs to be emphasised from pre-school to high school in order to be effective and this is why we provide resources that can be used in the home, the kindergarten and the school.

We have approached the Ministry of Education on many occasions to seek ways in which we could work with them to establish Character Education in all NZ schools but all communications have been fruitless. Therefore schools have had to procure these resources for themselves. There are now 72 schools and 13 Early Childhood Education Centres, from one end of the country to the other, using the Character Education resources of the CEPNZ. Before the end of this year, we perceive this figure will rise to over 100 educational establishments proving the demand from parents and educators alike for values or virtue based education.

For further information, please see our website: www.cepnz.co.nz.

MEDIA RELEASE ENDS

MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE 9th June 2004

See also: http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/ED0406/S00039.htm

FREE TRUANCY RESOURCES FOR WAITAKERE SCHOOLS

In response to the article published in the Western Leader (June 8th) relating to the ongoing problem of truancy in the Waitakere, the CEPNZ announces that it will supply every school in the Waitakere District with free access to its Truancy Resource Pack.

The CEPNZ (Character Education Programme of New Zealand) had been developing resources to assist schools to combat truancy since November 2003 and made the privately developed "Truancy Resource Pack" available to schools in January 2004. By late March this year, this Pack was enhanced with the launch of the CEPNZs online Truancy Database to its members. Now, over 165 schools (including 3 in Waitakere) and associated Truancy Officers throughout NZ have access to these resources.

As the CEPNZ is a private organisation, every school wishing to use our resources to date has had to purchase our Pack through their Operations Grants. "Today, we wish to show our support for our local community and make a stand against the constant problem of truancy by providing all schools in Waitakere with access to these resources for free" says Stuart and Elizabeth Macmillan, Co-Managers of the CEPNZ.

Schools will be able to access the online version of this Pack which includes resources for schools to assist them in areas of attendance, full guidelines and support, posters for the schools and retailers, access to the CEPNZ's online truancy reporting system and the online truancy database.

These resources will be accessed on the Internet through the CEPNZ's website (www.cepnz.co.nz) and all schools wishing to gain free access are asked to contact the CEPNZ for their access codes by email (to admin@cepnz.co.nz) with their full details or write to CEPNZ, PO Box 20-616, Glen Eden.

For further information, please see our website: www.cepnz.co.nz.

"Together, we can make a difference."

MEDIA RELEASE ENDS

MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE 6th June 2004

See also: http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/ED0406/S00028.htm

Character Education Programme of New Zealand (CEPNZ)
PO Box 20-616
Glen Eden
Auckland

CEPNZ FILLS GAPS IN LACK OF GOVERNMENT RESOURCES

To reduce youth offending, calls were heard last month from ACT Education Spokesman Deborah Coddington and Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft for the Government to establish a National Truancy Database.

"Judge Becroft's comments at the New Zealand Principals' Conference in Rotorua … are welcome. There is no doubt that youth crime is the inevitable counterpart to long-term truancy," Miss Coddington said.

The Ministry of Education has been aware that the CEPNZ (Character Education Programme of New Zealand) had been developing resources to assist schools to combat truancy since November 2003 and made the privately developed "Truancy Resource Pack" available to schools in January 2004. By late March this year, this Pack was enhanced with the launch of the CEPNZs online Truancy Database to its members. Now, over 165 schools and associated Truancy Officers throughout NZ have access to these resources. This system addresses the problem of non-attendance from the perspectives of the personal responsibility of parents and students, and the social responsibility of the business community under the direction of the local school.

As the CEPNZ is a private organisation, every school wishing to use these resources is required to purchase our Pack through their Operations Grants for less than $40 or gain immediate access if they have purchased our main resource, The Character Education Programme. The CEPNZ has offered the Ministry of Education, time after time, the prospect to work in cooperation on the expansion of these resources but all correspondence to date has been ineffective.

The stance of the CEPNZ is that society must not wait for the Government to solve our problems and, invariably, they never will. Truancy is just one of the areas that need to be addressed but it is no less or more important than dealing with the disturbing rate of dishonesty, disobedience, crime and violent behaviour displayed by a growing majority of our youth that threatens the very foundation of our society.

This is why the CEPNZ was formed in the beginning of 2003 after two years of research and development. The solution lies in focusing our attention on the importance of teaching, promoting and advancing the development of good character in our youth at home, in early childhood education centres, at schools and on the sports fields. What children learn in the home and in the classroom unavoidably shapes their character and affects their development. There is no other alternative than to teach our children the basic virtues such as responsibility, honesty, respect and the advancement of pro-social behavior and schools, as microcosms of society, have a very important part to play by encouraging and supporting this development.

Our Government has been unable to meet these needs but the CEPNZ will continue to provide the resources our community and schools require to create a better future.

For further information, please see our website: www.cepnz.co.nz.

MEDIA RELEASE ENDS
Signed: Stuart & Elizabeth Macmillan, Co-Managers, CEPNZ, Email: admin@cepnz.co.nz

Letter to the Editor of Sunday Star Times
Written by Stuart Macmillan
CEPNZ
Partially published on 6th June 2004.

At the CEPNZ, we fully agree with the actions taken by Rutherford College regarding the short suspension of a pupil with a "Lummis" haircut.

Mr. Edmeades should be commended for his stand to promote the "right sort of values". What the proponents of the Human Rights Act fail to point out is that with rights come responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is for each individual to persue goals that are in harmony with commonly held standards of a decent society - the type of society that we are falling away from with the persuit of individualism and hedonism.

What I believe that Mr. Edmeades is emphasising is not just a particular hair style but that how a person looks, dresses and acts reflects on a individuals personality or character. It is an outward sign of a persons attitude to life and a reflection of their personal pride.

Schools have rules just the same as our country has rules and these rules must be respected by the students and their parents. If a student is encouraged to break these rules whilst at school, what can we expect from them when they move out into the "real" world? We don't want robots "towing the line" but we do want our children to grow into responsible, respectful, contributing members of society.

On a different case but under the same subject, this also will not happen if parents lead by example and forget their "responsibility" to pay school fees and then expect their children to have the "rights" to attend school balls.

Principal's Words Strike Blow For Commonsense
Monday, 24 November 2003, 4:23 pm
Press Release: ACT New Zealand
Dr Muriel Newman

ACT New Zealand Northland-based MP Dr Muriel Newman today congratulated Hibiscus Coast Intermediate School Principal Carl Becker for speaking out about naughty children.

"Mr Becker has thrown political correctness to the wind by stating the obvious - that most naughty children need clear behavioural guidelines and firm parenting, rather than behavioural disorder diagnosis and medication," Dr Newman said. "While Mr Becker would be the first to admit that a small minority of children are, undoubtedly, in need of medical help, the greater need for most naughty children is to be taught how to behave.

"With a strong value system which teaches right from wrong, obedience, respect, kindness and reward possibility, children are well-equipped to cope with whatever difficulties life throws at them. Without such values many will falter.

Mr Becker is promoting a commonsense approach by not only encouraging parents to invest in their children - rewarding good behaviour and delivering consequences for bad - but also reinforcing it with a character education programme at school.

"His words should be heralded as a strike for commonsense and freedom, in the face of a society which is increasingly hidebound by political correctness," Dr Newman said.

Copyright (c) Scoop Media

From: http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0311/S00476.htm

CEPNZ Note: Hibiscus Coast Intermediate was one of the first three schools to take up our Character Education Programme through our Starter Pack CD-ROM.

Teaching values returns to our schools

Source: NZ Herald, 11th March 2000
By THERESA GARNER and BRONWYN SELL

New Zealand children are in danger of growing up morally bankrupt unless schools take a stronger role in developing the character of children, experts say.

Worldwide, the movement towards "values education" is gaining momentum because of the belief that schools should not just help students get an education and qualifications, but help them develop a code for living.

Many New Zealand schools run their own values projects, and a number of values-education groups are operating independently, all with different ideas on how values should be taught.

Some believe there are core ethical values - like honesty, responsibility and respect - central to all cultures, while others think communities should come up with their own values. There is also conflict over how values should be passed on to children.

The country's education standards watchdog, the Education Review Office, says it is vital that schools have their role clarified.

Its chief, Dr Judith Aitken, says that nationally, and in many of the country's homes, there is no clear understanding of what is appropriate behaviour.

"We are at a point, particularly if we compare New Zealand with other countries, where we have exposed ourselves to the risk of moral bankruptcy."

 
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