Hero photograph
 
Photo by Rob Rush

Message from the Principal

Rob Rush —

Kia ora, talofa lava, greetings everyone!

Back in the 1990’s, I can remember thinking to myself,  “what  career shall I choose?”   I would imagine there are many other young men and women leaving high school faced with the same tough decision today. 

For a multitude of reasons, I decided to follow in my father's footsteps and become a teacher.  Teaching was generally seen as a well respected, appreciated and solid career choice and I was both optimistic and excited about entering the profession.

Thinking back to when I landed my first teaching position in Christchurch, the job was similar but different to what it is like today.  Children are the same today, schools are still the hub of their respective communities, but society has changed and technology and access to information has made the craft of teaching so much different.

Channels of communication between home and school was also limited back then.  I didn’t have a laptop, nor an email address and unless parents came in to visit me, the only other main source of contact was via a handwritten note.  Upon reflection, the shift in education over the past 20 years is phenomenal which means we have had to adapt accordingly.

Teaching and principalship has taken me from Christchurch to Taihape, to Timaru, to Te Anau and back to Christchurch again.   I’ve had opportunities to travel internationally as well. This is an awesome career that has continued to be challenging yet so rewarding and I am very grateful for the experiences and opportunities I have gained so far.  I have made lots of friends and built a fantastic network of colleagues,  but, I have also seen some incredible teachers and principals enter the job and leave a few years later........ this saddens me.

We need to attract the best of the best into teaching and keep them here. Our children deserve it.    This is why yesterday’s strike action had to happen.  We know it was a huge disruption for you and our students, but the reality is, we are facing a potential crisis of losing great teachers and principals in the future and we really don’t want this to happen.

I am full of admiration and respect for the way our Clearview teaching staff educate and help grow your precious children.  I see the countless hours and worry they put into their students on a daily basis and I acknowledge and thank them for this.  My hope is that an agreement can be reached between the NZEI and Government very soon so we can get on with what we love doing.

Thank you so much to the many parents who have shown your support towards this NZEI campaign.  It was uplifting to see some of our families in attendance, supporting our teachers at the rally in town yesterday.

Enjoy the rest of your week and have a lovely weekend.

Nga mihi nui

Rob Rush

Principal / Tumuaki