Ficino School - New Zealand
Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 11:38 pm
Hi folks.
Glad I have come across this forum as it has given so many answers.
Some comments still raise new questions for me & others answer things well
Now allow me to outline my situation briefly.
My wife & I recently toured Ficino school here in Auckland, New Zealand.
We were impressed with the quality of education supplied on face value.
However a deeper look into the school revealed a darker side after seeing its relationship to sister school St James & also with links to SES & SOP.
I am fairly convinced that I will not be sending my son there at this time, nor my daughter when she comes of age in around 1 year.
I will be honest with you all here, My problem is my wife cannot see nor understand what the heck I am on about.
It is as good a school, if not better than any alternative, (state, state integrated or private) as far as she is concerned.
No worse or no better than a Catholic or Christian based school she says.
My concerns are high. But am I being paranoid?
A lot of what happened is well in the past, & matters regarding corporal punishment have changed so much.
(I understand that for some of you who experienced these wicked events, it is not in the past & the scarring remains a lifetime. I hold empathy in my heart for all of you in that position & hope the scarring continues to heal & your lives improve in a positive manner)
The level of education in the current day is probably ok?
Links to SOP seem to be strong at this school with around (so I am told) 80% of staff being SOP members.
A look at their website http://www.ficino.school.nz reveals that most of the teachers are only Dip Ed qualified.
I mean why would somebody go from being a lawyer to a primary school teacher for example?
I did not see any BoE qualifications there (Batchelor of Education) - a 3 year university course for primary teachers.
While Dip Ed is ok for secondary teachers (I believe), Primary is a whole different realm
The current Principal has no NZ teacher qualification however to be fair it looks like he arrived back from Britain recently (where he did hold teacher Qual) & maybe he is trying to gain that status here in NZ? Of that I have no idea.
Anyway I digress,
What indoctrination still occurs?
How is punishment served or dealt with?
How much so called "spirituality" is pushed on a 5 year old?
Would it be damaging to my child to put them in this school? Even if it was only for 1 year.
I am expecting to be called up for an interview in coming weeks. What questions should I be asking Principal?
MOST IMPORTANTLY: Does anybody here have first hand experience with Ficino school in Auckland NZ & could they please share either here in forum or privately.
In saying all this, I am fairly convinced from all messages I have read on the forum NOT to send my Son here. (However I have an open mind & like to hear all sides)
But like I said, my wife has other thoughts but will compromise by even putting him there for a short time until she finds another school we can agree on.
Any of your comments are much appreciated.
Let it be noted that neither myself, nor my wife, are (nor, ever have been) SES or SOP members, & have no interest in joining or following these organizations.
Glad I have come across this forum as it has given so many answers.
Some comments still raise new questions for me & others answer things well
Now allow me to outline my situation briefly.
My wife & I recently toured Ficino school here in Auckland, New Zealand.
We were impressed with the quality of education supplied on face value.
However a deeper look into the school revealed a darker side after seeing its relationship to sister school St James & also with links to SES & SOP.
I am fairly convinced that I will not be sending my son there at this time, nor my daughter when she comes of age in around 1 year.
I will be honest with you all here, My problem is my wife cannot see nor understand what the heck I am on about.
It is as good a school, if not better than any alternative, (state, state integrated or private) as far as she is concerned.
No worse or no better than a Catholic or Christian based school she says.
My concerns are high. But am I being paranoid?
A lot of what happened is well in the past, & matters regarding corporal punishment have changed so much.
(I understand that for some of you who experienced these wicked events, it is not in the past & the scarring remains a lifetime. I hold empathy in my heart for all of you in that position & hope the scarring continues to heal & your lives improve in a positive manner)
The level of education in the current day is probably ok?
Links to SOP seem to be strong at this school with around (so I am told) 80% of staff being SOP members.
A look at their website http://www.ficino.school.nz reveals that most of the teachers are only Dip Ed qualified.
I mean why would somebody go from being a lawyer to a primary school teacher for example?
I did not see any BoE qualifications there (Batchelor of Education) - a 3 year university course for primary teachers.
While Dip Ed is ok for secondary teachers (I believe), Primary is a whole different realm
The current Principal has no NZ teacher qualification however to be fair it looks like he arrived back from Britain recently (where he did hold teacher Qual) & maybe he is trying to gain that status here in NZ? Of that I have no idea.
Anyway I digress,
What indoctrination still occurs?
How is punishment served or dealt with?
How much so called "spirituality" is pushed on a 5 year old?
Would it be damaging to my child to put them in this school? Even if it was only for 1 year.
I am expecting to be called up for an interview in coming weeks. What questions should I be asking Principal?
MOST IMPORTANTLY: Does anybody here have first hand experience with Ficino school in Auckland NZ & could they please share either here in forum or privately.
In saying all this, I am fairly convinced from all messages I have read on the forum NOT to send my Son here. (However I have an open mind & like to hear all sides)
But like I said, my wife has other thoughts but will compromise by even putting him there for a short time until she finds another school we can agree on.
Any of your comments are much appreciated.
Let it be noted that neither myself, nor my wife, are (nor, ever have been) SES or SOP members, & have no interest in joining or following these organizations.