KASSIE MACKAY | Culture
ANYTHING TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATORS
One conscientious kid is today patting herself on the back, having alleviated Aotearoa’s teacher shortage by skipping school altogether.
Kendall Ryder, 16, prides herself as someone who stands up for her beliefs and takes action when it counts. Today, she feels she has lived up to her values by helping lighten the load carried by her long-suffering teachers.
“I heard mum and dad talking about how there weren’t enough teachers at the schools, and I knew instantly that I could make a difference.”
Ryder decided that instead of showing up to class today, her time was better spent in a gathering of like-minded teens, holding space for the educators in their lives.
“We just you know, we’ve come together, and we’re like thinking about all our teachers and how important they are and stuff.”
Ryder and her fellow activist teens intend to spend the next three days in thought for their teachers. During this time, they will be based in the food court at the local shopping centre.
“We think if they’re not gonna have enough teachers to teach maths and stuff, well we can learn more here than in class,” rationalised Ryder.
Behind her, one supporter ate seven McDonald’s fries. She gave one to her friend, and the rest were knocked out of her hand by a rogue pigeon. If the supporter had only eaten one-third of her fries before giving or losing any, how many McDonald’s fries did she start off with?
To demonstrate their disillusionment with an education system that has failed to adequately train and retain teachers, all the teens will be leaving their uniforms at home and donning mufti clothes instead.
“It’s all about the teachers,” Ryder re-iterated.
More to come.
This story was brought to you by the good bastards at Fat Bastard Pies. Order some of their hefty pies online and have them delivered fresh overnight, anywhere in NZ.
