New Zealand Contemporary Learning Tour

Last term we had the privilege of hosting the very first contemporary learning tour to New Zealand. We spent our time visiting 8 schools and early learning across Auckland, Hamilton and New Plymouth.

One of the standout experiences for many of us was how genuinely we were welcomed into each community, it was an uplifting and reverent experience each time it happened. New Zealand is a country where two official languages are recognised and it was beautiful and inspiring to see every person we chatted with intersperse English with Maori as such a natural part of communication. The group learnt a Maori response to the formal welcome which was sung to the welcoming community.

Te Aroha – Love
Te Whakapono – Faith
Me te Rangimarie – Peace
Tatou Tatou e – For us all

Across the week we visited 8 learning communities. Each was unique but all held some common factors which were recognised and discussed at length on bus rides and flights, over dinners and on walks.

All had inspirational leaders who could speak articulately on the vision and what that meant for decision making, prioritising, for culture and for learning at the school.
Not one of the schools had a formal uniform. Students were dressed comfortably and sensibly but in casual clothes.
Not one of the schools used formal prefixes for names, no Mr or Mrs or Sir, many used a Maori term which is a term of endearment and respect similar to Aunty or Uncle.
Maori language was embedded in authentic ways across schools and into the teaching and learning.
School grounds were all open to the public on weekends and after hours and by the afternoon on the public holiday the school playground was filled with children and families enjoying the facilities.
Funding for schools was at most 1/3 of what schools are funded by the government in Australia and often far less than that.
The focus of learning looked different in each school due to a high amount of autonomy and an expectation that schools will develop their own contextualised learning program.

Another joy of this tour was witnessing and being part of the fellowship that was shared and the collegiality that was developed across the week. There were learning communities represented from across 4 states and all 3 regions of Lutheran Education. People were comfortable sharing challenges with each other and conversations would quickly move from superficial to earnest sharing and connection. We are certainly blessed to work in an ecosystem of schools and early learning centres filled with people who are striving together for a common purpose and mission.

One tour participant said “This contemporary learning tour was really inspirational and has given us all perspectives to drive change in our own settings. Our group were really united in their passion to make the lives of students all they could. Above all we were able to share more through great fellowship with like minded colleagues.”

Last Two Contemporary Learning Tours of 2022

The rich cohesive collaboration on the Lutheran Education Contemporary Learning Tours coupled with the showcasing and deep immersions of Contemporary Schooling, enables Lutheran Education to transform as a vibrant sector. Below are some comments from individuals who have attended a Contemporary Learning Tour.

“The learning tour appears in the brochure as a tour of incredible schools, however it is more than this. The leaders/guides provide the participants with time to reflect on the transformative pedagogy in a daily basis and by the end of the week, you will have a deeper understanding of the contemporary journey, the culture and pedagogy the staff and students embrace.”
“The tour offered an assault on my school senses – what I believe schools to look like, sound like, feel like and be like.”
“The tour offered the space, time and conversations that enabled reflection, change of heart, internal and external wrestling, thought, filtering and prioritizing.”
“The tour offers a toolkit of change-makers to take home.”

Sydney Contemporary Learning Tour 7^th– 9^th November

The next Sydney Contemporary Learning Tour is now full. Please contact Andrew Bradtke to see if there have been any cancellations.

Brisbane Learning Tour 20^th – 23^rd November

The Brisbane Contemporary Learning Tour is filling fast! Last days to register. For more information about this tour, please visit the Contemporary Learning Tours website.

Andrew Bradtke
andrew.bradtke@lesnw.edu.au | 0437 818 288