[pinkpiggy]

about desks in NZ schools. Are they just tables or are they like our old fashioned desks with the sloping lids?

I know this might sound like a silly question but here in the UK my eldest son has been given a writing slope. The Occupational Therapist told me the worst things they ever did in schools here was to get rid of the old ones with the sloping lids.

So I was wondering whether I will need to try and buy a writing slope before we come out to NZ?

Any help would be appreciated.

[wiki]

I'd guess at mostly all flat - I never had a sloped desk in 13-odd years of NZ schooling - but someone might have more up-to-date info.

[Cardy]

Hi there my kids all have normal tables and when we were choosing schools and visited a few they all had normal tables . Not the old type desks. They may supply the slopes you could always e mail a school in the ara you are aiming to go to . There very helpful.

Cardy

[pinkpiggy]

Thanks for the replies guys. By sheer coincidence his Occupational Therapist rang today to say she was discharging him. She did however say we can buy the writinig slopes and told me the name. I have now found them for sale for £32.00. So I think I will buy him one and bring it with me - they're not very big so should fit into a suitcase quite easily.

[wanderingoregonian]

glad to here that your son is making progress and has been discharged from OT services. My job takes me to many schools. So far I've noticed a mix of tables and flat desks. While not slanted, yesterday I saw some cool desks where there was a sliding drawer below the desktop that pulled out to reveal the kids stuff. Much nicer than the flip tops where everything on your desk flies off if you try to open it (let alone the squished fingers and kids trying to hide under them...)

Schools have a very different feel to me here. In many of the primary schools I've seen, kids take their shoes off at the door (a quieter classroom with clean carpet is the result), eat their morning tea outside when the weather is nice, and the classrooms often are a row/block of classrooms with outside hallways so every classroom has natural light from both sides and the 'hallway' noise is minimal or just bird noises! Some schools also have mini-pools for swimming class. It reminds me a bit of my old country school I attended in my small Oregon town. I often think, wow if/when I have kids I'd love to send me kid here.

since I'm already off topic :) I'll also add that I've
I also have seen several teachers where FM headset systems. THey wear a boom mic and their voice is amplified via wall speakers. Its good for any kids with hearing loss as well as the other kids being able to clearly hear the teacher over the normal noise of a many moving bodies and good to protect the teacher's voices...

[Kim39]

No they sit crossed legged on the floor. In fact they do this because they spend the majority of their time in school outdoors playing sport so the need for school desks isn't there;)
Cane is still used and the teachers wear mortar boards, and they address you by your surname just like Tom brown school days. Oh yeah they use slates instead of paper;)

School sounds good doesn't it!!!!!

All said with a wink of the eye;)

Seriously both my daughters have normal desks at their respective schools. The last time i saw one was in 1974 when i left junior school.


Kim

[StevieD]

But the play areas for the kids are great - they look fab, and seeing the kids play barefooted is great.

[wanderingoregonian]

The playareas do warm my heart... I even saw a playground with a hammock up in Auckland! And down in Motueka I saw one that had a sign inviting the publis to respectfully use the playground after hours!

[pinkpiggy]

Thanks Kim and Wanderingoregian for the info. All of which is greatly appreciated, mortar boards and all. :laugh

I ordered a writing slope for Joe today. It's great to hear such great stories about the school life in NZ. I'm sure the boys will enjoy it. :roll

[Belmont Babes]

Wow the schools sound fantastic. My two are in a little village school of only 84 pupils. They have a castle opposite with pheasant, deer and horses in the grounds. We are lucky to have this in the UK and I am hopeful that NZ schools won't disappoint.