Jayne Jackson

Anxiety Anxiety is a natural response to something we perceive as a threat. The threat can be real or imagined, think of how you feel watching a scary movie or riding the big dipper at the funfair. Having symptoms of anxiety can affect how we feel physically, and mentally, and how we behave. Many people describe anxiety as a feeling of dread, feeling fearful, worried as if something is about to happen. For short periods, such as the day before a job interview, we can cope.

Until now, the New Zealand Curriculum has focused almost exclusively on the development of technical reading skills. Simply reading for pleasure hasn't been a priority, which makes its inclusion in the draft version of a refreshed curriculum particularly welcome. There is no question that basic reading skills are a necessary component of education. But too narrow a focus on skills alone has not served the children and young people of New Zealand well.

Until now, the New Zealand Curriculum has focused almost exclusively on the development of technical reading skills. Simply reading for pleasure hasn’t been a priority, which makes its inclusion in the draft version of a refreshed curriculum particularly welcome. There is no question that basic reading skills are a necessary component of education. But too narrow a focus on ...