31 October 2022

Kia ora Mr De Ment

I refer to your official information request dated 30 September 2022 for
an explanation in writing of the entire process of how you became part of
educational materials for our students as part of their learning about
conformity bias. The worksheet to which you refer is from a lesson in a
course entitled ‘Inside the Human Mind’. 

You requested the following information. I have numbered them for clarity
and have responded to each request separately.

 1. Full names of, (including titles and organisations) the earliest originator(s) of the idea of using my name & images as educational resources.

We have decided to refuse your request for information related to the
names of individuals under Section 9(2)(a) of the Official Information
Act. This is to protect the privacy of an individual or individuals
associated with developing the course plan, lesson content and learning
materials. 

 2. What qualitative process happened prior to these resources being printed, as to reduce risk of spreading misinformation and avoid legal fall out.

Your official information request asks about our process to reduce risk of
spreading misinformation and avoid legal fall out. The document you have
requested does not exist. We are therefore refusing your request under
Section 18(e) of the Official Information Act because the document you
have requested does not exist.

I can share with you our standard course planning processes which involves
teachers planning and preparing course materials together, as it does in
every school across the country. In this instance, teachers watched the
Fire and Fury documentary, researched and reported by Paula Penfold of
Stuff Circuit. They believe it shows how people become involved in
specific ideas by consuming content on social media, and how this can
transform into action or physical behaviour. As you have requested, I have
attached the relevant course and lesson plans.

 3. Full names of (including titles and organisation) the approving authority(s) that said that my names & images are OK to be used in this manner.

The information you have requested is not ‘official information’.
‘Official Information’ means any information held by Marlborough Girls’
College or me in my official capacity as Principal. The information you
requested is not held by me in my official capacity, or by Marlborough
Girls’ College, as you have supplied your own name and image in publishing
your own content online. This means that we are able to use your name and
image as a resource for learning, as it is public information. Your
privacy has not been breached. Your online content is a primary and
secondary resource for the ongoing inquiry into history and social
behaviour. I am therefore refusing your request under section 18(g) of the
Official Information Act because, in this respect, no ‘official
information’ is held by Marlborough Girls’ College or by me in my capacity
as Principal of Marlborough Girls’ College.

 4. How many MGC students have been provided this resource.

The number of Marlborough Girls’ College students who have been provided
this resource is 94. 

 5. What time period has this resource been in existence.

This resource has been in existence from 23/08/2022.

 6. Describe all methods of which this resource was distributed (email, print, intranet)

This resource was distributed in print form, and online in google
classrooms on our school intranet.

 7. What were some of the teacher's own 'expected answers' for the background info box under my name. Lessons always have objective, so it is reasonable to think that if the lesson went well for a student, they would have responded as the teacher expected. you get my point.

Your request for the teacher’s own ‘expected answers’ is not held by
Marlborough Girls’ College. 

The purpose of this resource is to support students to inquire
collaboratively into conformity bias and examine their own beliefs and
values. In doing so, they are asked to explore local events, including
school-based situations, where they believe conformity bias may exist.
This resource provides opportunities for students to express their own
views, and examine and debate them in light of present and past events. We
educate students to develop curiosity, be independent thinkers and have
confidence in critical thinking, especially about social media content. 
We aim to ensure they understand the power of free speech and the
importance of living in a strong democracy.  

Your request asks for the teachers’ personal opinions. I am therefore
refusing your request under Section 18(g) of the Official Information Act,
because the information is not held by Marlborough Girls’ College or me as
Principal.

 8. URLs or any other video based resources that were used to educate the students on conformity bias. (YouTube, Names of Docos)

NZ Curriculum
[1]https://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/The-New-...

Fire and Fury [2]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNuDvmrv...

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum [3]https://www.ushmm.org/

Other resources are detailed in the course plan, as requested.

 9. Please also provide me with FULL digital version of any and all resources materials where my name or image has been used. 

The course plan and worksheet are attached as requested.

10. Please also provide me with a digital copy of all resource materials that fall within the Conformity Bias lesson planning, even if that resource does not include my name.

We are incredibly proud of the work our staff are doing in developing
relevant, challenging and engaging learning that builds rangatahi’s
ability to think independently, to be curious and question social media,
and understand conformity bias and its impact on social behaviour. We
encourage exploration of their own and others’ perspectives and our
classes are often places of heated debates. Our community and our country
need rangatahi who will question what is happening around them, who are
able to consider the past and apply their thinking to current
complexities. The histories and stories of the past are often told from
one perspective. We encourage our students and staff to engage with the
discomfort and emotion of difficult histories, both past and present. This
is where empathy, deep learning and strong values and character are
forged. We welcome inquiries about our junior curriculum development and
appreciate the support of our wider community, in particular local iwi and
hapu. 

The course plan and worksheet are attached as requested.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of
these decisions. Information on how to make a complaint is available at
[4]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

If you wish to discuss these decisions with us, please feel free to
contact me at [5][Marlborough Girls' College request email]

Ngā mihi

Mary-Jeanne Lynch

Principal | Tumuaki

__________________________________________________

Mary-Jeanne Lynch – Principal | Tumuaki

[6]MARLBOROUGH GIRLS’ COLLEGE

Te Kāreti Kōhine o Wairau

 

21 McLauchlan Street, Blenheim 7201, Marlborough, NEW ZEALAND

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Damien De Ment <[7][FOI #20707 email]>
Date: Fri, 30 Sept 2022 at 09:30
Subject: Official Information request - Conformity Bias NZ Lesson Planning
and Sense Checking
To: OIA/LGOIMA requests at Marlborough Girls&#x27; College
<[8][Marlborough Girls&#x27; College request email]>

Dear Marlborough Girls' College,

Attached is an image that was provided to me by one of the parents who's
own daughter was given this worksheet.. It is my understanding that in
recent weeks the students were learning about Conformity Bias in NAZI
Germany during the holocaust, and that once that section was covered the
class focused on New Zealand based examples, to which myself and others
were identified by our full names and facial images can you please confirm
this

Please explain in writing to me the entire process of how I became part of
educational  materials for your students, many of whom took this into
their homes.

Please include the following in your response:

⚠️ full names of, (including titles and organisations) the earliest
originator(s) of the idea of using my name & images as educational
resources.

⚠️ what qualitative process happened prior to these resources being
printed, as to reduce risk of spreading misinformation and avoid legal
fall out.

⚠️ full names of (including titles and organisation) the approving
authority(s) that said that names & images OK to be used in this manner.

⚠️ how many MGC students have been provided this resource

⚠️ what time period has this resource been in existence

⚠️ describe all methods of which this resource was distributed (email,
print, intranet)

⚠️ what were some of the teacher's own 'expected answers' for the
background info box under my name. Lessons always have objective, so it is
reasonable to think that if the lesson went well for a student, they would
have responded as the teacher expected. you get my point.

⚠️ URLs or any other video based resources that were used to educate the
students on conformity bias. (YouTube, Names of Docos)

Please also provide me with FULL digital version of any and all resources
materials where my name or image has been used.

Please also provide me with a digital copy of all resource materials that
fall within the Conformity Bias lesson planning, even if that resource
does not include my name.

Yours faithfully,

Damien De Ment

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References

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1. https://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/The-New-...
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNuDvmrv...
3. https://www.ushmm.org/
4. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
5. mailto:[Marlborough Girls&#x27; College request email]
6. http://www.mgc.school.nz/
7. mailto:[FOI #20707 email]
8. mailto:[Marlborough Girls&#x27; College request email]
9. mailto:[FOI #20707 email]
10. mailto:[Marlborough Girls&#x27; College request email]
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