Dr Michael Johnston is a Senior Fellow at the New Zealand Initiative. He leads the workstream on education.
Prior to his time at the Initiative, Dr Johnston held academic positions at Victoria University of Wellington from 2011-2022. From 2020 until 2022 he was the Associate Dean (Academic) in the University’s Faculty of Education.
Prior to his time at Victoria, Dr Johnston was the Senior Statistician at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, a position he held for 6 years. Before that, he was a lecturer in psychology at the University Melbourne and a Research Fellow at Latrobe University.
Dr Johnston holds a PhD in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Melbourne.
Phone: 044990790
While studying psychology, my fellow students and I replicated a famous study conducted by B.F. Skinner in the 1940s. Read more
In this episode, Michael talks to Stephanie Martin about the concerning state of academic freedom policies being developed by New Zealand universities. They examine how several universities' draft policies might actually restrict rather than protect academic freedom, with particular attention to the University of Auckland's Senate recently rejecting their proposed policy, whilst highlighting the need for better legislative guidance and cultural change to protect open discourse in academia. Read more
Only a few days after the University of Auckland’s so-called academic freedom policy was rejected by the university’s Senate, Victoria University of Wellington’s own academic freedom policy has come to light. Victoria’s policy is likely a response to the government’s stated intention to make such policies a condition for government funding. Read more
Dr Michael Johnston talked to Michael Laws on The Platform about New Zealand universities' declining positions in international rankings, discussing factors like funding, research quality, and domestic policies. Dr Johnston suggests that while government funding is an issue, internal decisions by universities, such as introducing compulsory courses on Māori worldview, may also be contributing to their loss of international reputation. Read more
There are reliable links between being bullied at school, poor attendance and poor academic achievement. New Zealand has serious problems with all three. Read more
In this episode, Michael talks to Rachel Cooper, a Resource Teacher for Learning and Behaviour, about the complex challenges facing New Zealand's education system. The conversation covers a wide range of interconnected issues, from classroom behaviour and learning difficulties to teacher training, school governance, and the impact of societal changes on education, while also exploring potential solutions to improve the quality of education and support for students. Read more
In this episode, Michael talks to James about his recent report about the state of academic freedom in New Zealand universities, highlighting concerns about censorship, institutional bias, and self-censorship among academics. Their conversation explores the causes of these issues, including commercialisation of universities and the influence of progressive politics, and proposes recommendations such as new legislation, annual audits, and better training for administrators to protect and strengthen academic freedom. Read more
Curriculum and teacher quality are two essential pillars of any school education system. In New Zealand, both pillars are shaky. Read more
In this episode, Oliver, Michael and Eric discuss the recent elections in two eastern German states, Thuringia and Saxony, where far-right and populist parties like the AfD and BSW gained significant ground, while traditional mainstream parties performed poorly. They explore the reasons behind this political shift, including frustrations with immigration policies, economic challenges, and nostalgia for the former East Germany, while also examining the broader implications for German politics and drawing lessons for other democracies about the dangers of ignoring citizens' legitimate concerns. Read more
New Zealand often reminds me of The Shire, the peaceful abode of the hobbits in J.R.R. Tolkien’s books. Read more
In this episode, Michael and Oliver explore the growing support for alternative political parties in former East German states and its potential impact on German federal politics, particularly regarding foreign policy and international relations. They discuss historical and social factors contributing to this trend, while also examining how these changes in Germany could affect global democratic systems and drawing parallels to challenges facing other liberal democracies, including New Zealand. Read more
Old fashioned crimes, like car theft and burglary, have certain characteristics that can be annoying for the police. For one thing, laws have to be passed to define them. Read more
Prime Minister Luxon declared at last weekend’s National Party conference that the country faces an educational crisis. New data from the Curriculum Insights and Progress Study (CIPS) show that 78% of Year 8 students – nearly four out of every five – are behind curriculum expectations in maths. Read more
As an education academic, I taught the quantitative component of a research methods paper for the Master of Education programme. Most of the students undertaking that qualification were mid-career teachers. Read more
This episode features Michael, with Oliver, responding to and critiquing statements made by Prof Peter O'Connor on RNZ about education policy. Michael systematically disagrees with O'Connor's views on the government's proposed education reforms, arguing that O'Connor misrepresents the reforms and presents false dichotomies between knowledge acquisition and creativity in education To listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more