I've been thinking overnight about the news yesterday that a second Christchurch school has decided to put the walls back up in their classrooms and abandon those modern learning barn style spaces that we were doing in favour of going back to the traditional single class.

The school is Shirley Boys High.

And then last year, Rangiora High School did the same thing.

Something that Rangiora High School's principal said struck me.

He said, the results have been a huge shift in engagement, in attendance, in achievement.

It is not what I was expecting. I was expecting a small shift, but it has gone through the roof. It's made a massive difference in everything in the school.

And that reminded me a lot of what the principals and the teachers said after we banned the phones in schools.

Remember that we banned the phones, and suddenly they were saying, well, the difference is huge.

But all we've done in both cases is the obvious thing, isn't it?

I mean, obviously, if you take the phones away from kids, they're gonna be less distracted.

They're gonna learn better, they're gonna talk to each other more, they're gonna play outside more.

And obviously, if you put 30 kids in a room by themselves, there will be less noise than if you have 120 kids in a big space together.

Why is it so hard for us to do the obvious thing?

Why was the Ministry of Education so hellbent on doing the wrong thing?

Because if you listen to educators or everybody else who's involved in this, they will tell you it was virtually impossible to get a school upgrade unless you agreed to take all the walls down and buy in, and yet, obviously it was a really big mistake.

It feels a little bit like the Ministry of Education went through a weird experimental phase that has cost our kids, with everything from classroom styles to weird ways to teach English when they didn't have to do it.

And when common sense would tell you that it wasn't gonna work, why is it so hard when it comes to schooling for us to do the obvious thing?

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Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping spoke over the phone last night.

They agreed to launch a new round of trade talks in their first known conversation since the US president returned to the White House in January.

Asia Business Correspondent Peter Lewis joins the show to discuss.

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Prominent New Zealand leaders are coming together to express their concern about the country’s foreign policy direction.

In an open leader, Kiwi figures including Helen Clark, Sir David Carter and Dr Don Brash are warning the Government against taking an adversarial stance against China as part of an alignment with the US.

It comes ahead of the Prime Minister’s upcoming trip to China.

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the letter.

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Sports Journalist Andrew Gourdie and Oceania Football Confederation Spokesperson Matt Brown join Heather du Plessis-Allan for the Sports Huddle.

Rob Walter has been announced as the new Black Caps coach - how big a loss is Gary Stead for the team?

Super Rugby finals quarter-finals are on this weekend. What can we expect?

And Red Bull have confirmed they will offer Yuki Tsunoda a luxury Liam Lawson was never afforded - “time and support”.

The Sports Huddle discusses all this and more.

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A new option has opened up to Kiwi’s in their end-of-life choices.

New Zealand’s first water crematorium has opened in Christchurch and operates as a more environmentally friendly option than flame cremation.

Christchurch Water Crematorium Director Deborah Richards talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the business.

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The man said to be New Zealand’s most successful cricket coach in history has been appointed coach of the Black Caps.

Rob Walter replaces Gary Stead in all formats.

He is he former South Africa, Otago and Central Districts boss and will take charge until the end of the T20 World Cup in November 2028.

Rob Walter talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about his new role.

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SkyCity has filed legal proceedings against Fletcher Construction.

The casino giant is seeking more than $300 million in damages caused by delays in building the Auckland Central Convention Centre.

Fletcher Construction’s defending itself against SkyCity’s claim for further liquidated damages after already paying a significant sum.

New Zealand Shareholders Association spokesperson Oliver Mander talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the situation.

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