there is an almost constant discourse in New Zealand that teacher training, especially in universities, is “too theoretical”. Let’s just get back to classroom basics goes the catchcry. (Imagine saying that about engineering – don’t worry about the theory, just get on and build the damn bridge…)

I don't think he understands what teachers are saying when they say university should be more focused on classroom basics than theory. They don't mean "just let us into the classroom without telling us how to teach!"

They mean less: Maslow's hierarchy of needs, behavioural psychology, Piaget's cognitive theory...

More: Practical classroom strategies and tools. E.g. unit and lesson plans, activities, strategies to teach literacy, strategies to teach group work skills, strategies to teach reading comprehension, strategies to increase motivation, tools to help with planning, tools and ideas to incorporate technology... whatever is relevant to your subject area. Basically teachers want stuff we can use more than just the theory behind it all. It was definitely useful to know the theory, but when you're a new teacher that all leaves your mind pretty quickly and it suddenly becomes a lot more useful to have actual stuff you can use in the classroom.