Think I agree with choice based on percieved quality of education etc but not choice based on “our random idea of how the world should be” – that’s just detracting teaching time from the real, core, subjects (as defined by the Ministry etc in set curriculum)

Why should the teaching of non-core subjects (or beliefs) be funded from the public purse?

If a business, non-profit, or religious group can run a charter school and there’s little control over the content, unregistered/untrained teachers or accountability to the Ministry what’s to stop them preaching their view of the world?

Parents not sending their kids to that school. The whole point of these schools is choice.

For all the pandering around about how successful charter schools will be etc, I would listen to what the teachers think – I mean they got into the business for one reason (and that reason wasn’t the money) right? But sure – the PPTA as a whole organisation might have a completely different agenda.

I’m not opposed to greater choice for parents. I do think sometimes parents could do with -less- choice as it’s hard enough as it is.

I don’t understand two aspects of charter schools:

(a) If a business can run a charter school and not be accountable to the Ministry or other mentioned groups what’s to stop the charter school from becoming modus operandi? i.e. “sorry Johnny, you’re not making the grade, we’ve got to let you go buddy, we’ll find someone else who can spell”. Works in the coroporate world well, but it’s not really the best for the kids, is it? Seriously – businesses exist for one reason only – so, do kids = profit? Probably not the way we should be looking at it, I would think?

(b) If a business, non-profit, or religious group can run a charter school and there’s little control over the content, unregistered/untrained teachers or accountability to the Ministry what’s to stop them preaching their view of the world? And why should the general public pay out of the public purse for the views of that business, non-profit or religious group to be seeded in youth?

Charter schools can be a very valuable part of the education system in this country (as they are in so many others).

In it she said:

Education spokesperson Tracey Martin says all those directly involved in education are on summer break – apart from those fixing the Novopay stuff ups – during the entire submission period.

“We must not let this Government destroy our education system while we are all at the beach,” says Ms Martin.

She forgot to add that she voted for this timeframe while sitting on the Select Committee!! I know she did. I have checked.

She is outraged at herself.