Up Front by Emma Hart

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Up Front: Another Brick in the Wall

134 Responses

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  • Sacha, in reply to George Darroch,

    They argue rights and love

    and how well do you reckon that approach has been working for disabled New Zealanders?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Sacha,

    I am legallyblind(without my
    aids) and cant obtain any taxpayer funding for a needed cataract
    operation. I have paid literally hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax- and dont resent this at all- BUT having paid for my first cataract op, I'm really pissed off that- in my least-earning stage of life- my nation doesnt come to the party.

    I've been on the unemployed benefit once - for 6 weeks. And yep, I'm a pensioner. All appreciated - and all stuff the Labour Party & the Women's Movement fought for-BUT

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Today The Press has an article on the distribution of SACs funding.

    The school that received the most taxpayer support for its students was King's College in Auckland - 24.4 per cent of its 180 students sitting NCEA exams got funding for special help.

    Nationwide, about 60 per cent of decile 1 to 3 schools made no requests for assistance for their pupils

    So that's a picture of a needs-based system, right?

    If you have to game the system to get help, that help is going to go disproportionately to the schools and families who have the resources and knowledge to do that. In Christchurch, UPT and StAC have more special-needs students than any of the school that have special-needs units? Really?

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • JacksonP, in reply to Emma Hart,

    If you have to game the system to get help, that help is going to go disproportionately to the schools and families who have the resources and knowledge to do that.

    Sacha and I were discussing this today. And the funding goes to... those best able to apply for the funding. Which is NOT a needs-based model. Not even close.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh,

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    Can we get rid of this government yet?

    To replace it with what though? That campaign started in 1999. Labour blocked it all the way.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    Yeah, I know, I asked the wrong question. I should've asked something like "Can we get the petty, narrow-minded, mean-spirited, selfish greed out of our politics? Can we replace it with compassion, tolerance and understanding?" Better?

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    Better?

    Yes. Sadly I don't think it will happen until we start rewarding those qualities.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    I thought this was the right place to post this sad tale of a father who grew pot to fund tuition for his special-needs child. And went to jail for it.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

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