Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Of Monsters and Old Boys

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  • Craig Ranapia,

    And re the private school thing. Three generations of the males in my family were sent to board at Christs College, but it just seemed to make them incredibly miserable. Is it any better these days?

    Possibly not. Then again, would they have been happy anywhere? Sometimes, adolescence isn't that wonderful and hell is oneself and other people no matter where you are.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    Sometimes, adolescence isn't that wonderful and hell is oneself and other people no matter where you are.

    This is the thing, really - I've hardly met anyone who didn't have some kind of beef with the way that school played out for them. Personally, only after I'd been out of school for some time did I realise that others really did have it worse than I did, and shook off the narcissistic need to paint my school experience as uniquely designed to torture precious little me.

    If only I'd realised that whilst I was actually there, I might have been less horrible to others on several occasions. Oh look, a chance to link this again.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    If only I'd realised that whilst I was actually there, I might have been less horrible to others on several occasions. Oh look, a chance to link this again.

    It's time for the odd to get even!

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    Christ's gave away fagging & flogging in the 80s.

    The fag was a 3rd former who served the prefect/7th former & any cannings were given by the prefect.

    I've got a mate whos parents will pay for his son to go & keep the family tradition but he's going state. Absolutely hated his time there and the offer is for their son only, no mention of their daughters education.

    As for Boys' High, I've never come across such a chauvanistic attitude as these students have towards their school. Be proud, sure but these guys are as bad as the old Cantab embankment crowd (complete with pissing in public).

    There are a few quiet achievers out there, Cashmere High has a great music school, Middleton Grange is fundy with a great school community, the list goes on but I won't.

    The real concern is if you live on the West Coast or in Kaikoura, then you have something to worry about. I hope they're being worked on.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Isabel Hitchings,

    My kid goes to a "special character" state school which seems like a far better answer to the "choice" thing than having private schools really.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Among other things, Auckland Grammar has "an investment fund aimed at generating an annual income to be used to attract, reward and retain quality teaching staff", a bequest system, a foundation to hold the donations in perpuity, and they've recently built an Old Boys Pavilion and a new sports facility.

    And you'd think from all that that they're a private institution.

    They aren't, they're wholly owned by the people of NZ, and I for one think sonme of that money should be spread where it's needed.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    They aren't, they're wholly owned by the people of NZ, and I for one think sonme of that money should be spread where it's needed.

    I don't disagree with more money going to all schools, rather than just to some. I'll vote for an increase in school funding to come out of my taxes if it makes a significant difference at the 'coalface'.

    On the other hand, I don't think I'm opposed to schools doing private fundraising of this type.

    If you were to take it off them and distribute it around, it would dry up. No people who have more money than they know what to do with are going to give it to the government in what would essentially be additional voluntary taxes, whereas they will give it to one particular school or project.

    And the schools that don't get such funding aren't worse off as a result of Auckland Grammar getting this money, they're just not any better off. I'm fully in favour of lifting the minimum via a floating lid pushing things up, but I'm not in favour of a lid on top pushing things down.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

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