Posts by Paul Williams
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Hadyn,
Would it've killed you to mention this?Just quietly, just seethingly, ragingly, furiously, loathingly-albeit quietly, can someone please tell me why the hell NZ supported capitulated on John Howard's candidacy for the ICC (and don't dare tell me it's politics, he was rejected by the voters of Australia and by the good residents of Bennelong yet embraced by NZC?)
Now that I've got that off my chest...
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So far as I can see, nothing in the discussion warranted some of your responses. I'd like you to show more respect to others here, even when your ideas are challenged.
I tuned out when Gordon's argument started to resemble a sermon. I likes expertise, I dislikes zealots.
TOUGH ON EDUCATION. TOUGH ON THE CAUSES OF EDUCATION.
Fuck that's funny. Just goes to show, you really can't skip a single comment here.
A private school obviously will teach for money. They are a money-making entity. That is what they do.
I don't think all private schools exist only to make money, however. My nephew went to Sacred Heart in Auckland, everything I've seen of that school convinces me it's a damn fine institituion committed to turning out kids with solid values and a commitment to public life. It's also pretty damn expensive. I'm not disagreeing with the general point being made, I just think some private schools remain genuine educational institutions. In this respect I agree with Sam F and Gio's subsequent comments.
Thanks,the back is comimg along nicely now that the plants are settled. I'm going for a jungle :)
You're in Wellington with that garden? That'd be one of them micro-climates right? Which reminds me, doing some leafleting at the last election, in around the south side of Karori or possibly Wilton, I discovered what appeared to be a permafrost... in November... jasus!
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It was also a way of the then National govt taking less responsibility for public education. Thankfully we had a change of government and the madness disappeared.....until now!
Tony, thanks for this very detailed explanation of bulk funding and particularly for noting the top-ups paid to early adopting schools and schools that lost under the formula. I do wonder if bulk funding isn't back on the agenda; National never ceased promoting it, they simply lost an election. Moreover, some of bulk funding's most ardent extra-parliamentary supporters are now in National's caucus ie. Alan Peachey. Note that Peachey wasn't on the cross-party committee either.
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Seems entirely plausible. There are advantages for the Nats of having tame nutters at hand.
Particularly when the nutters do such a poor job of developing their ideas...
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What shocked me about the paper was the flimsy nature of its "research". If I had time, I think I'd have a good chance of spotting the copy and paste direct from a coupe of lobby groups.
I don't recall vouchers being a big deal for National, ACT definitely but not National - their preferred arrangement was bulk-funding - so I'm not surprised the report's so weak. Maybe Key doesn't want a strong case for more radical reform when the National Standards matter is festering away. Maybe he wants this report to be a lightning rod so he can reintroduce bulk-funding?
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...the giovernment...
OMG! it's all too late then,
he's taken over everything!Cue ethnic stereotype... It'll never last...
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Sofie, I agree. The response has been very muted. I'm surprised too...
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its the purity of the system that counts, not common sense reality.
Precisely. I'll read this report with interest. I'd previously debated this issue with Deborah Coddington who surprising conceded exactly this, saying:
Paul, there’s no guarantee that vouchers would improve education “outcomes”, and that’s not why I support them, although Swedish and Dutch research shows that is a result. But other factors contribute to successful education outcomes, for instance parental involvement, teacher expectations, etc. I support vouchers because I believe all parents should have choice, not just those who have the financial capacity to buy or rent a house “in zone”.
My understanding is that the Swedish school system was centralised and homogenous with few independent or non-government schools. Perhaps in this context, a voucher system would help develop diversity and responsiveness but context is everything and the NZ school system is incredibly diverse and decentralised.
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No it's not, Steve -- perhaps Nigel could be extended the same presumption of good faith as Mikaere and Chris Dempsey? Or myself, for that matter?
You got elected to something Craig? Dude, if you're standing for popular election to anything you've got my vocal, but possibly counterproductive support... it was like National Party office bearer yeah... can't help there...
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Hickey's comments surprised me but they read genuine.
Remember Key's pre-election migration lament? "Wave goodbye to higher taxes, not your loved ones"? Doesn't quite ring true now yeah? Employment's growing strongly again in Australia, expect to see PLT departures pick up again. Hickey could well be correct.