John Minto has a long and chequered "activist" history. But surely he and the Herald have hit a new low this morning, even by his standards; check this out:
Nearly half of the Government's Cabinet ministers send or have sent their children to elite schools which are unlikely to feel the effects of changes to classroom sizes.A Herald survey of ministers found that at least seven of the sixteen Cabinet ministers with school-aged children sent all or some of their children to private schools. Four ministers refused to say where their children attended or could not respond, and five ministers said they had enrolled their kids in state schools.Education Minister Hekia Parata announced as part of the Budget the new standardised ratio for Years 2 to 10 would be 27.5 students per teacher - up four students per teacher.Critics of the changes to class sizes point out the National-led Government has doubled state subsidies to private schools in its time in charge, allowing them to keep class sizes smaller.Quality Public Education Coalition chairman John Minto argued in the Herald yesterday that ministers had enrolled their children in schools which were unaffected by the proposed changes.
Politicians work hard, regardless of what party they represent. And their hard work and frequent absences from home take a huge toll on their families. Relationships fail at a higher rate than the general population, and we can think of at least two MP's who have lost children to suicide.
To be fair to Minto, his reference to Ministers' children was a small part of a larger overview of proposed education changes. But it was a part that should not have been written, in our ever-humble opinion.
We all have choices. Most of the Ministers in the current Government come from professions which have given them the means to exercise choice with regard to their children's education. By invoking the politics of envy, and by making sly references to Ministers' children, Minto detracts from what would otherwise be a thought-provoking assessment of the Government's education decisions.
21 comments:
Minto shows no sign at all of being 'envious' or 'sly'. Why do you claim he does?
His point is completely valid; that there are significant numbers of politicians who will not personally feel the effects of bigger class sizes because their children are in private schools. They won't be bothered by the effects of national standards either, as private schools are exempt from those, curiously.
Are you seriously suggesting that this article will have Max wishing his daddy hadn't signed up to be Prime Minister?
What tosh.
And how many children of MP's from other political parties go to private schools? Big deal! John Minto needs to learn how to smile. He is so tortured by the success of others.
"...Big deal! John Minto needs to learn how to smile. He is so tortured by the success of others..."
Sending your kids to a private school is a sign of success?
So good to see you agree the National party is busy creating a two tier education system, one for themselves and the "successful" and one for the rest, who are to be given an inferior education then blamed by the author of this bog and all the other smug right wing shithead like you for their own plight?
Thanks for the insight into your thinking Robert. Sadly, we have a completely different view of what's acceptable, and what's not, and I far prefer mine.
Yes, Robert. Anything which uses facts to be even mildly critical of the National Party is totally unacceptable. Pointing out that Ministers are insulated from the effects of their own decisions is the attacking families using the politics of envy! Get with the programme man.
Nice to see you've read my critical-of-Hekia-Parata post Judge.
I think it is a very fair point to be made that the children of the National MPs are unlikely to be hurt by proposed changes to the education system. Would these reforms be being implemented if the children of Cabinet were in the state system?
It reminds me of the time the odious Michael Moore discovered that children of senators were overwhelmingly not represented in the US Army, even though those senators had voted for two separate wars.
You're welcome to think that Alex. And by the same token, I'm welcome to disagree.
The argument that the choice of ministers' childrens' schools is not germane will not wash (as the MSM also recognises). If you implement a policy from the consequences of which you are personally insulated (moreover, furher insulated by deliberate subsidy for the alternative), then you must expect that situation to be discussed.
Mr Key is/was able to send his childrem to the $20k a year (approx) St Cuths and Kings, when he had excellent state schools (AGS and EGGS) on his doorstep. I personally would not wish to remove that option from him but it is evidence of that insulation from the possible adverse impacts of policy settings. His personal choice is unequivocally a political matter (as it would be for me if Labour minister made the same choice).
Really don't see the big deal in sending your kids to a private school. I was sent to one and my parents struggled because they wanted me to get a good education.
Besides Trevor Mallard sent at least one of his daughters to Marsden but Judge and Robert it is ok if one of yours does it eh.
chfr - you miss the point. Labour isn't making the changes that favour the private schools, so their MPs can hardly be compromised on this issue. Nor can the Green MPs, had any of their children attended private schools. National Party MPs who went to or who send their children to, private schools are making decisions that favour themselves and their children. That's the nub of the issue. You missed that.
A recent Green MP sent her son to the same private school my son went to.
Actually many of these kids are at a State Integrated Catholic School - with my kids!
This means all the state staffing conditions apply so it is a non-story.
That said it is an awesome school with stable staff and very sound leadership, it is also extremely diverse and not decile 10!
If there were no private schools, how much extra public funding would be required to provide the additional schools and resources?
Rich pricks' kids being educated on the public purse?
brian smaller - that's not surprising. The greens haven't said that New Zealand children shouldn't go to private schools.
I ask this:
Why is it, people might be wondering, that New Zealand's private schools received a $35 million 'boost' from the National Government, soon after they took office? Why is it, they might continue to wonder, that private schools were not included in National's national standards reforms and don't have to test and report the way state schools do?
Why is it, do you think, that private schools are able to continue to advertise the educational advantages of lower class sizes, while State schools are told that class size makes no difference and that they will have to have larger classes now, thanks to the latest Budget?
It's very odd.
Someone has pointed out that the children of National Party MPs generally attend private schools, recipients of National's largess, schools that are exempt from the austerity measures of the Budget and exempt from the authoritarian national standards regime.
Those making the suggestions that the National Party MPs putting these measures in place might be doing so because they and their children will not be affected by the cuts and extra pressures, are being accused by the commentators of the Right, of being 'envious'.
I suppose they might be a little. Watching one section of society being treated in a privileged way can be irritating, to say the least.
Hekia Parata's Budget stuff-up, where she's gutted the Intermediate schools in one arrogant stroke of her blue pen, shows how haughtily out of touch National ministers have become and how damaging to New Zealand society their self-serving decisions are.
Back to school, all of them. A State school, that is.
Robert you absolutely despise success dont you. If someone is not dependent upon Govt support for their existence they are bad in your eyes. If a parent or parents have worked hard and are prepared to make sacrifices in order to pay for their children's education, the fact that class sizes are smaller, teachers better and in general educational outcomes superior are the reasons for sending their children to these schools.Success should be applauded not criticized and I both admire and respect those responsible minded parents who are willing to put the effort into ensuring that their children get the best start in life through a sound education. Minto is a waste of space, always has been and always will be. His attitude and ideals belong in Stalinist Regimes which, as we all know, are a complete and utter failure. The fact that he is also a teacher makes matters worse because of his ability to install his twisted ideals into impressionable young minds. He should not be allowed anywhere near a classroom.
KS..I am genuinely astounded at this post...Minto is merely pointing out the facts. How does their "hard work and frequent absences from home" come into the equation...at least if nothing else we wan provide them with a superior education? Is that the point you're making? Bit of a SMOG, no?
I'd probably be regarded as a "rich bitch" by some, who was unsuccessful in my bid to get my son into the private school I wanted, despite putting his name down at the tender age of 4. He was tho' at least, numbered in the 300+ waiting list...what does that tell you about state vs private.
"Envious"..Hell yeah I'm envious! My best friend's children are in a private school, that manages to average a 100% NCEA Level 1 pass rate. She however is mortified at how that is achieved...come back in the next day with teachers hovering, pointing out what should be changed or improved...quite different to my son's state school.
Why do we have state education when its not...and never has been required? The private sector was already, and was always able to provide education to all who sought it at a better rate and with better outcomes than the political dumb down system ever managed.
Allan - don't be a pill.
Suz - genuinely astounded? You are right to be. It's because the claims made in the post are foolish and lack logic.
James - don't be a pill.
Robert G - don't be a pill.
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