Hekia Parasite-ata has left me gobsmacked

[98tls]

If parents wanted to they could turn the merging of schools into some sort of adventure for their kids.

The parents are just pissed that they're going to have to make changes in their own lifestyles.

We live in a country that hands out cash to those that produce a child no matter what,i see now that the country is handing out breakfasts for those children,why would those parents ever consider changing there lifestyle"

[Winston001]

For what it is worth, being a Minister of Education is a deadly appointment. Over the last 40 years virtually no Minister of the Education portfolio has lasted in the job beyond the parliamentary term of three years. The exceptions (and my memory is vague) were Phil Amos and Phil Goff. Basically if you are in Cabinet and you get Education...you are stuffed. It is a rite of passage and if you survive you go on to much better things. Both Phil Goff and Bill English are examples.

[Winston001]

I'm not convinced that Hikea Parata is a good Minister of Education but in truth, there has never been a good minister during my lifetime. Or at least that has been the public view.

As for Christchurch they probably don't remember and certainly didn't care when Timaru and Invercargill suffered far greater closures and amalgamations of schools under Trevor Mallard. I went to public meetings where he tried to defend the decisions and promised consultation community involvement etc etc, my wife (not a teacher) as a Trustee engaged in very detailed work opposing the closures but it was all in vain. Invercargill used to have 3 but now has no intermediate schools at all. Zero.

Of course we have sympathy for the people of Christchurch but amalgamating schools when whole suburbs are silent wastelands is simple common sense.

[oldrider]

I'm not convinced that Hikea Parata is a good Minister of Education but in truth, there has never been a good minister during my lifetime. Or at least that has been the public view.

As for Christchurch they probably don't remember and certainly didn't care when Timaru and Invercargill suffered far greater closures and amalgamations of schools under Trevor Mallard. I went to public meetings where he tried to defend the decisions and promised consultation community involvement etc etc, my wife (not a teacher) as a Trustee engaged in very detailed work opposing the closures but it was all in vain. Invercargill used to have 3 but now has no intermediate schools at all. Zero.

Of course we have sympathy for the people of Christchurch but amalgamating schools when whole suburbs are silent wastelands is simple common sense.

+one there Winston, Labour were absolutely ruthlessly arrogant as they swept through the Southern schools, not a murmur from Christchurch back then.

Once everybody got over it and got on with it though all the complaints and fears withered away to nothing the kids themselves just get on with life!

[mashman]

Once everybody got over it and got on with it though all the complaints and fears withered away to nothing the kids themselves just get on with life!

As it is with everything else in life. Our attitude is relied upon in so many ways innit?

[HenryDorsetCase]

If parents wanted to they could turn the merging of schools into some sort of adventure for their kids.

The parents are just pissed that they're going to have to make changes in their own lifestyles.

to a certain extent that is true, but there are very real issues in this town and particularly in the east about roading, bridges, access, delays and things that can make what might seem to be a minor change into a major epic clusterfuck.

Seriously, this is our Vietnam. You don't know man, you weren't here.

[HenryDorsetCase]

We live in a country that hands out cash to those that produce a child no matter what,i see now that the country is handing out breakfasts for those children,why would those parents ever consider changing there lifestyle"

That is appalling. You can't equate these two things though I acknowledge that some of the people affected by school closures are in the low decile areas. But blaming the kids for their circumstances is fucking low, if you don't mind my saying so.

[oldrider]

That is appalling. You can't equate these two things though I acknowledge that some of the people affected by school closures are in the low decile areas. But blaming the kids for their circumstances is fucking low, if you don't mind my saying so.

Sorry but you are adding a little flavour to your post, I do not see anything in 98tls comments that suggests he is blaming the kids!

[HenryDorsetCase]

Sorry but you are adding a little flavour to your post, I do not see anything in 98tls comments that suggests he is blaming the kids!

errrrr. Actually you might be right. Sorry mr tls.