Charter schools ‘undemocratic’
by
As part of the New Zealand government’s mindless rush to show like minded governments that they too can implement GERM without rhyme or reason, the process of establishing charter schools is underway, in as undemocratic a fashion as it is possible to imagine in the New Zealand environment. Public and expert opinion is being, and will continue to be, totally disregarded in this process. Sadly, this mindset isn’t just restricted to education, and as a result any concept of true democracy is diminishing by the day.
Recently Massey University Professor John O’Neill wrote an opinion piece for the New Zealand Herald newspaper, in an attempt to counteract the main stream media’s lack of attention to the issues around charter schools. John has kindly agreed for this article to be published on this blog. Readers will, I am sure, notice some familiar themes appearing in the New Zealand context.
Allan
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Charter schools ‘undemocratic’
The Education Amendment Bill before Parliament’s Education and Science Select Committee provides for a new type of public private partnership (PPP) school in New Zealand. The Government has gone to considerable lengths to trumpet New Zealand’s first PPP to build and maintain school buildings at Hobsonville Point. It is, however, a lot quieter about the far more radical changes that its Bill proposes for school governance, funding, accountability and teaching quality in its other PPP model.
Allan
——————–
Charter schools ‘undemocratic’
The Education Amendment Bill before Parliament’s Education and Science Select Committee provides for a new type of public private partnership (PPP) school in New Zealand. The Government has gone to considerable lengths to trumpet New Zealand’s first PPP to build and maintain school buildings at Hobsonville Point. It is, however, a lot quieter about the far more radical changes that its Bill proposes for school governance, funding, accountability and teaching quality in its other PPP model.