Greens leader goes back to school
In the vein of continuing confessions, Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei fronted up to the principal of her old school with the admission she was a ‘‘chronic’’ wagger, back in the day.
She stopped in to Queen Elizabeth College on Thursday to meet staff, tour her old classrooms and talk with pupils at the Palmerston North school she attended from 1984 to 1986.
With a laugh, she admitted she wasn’t a big fan of school, but said teachers who went the extra mile made a difference for her.
‘‘I was a bit naughty – I was a chronic wagger. But what I used to come here for was that Mrs Hurley was doing debating and speechmaking – and an English teacher, they were really quite amazing and they let me stay.’’
These skills helped in advocacy work, then later law and politics.
Based on her experience she wants schools to be able to help teens find things they enjoy and see direct benefit from, and give them second chances.
The Greens would provide more funds for schools ‘‘immediate needs’’, including to ‘‘ringfence support staff’’ and reinstate programmes to support Maori and Pacific Island pupils. Schools would be funded to provide community-chosen resources for families, such as health services or food for pupils.
‘‘Schools are the place families go the most often, but they can be better if you’re also bringing the families – the parents, into the schools for other things, like adult education and ESOL.
‘‘You’re building a school culture that’s inclusive of the whole family and families that struggle the most... the parents themselves have had bad experiences and are fearful of schools and the kids know that, so we have to break down some of the barriers.’’
New principal Chris Moller agreed the hub concept could have widespread benefits in vulnerable communities. ‘‘The kids are here, and the whanau are here, so why don’t we put the support here?’’