How about a living wage before Easter trading?
THANKS to the ODT for its coverage of whether to allow Easter trading.
It was interesting to hear that Otago Employers Association chief executive Dougal McGowan plans to spend Easter at his bach with his family, and his wife hopes to shop, yet he wants shop workers to work.
If the association is as concerned as it professes about workers needing extra money, how about it: (1) supports paying the living wage and
(2) makes a condition of entry to the association that employers pay their workers a living wage?
Dunedin Venues, a subsidiary of the Dunedin City Council, submitted that because three big events have been booked over Easter weekend, visitors to Dunedin need to be able to shop. Why book three events over a public holiday?
Let’s show visitors to Dunedin that there’s much more to life here than shopping and working.
Sonja Mitchell
Mornington
IF Dunedin has such fantastic shopping that is not elsewhere, use this to our advantage.
Keep the shops closed on Easter Sunday and the potential customers will stay an extra day to shop.
A winwin for the accommodation sector and retail. Peter Buchan
Dunedin
In defence of ACE
AS a 16yearold homeschooled high schooler, being educated by ACE, I must respond to Jean Belchin’s article (ODT Opinion, 9.11.17).
It was, I believe, attacking the Christian faith with antiChristian propaganda.
This article claimed ACE is racist, sexist, forceful, unscientific, uneducational and even abusive. As a pupil who has been using the ACE curriculum for nine years, I can attest that ACE is none of these. It is completely educational, scientific, respectful and beneficial. I would highly recommend it to any parent who wants to give their child a wholesome, thorough and excellent education.
The writer’s words were not based on fact; rather, it was her opinion stated as fact.
ACE is completely moral. It is both historically and scientifically accurate, based only on real evidence. Everything is considered and taught with equal respect and openness towards different views. The theory of evolution, for example, is taught as just that — a theory. Facts are related clearly and accurately.
I personally believe a curriculum as comprehensive and wholesome as ACE can revolutionise the next generation of New Zealand, and influence them to be exemplary citizens and leaders. Aviel Gonen
Mosgiel
I WAS surprised by the tone of Roslyn King, principal of Amana Christian School, in her criticism of Jean Balchin (ODT Opinion, 14.11.17).
‘‘Tinker Tailor Student Spy’’ wrote of the Accelerated Christian Education Curriculum (ACE). The columnist briefly attended such a school and had subjective experience to relate. She did not mention her background or family, which Ms King snippily suggests is the source of Jean Balchin’s objection to ACE.
While it is good to learn the curriculum is more liberal than depicted, she was not writing specifically of Amana School.
Whether the writer, any writer, replaces ‘‘emotive deductions’’ with ‘‘facts, served with generous quantities of grace’’ depends entirely on the nature of the journal for which they work. Alan Beck
Dunedin ...................................
BIBLE READING: Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see . . . By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. — Hebrews 11:1,3.