Onus on schools to do better with diverse kids
REGARDING the exclusion from school article, I have a grandson in the same position. I have read that the majority of children and youth with autism are facing the same situation (ODT, 28.4.21).
The education system’s solution is to home school, but is this in the best interest to those being forced into this? To those who want friends, who want to learn, who want to participate in woodwork, languages, sewing and so on?
What are the schools doing to support those with diverse needs?
Children and youth with diverse needs are facing the consequences at school as the majority of them are being teased and bullied constantly. Teachers are turning a blind eye, but if the child retaliates, they are stood down or excluded.
It is time this country faces reality — diverse needs make up a huge percentage of our community.
Schools and teachers need to be educated on how to support and encourage diversity and the positives it brings rather than focusing on the negatives. The sooner diverse needs are accepted and schools are educated the better off the schooling system will be.
We are educating and raising our future citizens, employees, employers.
Why should these children eventually have to be home schooled because schools won’t take the opportunity to raise awareness and acceptance, and embrace education on diversity?
I thought every child has the right to an education they deserve.
Lynley Flett
Mosgiel an announcement that a company was about to build a solar farm which would power 8000 homes. There is also huge developmental capacity in tidal generation, which is not subject to the vagaries of wind and sun generation.
In 2024, with the NZAS closure, the Manapouri Scheme, which produces 13% of NZ’s total power production, will feed into the national grid.
In preparation for this, the lines companies are at present doubling the lines capacity to transfer the power north.
Unfortunately there will be major transmission loss by the time the power reaches northern users and that this loss will also apply to any Onslow production. It is my understanding that this loss is up to 33%.
With climate change affecting weather patterns, rainfall constancy is problematic and this year is about 60% of normal. With this trend likely to continue, it could be that for years in a row there will be no spare water to pump up to Lake Onslow.
Another consideration is the fact that the power consumed in pumping the water up to Lake Onslow considerably diminishes the net power gain from the scheme.
There are also significant negative ecological effects if this scheme goes ahead; both in the likely environmental damage caused by a lake, which when harnessed for power, may reduce the landscape to a muddy flat, as well the damage to what is a significant New Zealand trout fishery and recreational area.
Considering the significant negative effects of this proposed scheme, I consider it illadvised for the Government to proceed with this business case and that the
$30 million would be better spent on looking at schemes with less environmental and financial negatives.
Russell Read
Roxburgh ..................................
BIBLE READING: Lord God of Heaven. You are great and we stand in fear of you. — Nehemiah 1.5.
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