Free speech
The castigation of councillor Murray Chong for saying what he thinks about te reo is typical of the namby-pambyism rampant in society today. Good on him for exercising free speech - though that doesn’t mean I concur, which I imagine will be the automatic reaction to my lauding him.
I have no doubt a solid but silent section of society agrees with him, just as there are doubtless many who find homosexuality disgusting; who would be glad never again to hear the words Pike River; who regard Mike Hosking as the Messiah; and who regard barking dogs as a scourge on society - which Murray Chong’s cur most certainly is.
I read recently of a skit from John Cleese’s first days in television comedy, where wealthy American ranchers on a cruise were able to choose their cut of meat for that night’s meal. They were then taken to below decks to a pen of heavily bandaged cattle. Imagine anyone laughing today at something so hilarious. Imagine the animal rights complaints.
Freedom of speech is the inherent right to say what you think without fear of societal sanction - or, as has happened here, of reprimand from an L-plate mayor and rebuke from a member of the tangata whenua that the apology lacked sincerity. Steve Jones New Plymouth
Think first
I feel deeply saddened and disappointed by Councillor Chong’s obvious ignorance of Te Ao Maori. If he had more courtesy and understanding he would not have made such deeply offensive comments regarding Te Reo Maori.
He frequently remarks that he ‘says it as he sees it.’ Perhaps it is time that he thought it through first. Mike Nightingale New Plymouth
Education burnout
When I entered teaching in 1959, emphasis was on matching achievement to children’s individual ability. Now New Zealand politicians are turning our world class system into a sausage machine copying Yankee lock-step programmes.
I spent 40 years in the service as a primary school classroom teacher and principal. Before Tomorrow’s Schools, I saw clever children stretched to excellence, average children enabled to reach achievable goals, mid miracles worked on slower children. Borrowed lock-step programmes of work ensure many are bored or humiliated if unmatched to child ability.
Mainstreamed children are ‘dumped’ on classrooms with severely rationed teacher aide assistance, and promised support remains pie-in-the-sky because politicians prefer to fund jails rather than schools.
The honourable profession I entered is now subject to scurrilous criticism from those making ever greater demands on dedicated teaching staff. I believe that teachers feel that they are being reduced to State-paid servitude. For example, ‘‘National Standards’’ - directed from Wellington’s ivory towers while completely ignoring all expertise of NZ Council of Education Research - compels time gobbling statistical records to satisfy political clamour.
Nothing should replace professional attention devoted to children and classroom planning, certainly not slick, imported child labelling, unstandardised for New Zealand.
Unsympathetic political masters in denial are causing burnout of dedicated principals trying to balance limited budgets and rationalise staff workloads. Sweet reason cuts no ice with bossy bean counters. They are ever ready to heap more blame or make fresh demands, further maiming an education system that produces the nation’s golden egg. Graeme Bateman Hawera
Give it back
As the Maori Affairs Select Committee meets again, it is important to keep in mind two important points. The Pekapeka land was stolen: the Crown admits this. But not only was the land stolen, it is still stolen. It’s time to return the stolen property.
By returning this land to its rightful owners, we will demonstrate that our democracy works. One of Parliament’s most important roles is to protect people’s rights.
This often means protecting the rights of those who are swamped by those who vastly out-number them. Dave Owens New Plymouth