LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
much lower costs and in some cases, no costs.
Without the NZ government bailing out Air NZ and its hell-bent-on-expansionmotivation (the then board drove Air NZ into bankruptcy) the airline would not exist today.
Now we have another board operating in a similar manner. We as taxpayers deserve better service and management than what we are getting .
Good on Shane Jones for sticking it to the board, they deserve no less than replacement . decency to sign your name. Occasionally a nom de plume is necessary. But in your letter’s case it is only a sign of weakness of content or character. Or both! Davis, seems to think that the road to success for part-Maori children is to have them become more Maori, apparently unaware that we now live in a multinational and inclusive society.
There is a serious flaw in his reasoning, and that lies in overlooking the fact that present day part-Maori kids are no different from any other kids.
Mr Davis states that we need to “. . . ensure that all of our children are supported and comfortable at school to be successful.”
If he really means all of our children then perhaps he should consider a child who is naturally non-aggressive being coerced into making threatening gestures towards others, as in the kapa haka. Would that child feel comfortable?
There are so many different cultures in NZ that we must meld into one that is shared by all.
Accentuating only the Maori element of part- Maori children sets them apart from others, not as equals. Let them embrace their full ancestry and in doing so teach them that denying a major part of their heritage does not change reality.
Schools are intended for learning the knowledge necessary to survive in a modern world, regardless of race or ancestry, whereas culture is something that should be engendered in the home.
Unfortunately, Mr Davis, your proposed intention of imposing additional cultural indoctrination is a road leading to failure.
The divisive educational policies that you espouse is only handicapping children — not helping them.
School is for education, home is for culture.