press.co.nz HE SAYS: Charter schools are nobody’s cup of tea. Michael Goodson THE PRESS, Friday, June 7, 2013 A18 Education suffers just to gratify Banks and ACT Charter schools are nobody’s cup The prospect of an all-Maori At pupils’ expense at the educational expense of our It’s different now of tea. They are being imposed on a charter school, immersing the children, funded by the taxpayer, Skilled players’ resistant educational body to students totally in Maori culture, John Banks calls it a victory for solely for the purposes of private I congratulate Wayne Wilson, who gratify an ACT party that in terms is a dangerous illusion, leaving the struggling students – the passing interests profiting. blames hungry children on of parliamentary presence graduates isolated and impover- of legislation allowing the MEGAN RICH parents, for his wise decision to scarcely exists (June 6). ished in terms of the majority establishment of charter schools in Granity select ‘‘dutiful and responsible’’ return timely The schools being subject to culture that surrounds them. New Zealand (June 5). Is it really a rather than ‘‘marginalised and neither the Ombudsman nor the The best Maori education in the victory for children to be taught by No excuse neglectful’’ on the in-utero he idea that two former reached at their worst in recent Official Information Act is world is valueless in Los Angeles, untrained teachers? checklist of preferred parental mayors of Christchurch, years. downright sinister and shrieks – Shanghai or London and valueless Those who have houses Wayne Wilson is right to identify characteristics (June 5). Vicki Buck and Garry There has long been a not begs – the question, just what likewise for our trade with a non- requiring trades people would not the cause of children going to But I suggest he has acquired Moore, should return to suspicion that Moore hankered is going on here? Maori westernising Asia. call it a victory having any old school hungry – dreadful his non-asset-tested, state-funded the Christchurch City to return to the council table, It is shameful and inexplicable The world is an endlessly cowboy walk through their door to parenting – and to point out that it pensioner status living in a TCouncil as councillors is an and his denials, especially those that the Maori Party has complex place. For Maori to wall carry out repairs to electrics, did not happen when he was young different New Zealand, one of attractive one. Between them that came when he had not been supported the ACT charter themselves into a tiny cultural plumbing or carpentry. in the Depression (June 5). He has 6 o’clock closing and limited off- they have 38 years’ experience asked about it, did little to initiative. They have reduced ghetto, in any context, is Let’s call it like it is. John hit the nail on the head. How much licence hours, where there were around the council table, dampen the speculation. But the themselves to National poodles regressive and sad. Banks and ACT have managed is a bag of porridge? no casinos open all hours. including a total of 18 years as direct suggestion that he and and make Hone Harawira more MICHAEL GOODSON through their coalition arrange- ANDREA CHAPMAN BRIGID ARNOTT mayor. Both of them appear to Buck should make a comeback credible by the day. Merivale ment, to introduce a school system Scargill North New Brighton be at a bit of a loose end at the has come from the current non- moment, and that experience of candidate for the mayoralty, how the council should work Lianne Dalziel. She continues to IN A FEW WORDS has never been more needed waver about whether to stand. than now and in the future. One strong element deterring ❯❯❯❯ Perhaps the greatest benefit her is thought to be the notion Good on Marc Krieger for they would bring is some that if she won, she might be sticking up for what he perceives maturity and an awareness of inheriting not only a council not as EQC mismanagement (June 1). the practical realities of the up to the job, but also one as The world, and especially council’s work. One must be much a snake pit as the current Canterbury at this time, need careful not to let the fuzzy glow one has at times been. To avoid more people like Marc – people of nostalgia distort the memory that, she has sought to who are willing to stick their head of the past, but the fractiousness encourage other worthy above the pulpit and question the within the council in the last few candidates to stand too. authorities. SIMON BLISSETT years has been unprecedented. It is dismaying that, far from Although things have being able to find a wealth of ❯❯❯❯ I do not consider foraging in improved since they touched capable people with the skills the red zone as theft (June 1). If bottom a year or so after the first required willing to put their the land owners are not gathering earthquakes, the bitter back- names forward to help the city at fruit etc, it is obviously not biting, strategic leaking and probably the most crucial time wanted. It is such a waste to see general indiscipline have left an in its history, she has had to go produce rotting when someone impression of a body badly in back to the past. None of the can make use of it. need of adult supervision. prominent people, for instance, JANICE HARDY Indeed, it was probably only who made such a hullabaloo political considerations that against the Mayor, Bob Parker, ❯❯❯❯ The Christchurch City Council prevented the Government from and chief executive, Tony is about to cut down 17 gum trees going down the same path it Marryatt, 18 months or so ago in Avonhead Park, mainly in front followed with Environment has so far put his or her name of the houses on Karnak Cres. Do Canterbury (which is now forward for the council. the residents realise that when widely, if grudgingly, The council is badly in need the trees go, they will have a full acknowledged to have improved of new, competent talent. The view of the power pylons and governance at that body). work of negotiating with the heavy transmission lines? Is that As mayor, both Buck and, Government, getting the major preferable to the screening that more particularly, Moore had to projects going, making the the trees provide, which was cope with rows, including blow- finances work and all the rest presumably the intention in the ups with awkward councillors, will be hard and demanding. It is first place? in their time. likely to be beyond the capacity STEPHEN KENNINGTON But Buck, who had been a of well-meaning amateurs such politician since her university as we have had in the past. Buck ❯❯❯❯ The modern All Black may well days, and Moore had the and Moore would be welcome, need a sabbatical; that just makes political nous not to let things but the council needs more and me admire the Meadses and get to the poisonous level they better such people. Lochores of the world even more. HAMISH PETRIE For all faiths and theUniversalCathedral.We Lots wrong I can see clearly now LETTER OF THE WEEK ACCURACY have a safe 21st-century house of As the transitional cathedral takes God for all. I doubt I am alone in being In response to John Robb’s letter What a laugh! shape, there is an opportunity to JIM INSTONE disappointed in the ugly turn in yesterday’s paper, criticising The Press is committed to accuracy. When make bicultural statements. Linwood The Press has taken lately. the design changes of The Press, I have just taken another look at we make mistakes, we will do what we can to put it right, including running a The cathedral roof echoes the First was the ugliness of Al I am surprised at his negative the excellent cartoon in The Press. correction if necessary. A-frame houses made by the Treasures found Nisbet’s May 30 cartoon and the reaction. I had to look at the picture, of We encourage readers to tell us when they Canterbury early settlers. The equally ugly defence of it the Instead of the newspaper’s course, for being Maori I can’t believe we have made errors. Corrections triangular Trinity windows could What’s the bet that during the following days. Then came ugly change of typeface being a read. that you will censor my letter. and clarifications will be published each week in a Putting It Right column. If you represent the taniko designs in hunt for platinum on the Coast layout changes, with overuse of mishmash, I say the opposite, in What a brilliant piece of work. I look forward to seeing Nisbet’s have a complaint, email your concerns to Maori weaving. The tubular roof (June 6), a tree hugger turns up colour and lonely blue open-ended that the print has become much How clever of Nisbet to next work which, I am sure, will [email protected], or write to supports scream out for Maori rare sphagnum moss, an obscure quotation marks with no purpose. clearer. encapsulate all his thoughts show a fat lazy white sheila doing Corrections, The Press, Private Bag 4722, rafter patterns. Celtic designs sandfly or maybe a moa or two. On Tuesday, we had an ugly regarding Polynesians and Maori something similar. After all, it’s all Christchurch Mail Centre, Christchurch ROBERT SIMPSON 8140, or fax (03) 379-1531.