Category Archives: Education

Christchurch and the election

Posted on 18th Jun, 2014 by Puddleglum

[As an experiment, I’m testing the use of an ‘abstract’ for my posts. Those who don’t want to grind through the long version but would like to know if it might be worth the grind can have an overview of what … Continue reading →

Posted in Earthquakes, Education, Labour, New Zealand Politics, Political Polls, Political Psychology | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Pennies from heaven – or, a ‘Corpse’ Flower by any other name …

Posted on 24th Jan, 2014 by Puddleglum

  The education proposals outlined by John Key in his State of the Nation speech have blossomed spectacularly today – like Auckland’s ‘Corpse Flower‘ – attracting a surprising band of over-awed onlookers. The intent of the education initiatives is clear … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Education, New Zealand Politics, Poverty | 18 Comments

SuPPPer School for Aranui – ‘devil beast’ for all of us

Posted on 13th Jun, 2013 by Puddleglum

Yet another brick in the wall? The Education Ministry’s $41 million proposed year 1-13 super school for Christchurch is set to be funded by the private sector, a document reveals. The document, obtained by APNZ, outlines advice given to Education … Continue reading →

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Varieties of poverty in New Zealand

Posted on 2nd Jun, 2013 by Puddleglum

The debate over various ‘food in school’ programmes is remarkably lively, especially now that the Government is seemingly covering its flank on the issue – and perhaps even attempting to outflank those on the left. In fact, it’s now gone well beyond being … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Education, New Zealand Politics, Poverty, Welfare | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

National Standards and Neanderthals – “They will know what is required …” – Part III

Posted on 23rd Apr, 2013 by Puddleglum

In Part I of this post I outlined the historical context of our modern education system and argued that  National Standards were a continuation of the controlling and directive imperatives of that system. In Part II I described the nature … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Education, Freedom, Human Nature, Human Wellbeing, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

National Standards and Neanderthals – “They will know what is required …” – Part II

Posted on 23rd Apr, 2013 by Puddleglum

[Apologies, but this post is now in three parts, not just two – this is Part II. Part III should be up by the time you read this.] Who’s afraid of National Standards? In Part I of this post, I argued … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Economics, Education, Freedom, Human Nature, Human Wellbeing, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

National Standards and Neanderthals – “They will know what is required …” – Part I

Posted on 7th Apr, 2013 by Puddleglum

“School prepares for the alienating institutionalization of life by teaching the need to be taught.” – Ivan Illich There’s an interesting opinion piece by archaeologist April Nowell in a recent ‘New Scientist‘ – ‘All work and no play: Why Neanderthals were no Picasso‘ … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Freedom, Human Nature, Human Wellbeing | Tagged , , , | 22 Comments

From the ‘Gomer Pyle’ files – Boys’ High Head Trevor McIntyre Resigns

Posted on 12th Nov, 2012 by Puddleglum

Boys High Head Trevor McIntyre Resigns | Stuff.co.nz. [A very short post!] For those who paid any attention to the announcements over Christchurch schools (including my previous posts on the topic), it will come as no surprise that Trevor McIntyre … Continue reading →

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‘Human capital depreciation’ and the Pike River Mining Disaster

Posted on 10th Nov, 2012 by Puddleglum

There are moments when a few words can open up a vista on an entire worldview. The words shoot through the air for a few days like a rapidly fading spark on Guy Fawkes night but, every so often, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Education, Free Market, Human Wellbeing, Labour, New Zealand Politics, Welfare | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The school of hard knocks and ‘the curious incident of the dog …’ – Part II

Posted on 28th Sep, 2012 by Puddleglum

What was it all for? One answer has been given by the Minister of Education, Hekia Parata: The education sector, just like everything else in greater Christchurch, has experienced huge disruption due to the earthquakes. Buildings have been damaged and … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Earthquakes, Education, Human Wellbeing, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments