Linking welfare to preschool attendance a world first

Posted on 2012-09-17 by Barbara

Update 5/10/12: Make a submission: Reject compulsory Early Education for 3 year olds

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Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Natalie Slade

Experts believe the Government’s decision to tie welfare benefits to children’s preschool attendance may be unprecedented in the world.

University of Auckland sociologist Maureen Baker and retired Massey University professor Mike O’Brien, who have both written books on international welfare reform, said they were not aware of any other country that had tried the idea.

The new policy, which will halve parents’ benefits if their children don’t attend preschool for at least 15 hours a week from the age of 3, has come under attack across the spectrum from Labour on the left to the Christian-based Maxim Institute on the right…

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From the Smiths:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated 16 September 2012: Life for Those Left Behind (Craig Smith’s Health) page 6 click here

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Needing help for your home schooling journey:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

https://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

https://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational:
https://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

Comment on post TVNZ: Goodbye Mr Smith

Posted on 2012-08-15 by Barbara

Have you listened to

TVNZ: Goodbye Mr Smith

Read this comment Gregg Smith says:

This is a serious problem in New Zealand public schools. After the show was aired, I received information from teachers all over New Zealand with similar experiences.

The problem is not limited to the schools: The support agencies (Ministry of Education, ERO, PPTA, Employment Relations Authority, Human Rights Commission) are also largely ineffective in dealing with the abuse going on in schools, This is true of abuse inflicted on TEACHERS, so I can easily imagine that students find themselves in a completely hopeless situation.

If you’d like more information, the entire horrific story is in my book: “Bring Me the Head of the NCEA!” http://www.veritasbooks.co.nz. You can order it on-line. It’s a description of how I tried to deal with the abuse and how I was unable to find any effective help in dealing with the organised student and parent campaign to drive me out of my job. That campaign succeeded and cost me my job and my teaching career.

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From the Smiths:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated 10 August 2012: Life for Those Left Behind (Craig Smith’s Health) page 6 click here

*****

Needing help for your home schooling journey:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

https://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

https://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational:
https://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

Marriage Website Launched

Posted on 2012-07-30 by Barbara

PROTECTMARRIAGE.ORG.NZ

Dear Barbara

A website to protect the current definition of marriage as ‘one man one woman’ has been launched today. The website is www.protectmarriage.org.nzand has been launched in response to the private members bill of Labour MP Louisa Wall which seeks to redefine marriage.

“The website will provide research, latest news, quotes of interest, free downloadable resources about the role and function of marriage, and will host an online petition which will be presented to Parliament,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. “It also has the haveyoursaytool which enables people to easily contact their local MP, all MP’s, or a select group of MP’s to express their view.”

“Politicians have been hammered recently with the reasons for taking the twink bottle to the dictionary and to redefine ‘marriage’. This website will help balance the debate. Ultimately, the state – which did not invent marriage – has no authority to re-invent it.”

Family First also rejects the notion that NZ’ers are ready for same-sex marriage. In the US, polls have also shown support for same-sex marriage increasing, yet in every state where the issue has been on the ballet, voters have rejected it.

“Equality does not mean we must redefine marriage. Same-sex couples have the option of civil unions to recognise their relationship so there is no need for redefining marriage. If the law was redefined to allow same-sex marriage, and only same-sex marriage, we would then be discriminating against those seeking, for example, polygamous, polyamorous, or adult incest unions,” says Mr McCoskrie. “If we are going to have a debate about same-sex marriage and liberalising adoption laws, it is essential that the politicians acknowledge just how far this is going to go.”

“Almost every culture in every time and place has had some institution that resembles what we know as marriage, and it has always been associated with procreation. Every society needs natural marriage. Nature also discriminates against same-sex couples. Same-sex couples cannot have children. Only a man and a woman can produce children. This discloses something of the purposes and providence of nature, and the role and purpose of marriage,”

“We would encourage politicians to spend their valuable time focussing on major issues such as family poverty, negotiating our way through the world recession, child abuse, and getting people employed – rather than taking to the dictionary with a twink bottle,” says Mr McCoskrie.
ENDS

CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE
www.protectmarriage.org.nz

Kind regards

Bob McCoskrie

National Director

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From the Smiths:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated 28 July 2012: Life for Those Left Behind (Craig Smith’s Health) page 6 click here

*****

Needing help for your home schooling journey:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

https://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

https://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational:
https://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

Two pupil ratio makes for fewer hours of study

Posted on 2012-07-13 by Barbara

But with just two pupils, the three of them found they could teach and learn all they could manage within a few hours of each day.

This statement is found here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/7271356/Two-pupil-school-shuts-doors-after-57-years

This is what Cynthia Hancock said to me this morning:

LOL. Even a public school with a homeschool kind of ratio finds it doesn’t need all day to teach children!!”

This is what we have been saying for years. Our children can finish their “required” studies then they have the rest of the day to pursue their interests

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From the Smiths:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated 8 July 2012: Life for Those Left Behind (Craig Smith’s Health) page 6 click here

*****

Needing help for your home schooling journey:

https://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

https://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

https://hef.org.nz/exemptions/