I Wonder...

Thanks to myright for the kind words. And also for the link: Trevor Mallards relentless axing of rural schools! Bill English raises a very interesting point, and one that has started to worry me.

To me the school network reviews can be seen as nothing more than a dramatic corporate restructuring and downsizing. As discussed yesterday, over 40% of the reviewed company branches are being closed. Senior staff members are being laid off (68 principals, at the very least). And ordinary staff members are also losing their jobs. How many, who knows? 

Those who have looked at the proposals for combining our two local schools tell me that 1 principal, 2 teachers, and 2 support staff will be lost in the merger. What are these figures nation wide?

There is fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD) in the halls of our local school.

And yet I haven't heard a serious word from the teachers unions. Not one. A few mutters, a few mumbles, but no serious complaints. A sort of rather loud silence. No marches on parliament, no protests, no strikes.

I find myself wondering why. I find myself wondering what the Teachers Unions would be doing if National were driving the network review program. Would there be this self same silence? And if not, why are they standing by while Labour "rightsize" their company?

The Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) web site is here.
The NZEI web site is here.

See if you can find any official comment on their sites. I couldn't. BTW, isn't PPTA an awfully elitist way of saying "A Bunch of High School Teachers"?

10:11:54 PM