Thursday, 4 December 2003

My Fading Memory... I have a distinct memory of the Minister of Education saying that no child should spend more than an hour travelling between home and school. My fading memory of this statement includes a claim that he personally drove around the neighbourhood in a network review area making sure that this was so. But, I think my memory must be letting me down. I say this because I see that Deborah Coddington has pointed out that the network review underway in Russell Peninsula could add up to an hour to some pupils current travelling time. Could the Minister have meant an hour each way? Up to two hours a day on a bus – is this the way we want our children to grow up? Long School Bus Rides: Stealing the Joy of Childhood is a report that gives insight into this suffering this foists onto the children. But then perhaps the Minister doesn't really feel to bad about suffering children – The NZPA reports that 32 children near Kaitaia are spending up to four hours a day in buses. To me this is state-sponsored torture! Why aren't CYFS getting involved? 8:21:11 PM    comments? []

Teasing Brains Into a Love of Learning. It's rare for a young teacher to come to a rural school since most who apply for these positions are often middle-aged and changing careers after a farm goes broke or a textile mill closes. By Michael Winerip. [New York Times: Education] 7:36:47 PM    comments? []