Media Release

19 December 2011

Rumoured government plans to gag principals will backfire, says PPTA junior vice president Doug Clark.

“Isolating and attacking the sector is not going to do anything to improve education for New Zealand students.”

“If the government has so little confidence in its plans for education that it has to ban criticism, it’s time it went back to the drawing board. Heavy-handed censorship won’t work. No country in the world has improved education by disrespecting the profession,” said Clark.

“These repressive and undemocratic suggestions, if true, will have a major impact on schools. The message from the government seems to be that they don’t want people in education who advocate for their students without fear or favour, but compliant, blind followers who do the government’s bidding.”

“Successful countries are characterised by a willingness to work with the sector so the best ideas, the best research and the best understandings can be put into practice in the classroom,” he said.

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