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Stand Up For Kids Protest

Come 13th of April will be the day to Stand Up for Kids and Protect Our Schools.

"Stand up for Kids" is a campaign for parents, families, teachers and other educators who all want the best for our children. It was initiated by NZEI Te Riu Roa, the professional institute and union of 50,000 primary and early childhood educators around New Zealand.

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We know that to be the best, teachers and schools need parents and whanau as partners and to be fully supported by their communities. So this campaign is not just for teachers. It’s for anyone interested in the future of our children and the future of our quality public education system.

Letter from a Teacher

Note: The following article has been censored in order to avoid identifying individuals. The article was originally removed after receiving a request from the Human Rights Commission. We are now removing names to protect the privacy of individuals. Other than this the letter is published as provided. It obviously represents a single point of view. We do not present this as fact.

I’m an Auckland secondary school teacher who has had to endure the very worst treatment by both XXXX and XXXX.

In February 2010, I enquired at our staff briefing if non-Christians had to attend the Powhiri? The response from XXXX was that attendance was compulsory and further more, that I’d upset several Maori on the staff. One Maori staff member verbally abused me in front of the whole staff. I asked XXXX to intervene, but she felt that I deserved what had eventuated.

Letter to the Minister

The following letter was written by a member of the Secular Education Network to the Minister of Education recommending repeal of section 78 of the education act that permits schools to run religious instruction.

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to the Ministry in regard to clause 78 of the Education Act (1964) that allows religious instruction to take place in state primary schools. Religious instruction(RI), however well intended, creates a discriminatory environment in the classroom and the school as a whole. Our children have first-hand experience of how divisive and prejudicial an influence RI has in school and I ask that the clause be repealed.

Charter Schools and Religion

John Banks recently said on Radio Rhema that he believes in the literal truth of the Genesis Story. Some have questioned whether this is appropriate for the Associate Minister of Education. The implied question is, "should a persons religious belief determine whether they can hold office?" Clearly we live in a free country, and everyone is entitled to freedom of religion. As a spokesperson for the Secular Education Network it would be hypocritical in the extreme to suggest that we should discriminate against people of the basis of faith.