What, we gave him a mandate to do what he likes

A key issue here, if you'll pardon the pun, is John Key's integrity. His lack of an moral/ethical filter through which most people conduct their dealings with others reminds me of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Where there should be compassion, consideration, and an awareness of the needs of others there is a vacuum. Nothing. Just a shrug of the shoulders and a 'don't blame me' dismissal.

The quotes attributed to Key in this piece are particularly revealing. He demonstrates a callous disregard for the welfare of any individual or small/disenfranchised/non-aligned group who happen to oppose his views, as he believes that the interests of his own stakeholders trump those of any individual or group that gets in his way. All this and he, like Zuckerberg, has climbed to the top of his tree with 'our' (certainly not my) help. What mugs we are, and how dearly we are about to pay for our foolish endorsement.

Selling schools will be the next step. JOhn KEy is a danger to us all.

@ Sigh #150

It isn't MMP at work. National did a deal before the election to get ACT in. National would have had the Epsom seat had it not been for the deal but then they wouldn't have had ACT to pin the blame on for the idea. Saying it is MMP at work is disengenuous at best.

@ Richard #148

National should be ashamed for using special needs kids in their statistics, kids who whatever the interventions wouldn't leave school with adequate reading and writing skills, to discredit a system that is working for the vast majority.

Are you aware that schools can only get ORR's funding for SN kids if they can be proven to be 5 years behind in their schooling? (Which usually means forget it until you can prove it if they are less than in year 5).Literally thousands of kids, the kids you talk about, don't get the extra support because there is simply no funding available to help. Schools cannot afford TA support.

You see Richard, you and yours have the blinkers well and truly on. International studies, people who know what they are saying defending the current system, they mean nothing to you. You are a sheep who blindly follows. You are an 'expert' on education because you've been through it.

And as to your comments: we don't do well by "some" children. We do well by most.

If you think that NS and Charter schools are going to magically fix the minority of failing students you are delusional. They aren't aimed at them. They are aimed at promoting high decile schools and are opening the door to allow grouos such as the Exclusive Brethren state funding - a deal they probably made with National for funding, etc.

No wonder they cried so much when the media crashed their tea party. Coulda shaved a good 5% votes off had we known this. but hey thaaaats MMP!

@ Richard #148 11:21am

Take your medicine and go to bed

Thats MMP for you - Translation - So long suckers!

you just dont get it. there needs to be a low wage underclass so the rich can get richer off the under classes back. figure it out.

JGM #144 'It is a blatant lie from National's PR machine that NZ's education system is failing.' Yes we may do well for most children but there are a significant number of children doing extremely badly. The left seem quite happy to let these children fail in life so National is at least trying something different for these children to see if it helps. You (and other people objecting) should be ashamed of yourselves for ignoring the plight of the children who leave school unable to read and write.

Teachers are objecting because they think they might lose their jobs, principals are afraid their schools might lose pupils and be seen as "failing", the teachers unions are always against the National Govt by default. Parents who can't afford private schools will at last have some choice. Bring it on.