Raising standards and a firm hand to stop bullies
Bob Grant's guest editorial (Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, April 2) should be read by all and heeded by politicians and education professionals alike.
How and why our education system has been allowed to fall into disrepute by successive governments is beyond belief.
I wish the majority of teachers had the spine to make a stand and say "enough is enough", but alas, that is not the case. You don't have to be a Rhodes Scholar to work out that while some children don't need severe discipline, there are others who see its complete absence as a weakness to be exploited. Bullying, in all it's forms, is rife in our community, and getting worse by the day.
The "frenzy of concern" referred to in Mr Grant's editorial, while costing plenty, will not make one iota of difference to the problem. The politicians in the last Labour government should hang their heads in shame when they reflect on the social malaise caused by the no-smacking bill.
New Zealanders need to take a long hard look at the ticking clock of anarchy that is surrounding us, and demand that our leaders take a step back in time, not cower under the influence of the United Nations or the do-gooders but with an unshakable resolve to protect the vulnerable, and raise the standard of behaviour in schools.
Thank you, Mr Grant. You had my respect when you were a school principal and you still have it.
Bob Harvey, Matua
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