Editorial: Inequality in schools will come at cost

The issue that arises is whether all children are properly and fairly resourced in our education system as at day one. Photo / John Stone

It's a long time since most of us were at school. But it shouldn't stop us learning.

That's the message Parliamentary aspirants should be getting as New Zealand launches into an election year where education is already entrenched in the queue.

As a real issue, as one to distract us from other things that might really matter, or to prise the floating votes which might depend on whether one has a job for the next three years or not.

Therein, a classic comparison of reason and purpose. Politicians tossing their coins over triennial re-employment, while making decisions that affect whether those of the next generation ever get a job, at all.

Politics is, of course, a much bigger field than that, but at one end the Prime Minister has pledged a few educational leaders will be paid (a lot) more to rectify problems in under-performing schools, and at the other a bull-rush of children having in the last week started or resumed on a path all-but guaranteeing they're the pupils of the aforesaid schools.

The issue that arises, as we hear varying takes on school fees about the country, is whether all children are properly and fairly resourced in our education system as at day one. The concept of some more so than others is fine, but that so many others enter school "shamed" by having parents who can't afford the fee, the new uniform, the correct PE shorts and t-shirt, the books (tablets?), breakfast or lunch, or both, the school camp, etc, etc, when the others can, is a recipe for disaster.

As the kids will be told, the wheels of the bus go round and round, but spare confusion of those wondering how come, when there were no wheels when they got on.