Mixed emotions
I've got mixed emotions about government announcing the funding of the first five charter schools.
I know how hard it is trying to meet the exacting standards set by the Ministry of Education, and yet while everybody else is playing by the rules, here's the government throwing money at charter schools which don't have to use the national curriculum, or be held up to national standards, or have to put qualified teachers in front of the kids, or be accountable for their decisions under the Official Information Act.
On the other hand, I know the people involved in the two Tai Tokerau projects and they are genuinely good people, dedicated to doing the best for Maori kids.
The Leadership Academy already does a wonderful job, and the Whangaruru project, although new, kicks off with the best of intentions. And the kids they're going to help are going to be young Maori, so I wish them all the best.
