The announcement yesterday of the framework for this country's model for charter schools did nothing to quell the indignation of opponents. Indeed, they were supplied with new information to fuel their opposition, most notably the fact that charter schools - or partnership schools, as the Government wants them to be known - will be able to employ teachers without qualifications.
"You wouldn't let an untrained doctor treat your child, or let anyone design your house," retorted Labour's education spokeswoman, Nanaia Mahuta. She would have been better served to save criticism for other, more questionable aspects of the framework.
As part of the many freedoms granted to charter schools, including the ability to set their own hours and term dates, they will negotiate the number of registered teachers they want to employ. One school may, for example, want to recruit a journalist to teach media studies.
In most cases, such people will not be as effective in the classroom as trained teachers. But the schools surely know this will be self-defeating if it is carried too far.
Although they are able to reshape the national curriculum, they will still be required to meet education targets set by the Government. If they do not, they will be closed. It would be folly to risk that fate by employing too many untrained teachers.