School under fire for hosting Act meeting

Byron Bentley. Photo / Kellie Blizard

Macleans College in Bucklands Beach is under fire from principals for allowing the Act Party to hold a political meeting promoting its education policies at the college auditorium during school hours this week.

The Secondary Principals Council says the college was "unwise" to host the meeting during school hours as it may be seen as an endorsement of the party's policies.

Act's deputy leader, Heather Roy, and MP Sir Roger Douglas presented their party's education policy at a meeting at Macleans on Tuesday.

Promotional material on Act's website for the meeting asked, "Is your child really Free To Learn?", and invited the public to "come along and hear the facts" from Mrs Roy - who is also Associate Education Minister, Sir Roger and Macleans College principal Byron Bentley.

Act recently launched its "Free To Learn" education policy document, which argues for greater private sector involvement in compulsory state-funded education.

Mr Bentley said the meeting, held at lunchtime, attracted about 15 members of the public. There were no students or teachers in attendance.

He spoke at the meeting "from my perspective as a principal in secondary education" and did not comment on Act's document.

Mr Bentley said he had agreed to the meeting because "they were stuck for a venue" and if National, Labour or the Maori Party asked, "we'd very likely do the same".

There were no official requirements to discuss the meeting with his board of trustees, although the board chairwoman was aware of it.

However, Julia Davidson, chairwoman of the Secondary Principals Council, said that while there were no rules around political meetings at schools, they were "not the wisest of things to do" as they could easily be taken as endorsement of a party's policies.

"You don't show a preference for any political party as a state school principal, given that you are basically a state servant."

It emerged this week that the State Services Commission has tightened up its guidelines on staff activities to curb the politicisation of the public service.

Education Minister Anne Tolley said yesterday that it was up to state schools' boards to decide what political activities could take place at their schools, "but they must ensure that this doesn't interfere with the education of students".

"If parents have any concerns they should contact their school board," Mrs Tolley said.

A spokesman for Mrs Roy said her involvement with Free To Learn was in her capacity as Act deputy leader rather than Associate Minister of Education, "because it's not Government policy".