Posts by Kate Hannah
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
thanks for this Robyn. I think now it has become a token thing - my sister was on the unemployment benefit over the summer after finishing a postgrad dip in curatorship (she also has a 4 year design degree) and was offered PACE but still required to go to the awful work seminars you describe - where all other attendees had no skills, no work experience etc, and were the focus of staff attention (rightly so - but what a waste of her time to attend three such meetings when she was applying for up to three jobs a week - and had no car so had to account for travel time to the WINZ office they decided was her local) She's got a job now - through her own networks and hard work. What a pity something that offered real skills and support seems to be token now.
-
And after all that, Prof Gluckman's official speech notes.
ta for the link - needed it for work today and wasn't sure if the official website would have the notes up so soon.
BTW @Kyle, Prof Gluckman is definately trying to say the right things - his talks etc, and position papers are widely lauded in the universities, and we're all really hoping he's got the PM's ear. But there's the worry that its more smoke and mirrors - make the intelligentsia think we're listening to them while we slash and burn behind the scenes. The CRI Taskforce, welcomed by the universities, has the potential to spiral out into changes at the universities - and the job losses in wool science announced yesterday are NOT what the economy needs. In five years time, when we want high-performing materials to sell to the world, who will design them for us?
-
the importance of scientific literacy
YES! this is a major rant of mine too - and a familial intergenerational rant, as my father is a scientist. I'd say it is universal, Emma - most kids I've ever hung out with (my own three included) are eager to have an adult offer up explanations - or, as I do when my scientific knowledge is trumped (I'm a historian)- go and look at a book with them, or google the question. When "science" in schools is limited to "technology" ie. make a soap with no discussion of acid/alkaline/base, or the chemistry of soap making; or else is provided through studying insects or plants - where is the physics? where is the chemistry? We do all we can at home - use the language of science, provide opportunities for experiements, attend university open days. currently all three kids want to be scientists of some description. Phew. I'm ranting. Sufffice to say, scientific literacy is essential. and lacking in our education system, and our culture.
-
No need for payment--universities should still be about the free dissemination of information!
I think the vice-chancellor is a frequent reader, Geoff :) No, really - warms the cockles to see someone upholding the Universities Act - critic and conscience and all that . . . .
-
been on both Sickness and Invalids' benefits, and I know what work-testing will do - the stress will make people sicker
My husband and I survived on family handouts and landlordly goodwill for 16 weeks just after we got married while we fought the system to be on the married student allowance rather than the unemployment benefit (husband was unemployed). We were fully entitled - it was just they had to pay us more through the student allowance thing (and backpay us). Without that support and the help of the Waikato University student advocate, who gave me the WINZ manager's direct dial line (plus the confidence that we knew what we were entitled to) we would have been, well, stuffed.
I believe we the people subsidised Paula Bennett's education, do you think it's time we asked for our money back
This is my other major bugbear - I too, benefitted from the training incentive allowance - it allowed me to finish my BA when life threw me a curve ball. I've gone on and done honours, an MA, and am now embarking on a PhD - all of which I've paid for. That's what the TIA does - it empowers people to move forward in their lives.
Grrr - Key and Bennett are providing the worst kind of conservative cliche - bootstraps, state houses, solo mums, I'm alright, mate so why aren't you? Their education was paid for by tax payers - that's why they're alright.
-
Like Stephen, I'm too angry to laugh - and too disturbed by the amazing analysis Gio provides in the above link - here I was feeling overwhelmed by all the awful shit the gummint was up to - and now I realise that's the point. They're trying to overwhelm me so that they can sneak this mean-minded blame-oriented policy through. Those women on the DPB have children - how are those children going to eat if their benefit is halved because their mothers can't get non-existent jobs? t
-
this is my all time favourite . . . fantastic for dancing too while holding an overwrought baby