Posts by Ianmac

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  • Hard News: Polls: news you can own, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Yes Sofie. Gower asks the question which shows he wants the answer to match his intent and even if the interviewee gives a conflicting answer Gower ploughs ahead with his version of what was said even when blatantly untrue. Then reports his untrue version on the 6pm News.
    Ought to be a law against it. They shoot mad dogs don't they?

    Bleneim • Since Aug 2008 • 135 posts Report

  • Hard News: Schools: can we get a plan up…,

    Be interesting to see what happens when League Tables (based on shonky data) cause a flight from one school to another beyond community housing growth. Even more imbalances I imagine.

    Bleneim • Since Aug 2008 • 135 posts Report

  • Hard News: What Hekia Parata actually said,

    The Majority of kids do well in NZ schools.
    But along comes Parata with a commodity production model and if re-elected will clearly produce a plan to tie productivity to funding. Simple. She says so as in transcript. As in a factory you count the objects coming off the conveyor belt and add reward/better equipment to enhance that productivity and reward the managers. Simple plan. Easily written with glib Polispeak.
    Anyone who objects to this plan obviously does not want children or teachers to excel. Minister exercises the sneering belittling naysayers who she believes are clearly supporting mediocrity. Bah! Humbug!

    Bleneim • Since Aug 2008 • 135 posts Report

  • Busytown: School bully, in reply to JLM,

    There is no research that shows that Homework is beneficial.
    For any homework to have any chance of achieving something it must have all three of the following:
    1. It must be appropriate in difficulty to the ability of the child. (Thus no blanket one size fits all.)
    2. It must be connected with what is happening in the current class program.
    3. It must be acknowledged by someone.
    I was present when a class teacher was holding a meeting for the parents of his class pupils. He asked for a hand show of parents who wanted homework for their kids. 5 women shot their hands up. 12 men and women slowly put their hands up. 9 mostly men looking reluctant very slowly raised their hands. Just 5 did not. It is what parents want. Really?

    Bleneim • Since Aug 2008 • 135 posts Report

  • Busytown: School bully,

    Before the last (or was it the one before?) there was no mention of Charter Schools yet the planning had begun especially with the employment as CEO Education of that English woman, who surprise surprise was well skilled in Charter Schools. After the election it became a demand from ACT, apparently, when in fact the groundwork had already started.
    Now we have the spectre of Bulk Funding (solve the NOVApay problem?) and sooner or later Performance Pay, and funding of Schools by the Performance/progress of the children. Thin edge etc.
    Jolisa. A brilliant portrayal and a dire warning to parents and kids.
    I wonder if the Herald would publish your work, or North and South?

    Bleneim • Since Aug 2008 • 135 posts Report

  • Up Front: Floodland,

    The awful thought is that now every time it starts to rain anxiety will set in. And if anyone in your family happens to be sick or the car has a flattish battery or the rain forecast is ambivalent or it is very cold, then the anxiety would multiply. The courage to stay calm is to be admired.
    Thanks for the insight.

    Bleneim • Since Aug 2008 • 135 posts Report

  • Speaker: TPP: Error Correction, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Entryism. New word to me DeepRed but it seems to fit the National strategy. And how can it be combatted? How about a bit of Exitism?

    Bleneim • Since Aug 2008 • 135 posts Report

  • Speaker: TPP: Error Correction, in reply to nzlemming,

    FYI Pharmac has recently had a major restructure of its management team. Staff are reportedly in shock as to which managers were let go and who got their jobs. I’m led to believe that none of the of the top 3 people with responsibility for and experience at managing the Schedule (which is the technical term for what you describe) were retained. #connectthedots

    This seems to be the way that this Government works. Make quiet changes at the top and use the incomers to "modify" the organisation. ACC. NZNational Radio. This means that the population will not rebel because the changes are too subtle to react to.
    Pharmac is a proudly supported institution but by the time it has been "restructured" it will be too late. Slippery!

    Bleneim • Since Aug 2008 • 135 posts Report

  • Cracker: Lundy and Me.,

    Movies would have conditioned us to be sympathetic to the innocence of the accused if he/she is a goodlooking intelligent victim. The bad guy/girl is less likeable and we are glad when the bad guy gets his/her come-uppance?
    But what if the accused is not an attractive person. Nor articulate and with un-luck on his side? Mark Lundy (or me or you) is damaged by public perception and please let the facts be the verdict.

    Bleneim • Since Aug 2008 • 135 posts Report

  • OnPoint: Ich bin ein Cyberpunk,

    Wasn't Kim Dotcom's new cloud based on encryption? Be ideal if you wanted to store stuff then retrieve it to yourself.

    Bleneim • Since Aug 2008 • 135 posts Report

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