Posts by Jackie Clark
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Although by the same token I was hoping for more tales of debauchery. What's with this civilised and urbane nonsense?
I broke the toilet door. Well, I didn't break it, it was more that the handle came off in front of my very eyes. Does that count? And Linda? Good girl.
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About this whole private/public school thing - I went to both sorts. In fact, I went to 3 private, and 2 public. All good schools, none better than the others. Funnily enough, the reason I left the last private school to go state, was an argument with my friends about the differences between public/private schools. They were all about private school and privilege. So to spite them, I came home one holidays and insisted that my parents find a public school for me to go to. To their credit, they did. Rangi back then wasn't the megalithic creature it is now. What was great about all this moving around is that each school was different and offered unique advantages.The private schools were inevitably smaller, more intimate and I liked not going to school with boys. There were enough in my family, thanks. I appreciate that I was in the rare position of choosing my own schools from the age of 12, however. So private school at that stage was my choice. Not necessarily my parents'. So ban private schools? I think not. Whether we like it or not, people have to have the choice for their children. And sometimes, as I have said, it may be the child's choice. Now we come to the decile thing. All of the schools I went to would have been decile 8-10 schools. I find myself teaching nowadays in a kindergarten that gets equity funding because we are aligned with the decile 2 primary school next door. I have always taught in "low decile" kindergartens. Funnily enough, parents in Mangere don't consciously judge a school on it's decile number, or on it's resources - often they haven't the foggiest that the decile system exists - but mostly on how "nice" the school is. Loads of kids get taken to schools in Mangere Bridge, because it is seen as nicer, more refined, less rough. That's been the case everywhere else I've taught as well. The "whiter" the school, the more popular it is. So Glen Innes kids go to the schools up the road. Owairaka kids may end up in Mt Albert. They are making choices. And then there are the "ambitious parents" you speak of. Lots of my friends and family come under this heading. It irks me - it really does. Because it is my belief that nowadays low decile schools are usually very well resourced. Most of the teachers - primary, secondary level - are greatly committed to their kids. (Goes without saying us under 5 teaching types are a bit over the top with that too). And so, I think, in some schools anyway, the "deficit" in fundraising abilities and parental involvement - and I do accept that those hurdles exist - are tempered to a large degree. However. You just can't remove choice from the equation.
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Linda and all the other lurkers: come, join usss......there will be no more struggle or pain. All you have to do is close your eyes and go to sleep. To sleeeeeeeeep.....
Heh. I dunno, Rich. I tried to convince her on the way home that it would be good to hear more from those who read in silence, and refuse to join in the cacophony. She wasn't swayed!
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I remember the Hillsborough tragedy so well. I was standing behind the bar at the time serving punters, in a pub in London, and glancing from time to time at the TV, which was mounted above the front door. I watched the whole thing unfolding and it was so surreal. Because, of course, they showed the footage of people being squashed up against the fence for a long time afterwards. I remember them blaming the punters who couldn't get in the grounds, pushing their way in. They blamed alot of things.And I remember it taking a while before they came to the decision that taking the fences down wouldn't be the forerunner of global chaos.
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I want to say to all of you who came last night - I was very nervous about coming because there are people who post here who are very erudite and cerebral. The thought of holding your own in conversations with such people is a little scary. So I set out with some trepidation, and was very pleasantly surprised. I met someone there who I know, offline, and wasn't aware was a PAS regular reader. There were others who are very prolific, and who I was slightly scared of. And in truth, they were just very lovely people. So thankyou all for stepping out from behind your keyboards (or in Steve's case, putting the cellphone down) and being brave enough to get out there and engage with everyone. It's a rare pleasure, and I wanted to tell you all how much it meant to me. I look forward to next time.
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I have two new favourite people in the world. That's all I have to say.
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Well, what a lovely evening. Thankyou very much Russell - or should that be mein host? It was great to meet so many people, and put faces (and personalities) to the names. Emma, you were fantastic company by proxy. You and I had a number of drinks and quite a few ciggies together. You were also impeccably behaved, and I think you may have enchanted a few people. Sofie did you proud.
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There are some people I was looking forward to meeting.. You were one of them, Danielle. Next time perhaps.
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I wish. One of my closest darling friends lives in Stirling St, and I would love to go and see her. Oh, and you, of course.
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Sofie - would you like a lift in? Just come back from Hammy town so I'm having a short break and then heading out.