There are still a lot of unanswered questions about Hekia Parata’s practice of dobbing in teachers who write to her to complain about government policy to their board of trustees. Fortuitously have an ability to ask them of her! Today I’ve lodged the following Written Parliamentary Questions. I’ll post the answers when I get them here on Red Alert.
- How many letters did she receive expressing concern about her government’s plan to increase class sizes?
- How many letters did she receive from teachers expressing concern about her government’s plan to increase class sizes?
- How many of her responses to letters she has received from teachers expressing concern about her government’s plan to increase class sizes were sent to the Board of Trustees that employs the teacher concerned?
- Is it her policy to send replies to any correspondence she receives from teachers to the Board of Trustees that employs the teacher, if so, why?
- How many letters did she receive from teachers expressing concern about her government’s plan to increase class sizes where the teacher did not identify the school that they work at, and how many of those teachers received a direct response?
- How many letters did she receive from teachers expressing concern about her government’s plan to increase class sizes where the teacher did not identify the school that they work at, and how many of her responses to those letters were sent to that teacher’s employer?
- If she sent a reply to a letter from a teacher who did not identify the school they work at to the Board of Trustees that employs the teacher, how did she identify which school board to send the letter to?
- Who prepared her replies to letters she received from teachers expressing concern about her government’s plan to increase class sizes?
- Did any of the people involved in preparing her replies to letters she received from teachers expressing concern about her government’s plan to increase class sizes access any government database or record system to identify the school the teacher worked at?
- Why did she send replies to letters she has received from teachers expressing concern about her government’s plan to increase class sizes to the Board of Trustees that employs the teacher concerned?
How many letters were written during the school day in taxpayer time?
Because that would trump an abuse of power by a minister, anyday :roll eyes:
George,it is so sad that you can take righteous issue about concerned teachers writing notes in work time to their supreme boss. The teachers write about a very serious subject that clearly involves their work effectivenes . Teachers do have non contact time for preparation and marking etc, you know?
George I would suggest to you that such behaviour(agitation of one sort or another), and also whistle blowing, can be for the public good.
I would further suggest that if public servants were not so restricted and afraid to jump a heirachy or two then the leaky/rotting homes crisis would have been nipped in the bud
Having said that I appeciate that disgruntled workers can cause huge problems. BUT .. a bit more freedom to speak …?
Many public servants are afraid to say anything lest it compromises their employment or promotion
Hey … why doesnt Labour have a site for “Questions to Ministers” .. and the ‘best’ one each week is forewarded?
Exceptional queries might even make it to the ’2pm contest’?
George, you may well find the answer to your obtuse and inflammatory question here: http://saveourschoolsnz.wordpress.com/2012/08/18/parata-bullying-and-intimidating-teachers/
Thank you for putting these questions to Minister Parata. This is a very serious issue and goes to the heart of our democracy as well as appearing to be a serious breach of the privacy act, and it needs to be cleared up asap.
Does that mean if i post here and National are able to work out who i am they will send my comment to my employer?
How many letters were sent to the Minister from the teachers’ school email addresses?
Lack of discipline and respect for teachers is the KEY problem with teaching in NZ.
Likewise in society, bring back compulsory military service.
To George…..teachers do not have the actual time to write a letter to the Minister or to anyone while teaching…it is impossible. But they may well write that letter at 8pm at night when they are settling down to some marking or preparation for next lessons.
If you continue to disrespect teachers you will get the teachers that you deserve.
“Likewise in society, bring back compulsory military service.”
@Jack- Why would you put a post like that on at the moment???
Good questions Chris. The funny thing is the previously dodgy NZSTA and a number of school BOTs have caught up, so Hekia may not get away with this.
Lady Gardiner will be dropped like a hot spud soon enough by the Nats, just like Don Brash did to Georgina Te Heu Heu.
I’m happy you got all your answers today Chris. Turns out there was no smoking gun though.