"Violence has no place in schools," Phil Howison, Libertarianz Education Spokesman said today, agreeing with Graham Young, president of the Secondary Principals' Association, that "The basic assumption that every teenager is fit to be educated in a mainstream secondary school should be debated."

"The Ministry of Education enforces a one-size-fits-all approach on state schools, and many students slip through the cracks. School can be an unpleasant place for kids who don't fit in," Howison says. "But increasingly, schools can't even ensure the physical safety of students or teachers. It's simply unacceptable."

The Post-Primary Teachers Association, in a paper presented at their annual conference this week, recommended "... restorative practices approaches ... to heal and restore relationships when they go wrong."

"How can I even describe this lunacy?" pondered Mr. Howison. "Minor assault, theft, vandalism, and serious threats occur on a daily basis in most secondary schools. Many such incidents are never reported to teachers," Phil says, recalling his recent experiences in state schools. "I once saw an explicit, blood-stained death threat against a fellow student plastered on a vomit-encrusted toilet wall. The student responsible needed professional help, not a 'restorative practices approach' to 'heal and restore relationships'!"

"To ensure the safety of teachers and students, offenders should face real consequences, not wet, politically-correct programmes such as peer mediation, regarded as a joke by most students," Howison concludes. "The underlying problem is the Ministry of Education's centralised control over schools, which denies freedom of choice for parents. Libertarianz will separate schools from the state entirely, allowing real educational choices to parents and students."

"It's enough to make you vote Libertarianz!"

ENDS

For more information contact:

Phil Howison
Libertarianz Education Deregulation Spokesman
Phone: 027 437 0308
Email:phil.howison@libertarianz.org.nz

Libertarianz: More Freedom - Less Government