Rather than admit to suppressing Oliver’s right to free speech, the principal has stubbornly maintained that Oliver’s entry never made it into the speech final in the first place, implying it wasn’t good enough to qualify.
There’s one problem the school hadn’t realised. Oliver – frustrated with the hypocritical treatment he was receiving from certain staff – had taken it upon himself to record some of his meetings with them discreetly.
The recordings repeatedly and very clearly show that the school accepted him into the finals of the competition, and then censored Oliver, solely for his views.
We obviously don’t recommend secretly recording others. But given what the recording shows, we think the school has absolutely no right to be lecturing Oliver about ethical standards.
Isn’t this so sad. A school leadership that lies to its own students and gaslights them. They have forced a 15 year old to record conversations with school leaders because they were saying things differently in public and private. What sort of moral example do the school leaders set for their students?
David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders.
8 comments:
MoE needs to install a monitor in the school and censure the principal
Unsure of the details, but great work as usual David. Time to release the details and the names of the school leadership team to hold these terrible liars to account. It's now Time to stop being nice to these types and it's time to stand up for Oliver. Do it for Oliver
In New Zealand, it is legal to record a conversation you are a part of without informing the other party https://kiwilaw.co.nz/2017/10/13/keep-others-honest-and-yourself-humble-its-legal-to-record-your-phone-conversations-without-disclosing-the-fact/?form=MG0AV3
Maybe if I knew what school this was, what speeches they were, and who Oliver is, I might be able to comment.
I agree with barend, more details thanks and let's hold this school and it's leaders to account. The pendulum has swung, it's not cool to defend these types of losers.
It was New Plymouth Boys' High School. But Oliver did get to read his speech on The Platform a few days ago, so full marks to them.
The Free Speech Union (FSU) took this on, reported by Nick Hanne 'Can students handle views they disagree with?'. The school was New Plymouth Boys High.
What was so controversial about Oliver's speech that could have been offensive? It was a perfectly rational, well-written address, presenting a legitimate point of view. I'm perplexed by the school's reaction
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