And what the Ministry of Social Development report didn't say, because it wasn't within their purview, was that there's an army of uneducated kids coming up on the horizon. In the past decade chronic truancy has doubled in secondary schools, nearly tripled in primary schools. Another report released this week reveals more than 80,000 students missed more than three weeks of school in Term 2 this year. And where the hell will the truants end up when they finally drift away from education altogether? On a benefit.
Social Development Minister Louise Upston told the Mike Hosking Breakfast the Government is committed to getting young people into work:
Social Development Minister Louise Upston told the Mike Hosking Breakfast the Government is committed to getting young people into work:
“When the labour market is tight young people are disproportionately affected, but the good news is when the economy turns, they also pick up employment more quickly. We need to ensure they spend less time on welfare, that they don't get stuck there, and that we get them on track with some training, with some education and definitely with some work opportunities. That's why we've set the target to reduce the number on Jobseeker benefit by 50,000 in six years, because we know work makes such a difference to people's lives.”
It really does. So, the Government is doing what it can, community organisations are doing what they can, where are the parents in all of this? I get that life can be really, really tough, but then it always has been for a sector of the population. It was really tough for my dad, who was born in a depression work camp in a tent. He grew up in a state house and getting into a state house was like winning the lottery for his mum and dad. Getting out of the state house and into a home of his own was my dad's driving motivation. He used education to do it. He was determined that his own children would never grow up relying on the government for anything, and we didn't. Even when I was a single mum, I never took a benefit. I could work and so I did.
Education has been seen for centuries as the ticket out of poverty, and out of misery, and out of a predetermined future. You might be doing it hard. You might feel the system failed you, you have little education, you have never worked, and you struggle from day-to-day, but surely you don't want the same for your kids? All you have to do is get them to school. They'll be safe there, they'll be educated there, they will get into the custom of getting up and going to work. They'll even be fed there. And I bet if you find it hard to put them on a bus or walk them to school, if you ring the school they'll have someone who can come and collect them. You might be struggling, you might think you're worthless, you might think life is hopeless, but do not let your legacy to your kids be the same miserable existence. Listen to Education Minister Erica Stanford, who was on the Mike Hosking Breakfast last week:
“I've been very clear about the drivers of inequality, and it is poverty. In this country your means to determine your destiny. It is almost the one single factor that is the cause of that yawning gap, which is why when you turn up to school, we need to cloak you in that protective factor that is education.”
That is what so many families for hundreds of years have seen education as – a protective cloak that means they do not have to live the same life as their parents. But then that is what parents wanted – you always want your kids to do better than you have done, to be better parents, to have more options to live better lives. When the hell did parents stop wanting more for their children? So yes, the figures are grim from the Ministry of Social Development. Young people aged 16 to 24 who are on a main benefit can expect to be there for 20 years. And we have more than 80,000 kids coming up over the horizon, unskilled, uneducated, unless we change our ways and we change them now.
Kerre McIvor, is a journalist, radio presenter, author and columnist. Currently hosts the Kerre Woodham mornings show on Newstalk ZB - where this article was sourced.
3 comments:
Life is tough on the benefit? Maybe for some people, but for most on the jobseekers it is seen as a viable lifestyle. Even more viable is becoming a solo parent at the taxpayers expense, where you earn as much as the average wage for sitting on your backside. It is not just that school truancy causes welfare dependency, but having a comfortable welfare system encourages truancy. With such a lifestyle ahead of them (that many of their parents enjoy) why would those kids attend school or work?
The jobseekers benefit should become a scheme where employment options are given, even if those aren't as enjoyable as the recipient wants, then after that the benefit should be only enough for a weekly packet of porridge and they're out of their taxpayer funded accommodation. We also need to stop the army of third world migrants coming here taking jobs who give the deadbeats the excuse for saying there are no employment opportunities.
More or less the following used below for another contribution about to drop off, but fits here too.
Most colonists, including recent, have come from cultures where for centuries it has been necessary to strive to survive. A regard for material success further prompted effort beyond survival. But maori and pacifica who account for many truants, lived in countries of natural resources. No need to greatly exert. And the small population fostered communal living which developed practices to prevent advancement beyond the group. So with these inherited instincts, at school a large proportion of the truants lack the genetic urge to toil or the parents the motivation to encourage. Then our welfare system is incredibly soft, probably the most generous in the world outside monocultures as north Europe. After all allowances, and subtracting expenses, the net hourly return for tedious work is negligible. So the truly rational enjoy every passing day free instead of in some tedious job, even one as gentle as cone shepherding. A few decades ago without a partner with a job the prospect of a normal married type life with children was limited for both. But not today. A tedious permanant partner optional. A fine state house and far above subsistence benefit rolls in regardless. Preparation for does not require boring school effort in a bewildering class promoted alongside others of dispiriting greater ability and motivation.
From my experience, interacting with thousands of parents , they do care about their children's future. Considerably more than those in our educational establishments, who are thoroughly focused on promoting ideology . This ideology has little concern for students ' academic and intellectual achievements but rather producing socialists who as a consequence of not being educated for a worthwhile career, will be as an underclass dependent on government welfare or in low paid jobs because of poor literacy , numeracy and writing skills.
Put the blame where it belongs. Todays 'The Post ' has a very interesting article 'Student literacy at Crisis Level' . Even those who probably attended our schools regularly are deficient in the basics at a University Level.
Progressive Education is, for me entirely to blame for this in its drive, calling it 'equality', in permitting everyone to have a higher education but this was at the expense of quality achievement in the basics for all. Traditional Education excelled at having every student reaching a high level of proficiency in the basics. In contrast , this was its main driver and philosophy of education also with a desire for equality and equity.
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