Caleb Anderson: Public Policy and the Most Unholy of Trinities

I did most of my postgraduate study through what you might call conservative institutions of learning in the United States. I still have connections with these institutions.

I received this survey from Hillsdale College this week, and felt it was highly relevant in light of recent evidence of persistent radicalization of our education system.

Our Education Minister's recent comments in defence of the wording of the Education Training and Amendment Bill give additional cause for concern.

Centrist: Critics argue National blinked as ACT pushed to scrap Treaty clause in schools bill

The ACT Party pushed to remove the Treaty of Waitangi clause from the Education and Training Amendment Bill, but was blocked by coalition partners.

The clause, which requires school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, will now be reviewed as part of a broader government workstream.

David Seymour: Lifting education outcomes for young Kiwis

Associate Education Minister David Seymour says the passing of the Education and Training Amendment Bill shows the Government is making significant progress to lift education outcomes.

“Establishing charter schools, lifting attendance, and streamlining early learning regulations are all essential to raising achievement. This legislation will set in motion the system changes that need to happen to make the education system more flexible and responsive to the needs of students and their families,” says Mr Seymour.

Point of Order: Simon said something sad and unfortunate (or so it seems) but we must be patient to learn from Dr Sharma what it was

Point of Order looks forward to hearing from Dr Gaurav Sharma, MP for Hamilton West.

Our interest in him and his sensibilities was whetted by a recent Parliamentary debate in which he indicated he had been upset by something National’s Simon O’Connor had said on the subject of academic freedom.

The occasion was the first reading of the Education and Training (Freedom of Expression) Amendment Bill, a private member’s bill promoted by ACT MP James McDowall.

The bill required tertiary institutions to protect freedom of expression and enabled them to issue codes of practice that set out procedures for students and staff to follow to uphold freedom of expression.

ACT and Nats supported the Bill. Labour, the Greens and the Māori Party had the numbers to sink it before it went any further.

Sharma followed O’Connor in contributing the debate:

Point of Order: Censorship on campus – academic freedom bill is voted down by MPs who fear exposure to some ideas can be damaging to our health

Labour MP Jo Luxton – in a Parliamentary speech about academic freedom in this country – referred to the recent shooting in the United States by a young person who had been “radicalised and emboldened” by the mosque attacks in Christchurch a few years ago.

These were actions based on hate for someone of a different race or religion.

She referred, too, to the 23-day occupation of the grounds of Parliament by protesters earlier this year.