Media Release

4 September 2014

Dr Jamie Whyte ACT Leader

Using children for political purposes is wrong wrong wrong

“ACT has found a comment on Kiwiblog’s general debate which caught our attention.

“September 4th, 2014 at 8:11 am
So yesterday I got a newsletter from my childs school saying they would like the children to wear purple on Friday in support of their campaign against the governments plan for paying lead teachers more. Seriously what the “expletive” is wrong with these people? My child is only 5 yet they want her to get involved in a political campaign. She knows nothing about politics at that age and besides I want her to develop her own views over time not have them forced on her. It is their right to oppose but including children like this is not cool.

Then we found a notice from the NZEI.

Are you ready for Friday’s Day of Action for a better plan?
Make sure you get your placards and purple clothes together for Friday morning.
Our aim is to make this a high profile event. So we need a big turnout bright and early at your local MP’s office – 7.30 on Friday morning – to support our Better Plan for kids campaign.
This will help send a resounding message to the Government that we’re committed to supporting our vote against its controversial Investing in Educational Success plan
– NZEI NEWS

“We can only presume it is happening.”

“Asking parents of primary school children to come to their day of action at local MP’s officetomorrow at 7.30 am is one thing. Asking them to dress the children for a protest and dragging them to a political protest at that hour of the morning is a disgraceful development in teacher union tactics,” said Dr Whyte

“This is wrong. What primary school child understands what it is about? Should they be used as protest fodder in this way?

“ACT strongly suggests that parents complain to the Minister of Education, the Local School Board and to the NZEI. This is wrong.”

ENDS

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