Posts by Hilary Stace
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Hard News: On seclusion rooms, in reply to Ianmac,
This is not a new situation and has been a reality for schools for ever. A school should have policies and practices for such circumstances. One child in the class could be sent to find the responsible adult who can help. It can be an authority figure like the principal or an administrative staff member. There should approved procedures where that child can calm down and be distracted but with a responsible adult near by at all times. The angriest situation I have witnessed was a 10 year old throwing furniture and a metal rubbish bin lid around a classroom – but a calm authoritative school principal defused the situation and made the boy sit in his office with him. Later there were some restorative practices all round.
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In an aside to the Mayoralty race in Wellington, we now have an official city scientist! New councillor, Peter Gilberd, has a PhD in physics and used to administer the Royal Society's Marsden Fund. We might even get a council supported science seminar series.
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Polity: Four thoughts on polling in…, in reply to Son of Dad,
There were numerous meetings around Wellington and all offered contact details in their ads to ask specific questions or policy positions. I went along to a couple of meetings and asked my questions - things like their position on the Living Wage are actually important for real people's lives. From what I saw they all worked pretty hard at the election process. Unctuous is unfair.
There was one council candidate I befriended who had no car or computer or election funds and walked between election meetings almost every day over many weeks. That dedication itself justified a vote.
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Thanks. I wonder if it encourages or discourages participation. For example, I usually answer phone surveys in case they are poor solo mothers getting paid per response, but can feel resentful at the time it takes. But on the other hand if you know it is anonymous and quick you might be likely to respond, and be more honest.
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Can you explain robopolling a bit more?
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Yes, Kay, we need an official, respectful national apology from the top on behalf of the State to all those abused by the State. At the launch of Elizabeth Stanley's recent book on the history of children in care, Jacinda Ardern promised such an action from the future Labour/Greens government.
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Yes Article 14 - so powerful and clear. I understand Mary O'Hagan, then Mental Health Commissioner, had a say in its drafting. But until we have rights enshrined in a proper Geoffrey Palmer approved constitution the Mental Health Act will have more power than any of our international rights obligations and even the NZ Bill of Rights Act can be tossed aside on a whim.
(By the way I do recommend Mary O'Hagan's memoir Madness made me, for its insights into our system.) -
Hillary has very good disability policies, actual disabled people working on her campaign and huge support in that sector (although not sure whether ratification of the UN CRPD is on her to-do list), whereas Trump has just made ableist jokes..
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Great protest yesterday, although wind was a bit chilly. That was my community. Giovanni Tiso was one who gave a passionate speech and later the Berhampore School kapa haka group, of which his daughter is a member, provided an illustration of inclusion and diversity.