Ogilvy backs principals’ payments

Boards of Trustees should be commended, not censured, for rewarding their principals, United Future Education spokesperson Bernie Ogilvy said today.

“It’s a ludicrous situation when Boards of Trustees aren’t allowed to offer incentives to their principals. What’s wrong with recognising success and endeavour in schools?

“It’s hard enough today for schools to find first-rate senior management, let alone principals. The work is hard, hours long and the pay poor. These so-called illegal payments would be seen as par for the course in the private sector, yet principals work as the CEO’s of their schools. Isn’t it time we rewarded them as such?

“If Boards use incentives to retain and reward principals then they should be entitled to do so. Don’t principals deserve incentives for innovation and hard work?

“Has anyone asked the hip hop artists in Christchurch to return the money from their junket? Not that I’m aware. That was a scam if ever one existed. But the Ministry of Education is already trying to recoup money from principals and schools. It’s an appalling signal to society and to schools.”

“The Boards of Trustees have my full support in their efforts to reward the success of their hard-working principals,” said Mr Ogilvy.

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>