The Pigeonhole

By Winged Rodent

It's amazing how things change once you get elected.
Bill English is now brutally taking an axe to the night classes that, four years ago, he claimed gave a life-line to his own mother.
In a 2005 speech to CLASS (Community Learning Association through Schools) English used his Mum to illustrate a story about the important role community education played in society.
"I recall my mother going off to night-time classes in furniture restoration - a quite space in the busy life of a household of 12 children. There are a thousand stories about how human needs are met by the collective and aspirational activity of learning," he said.
English now plans to slash 80% of the funding to those same courses, leaving the remaining 20% to fund more ‘worthy' literacy and numeracy based classes.
But it gets better - in a 2006 press release he criticizes Labour for "destroying" night classes and argues they should be saved.

"School night classes have been a cornerstone of community education for decades, providing opportunities for learning and companionship for thousands of people. The system has been cheap and flexible.
"The demise of night classes is bad for schools, for communities and for thousands of people who use them to learn something new. Dr Cullen cannot let this disaster happen."
There you have it - right from the horse's mouth - and sadly, the disaster is happening.
Cuts to the $16 million spent on ACE (adult community education) classes will mean all current funding for schools will stop at the end of this year - which basically means the end of the affordable evening classes attended by more than 220,000 adults in more than 200 schools.
Education minister Anne Tolley has added insult to injury by describing these classes as "hobby courses", that government will not continue to fund.
Let's take a look at some of these "hobby courses" shall we?
Business development, computer skills, budgeting, cooking and languages, woodwork, creative writing and parenting courses to name a few.
These are the type of courses that teach vital skills and act as platforms to employment. They can be a lifeline to the vulnerable - providing companionship and support to those who have lost jobs, spouses or are new to the country.
Surely it makes sense in a recession to support programmes that build skills and confidence?
Tolley may mock classes like Moroccan cooking, but it is courses like these that encourage, inspire and help people to grow.
While we are on the subject of a recession, let's take a look at the number of jobs that will be lost thanks to these cuts. Instead of encouraging people into employment, it will be creating unemployed.
Cuts to evening class funding will probably mean that most schools will stop offering evening classes altogether, which would cause the loss of more than 200 coordinator and about 3000 tutor jobs.
An attempt to avert this crisis is already underway with a national campaign set up by CLASS. Those interested in taking part can visit their website www.24thousand.co.nz/class and sign their petition and more information on adult community education can be found on our website.