Ms Isaac and the Charter Schools

Mr Banks' appointment of Ms Isaac to run the Charter School trial is hardly surprising. This is an ACT-imposed, ill-thought through, ideological measure, more about asserting the presence of the private sector in state-funded education than building a stronger education system. Why would we expect anyone with educational background or qualifications to be involved in its running? The underpinning rationale - if you have a modicum of business experience, you can run anything - is exposed in all its arrogance in this appointment. And the targeting of South Auckland for this experiment by ACT reflects Mr Banks' own deep fear of the "brown masses" that he exposed in his election campaign for the Supercity mayoralty. The Right frequently harangues the Left about social engineering. The biter is indeed bitten in this case.