NZ government now wants to control the speech from academics. Te Kupenga is an organization that centralized ALL universities and Technical Institutes last year. The centralization happened because Ardern claimed it was fairer - i.e. they must all charge the same fees. However...the true intention is now coming out. It was never about the fees.
The article is here:
The article states that this is not compulsory, it is to be treated as guidance. But we have all seen how that 'guidance' played out during Covid. The government published 'guidance' and employers made mandates for ALL employees, in some cases. Such 'guidance' removes culpability from the government. Handy.
Apart from the gendered pronoun stuff we are all familiar with:
The cover story is that Academics are now deemed to be 'public servants' and so their speech must be 'neutral' - so no 'political' opinions (read anti government) can be expressed. This also, fundamentally, attacks anyone even attempting subjective, or qualitative analysis. Even though such work has been done by law students, philosophy students and religious studies etc. Anything investigating morality or ethics is under the gun. How can one investigate political science, for example, if anything running counter the government narrative will be considered as subversive. This is very dangerous.
Furthermore, academics are now not allowed to use the words "Treaty of Waitangi' but MUST use the Maori version - even as the Treaty was written in two languages. A bit of a power grab from the Maori radicals, there. Note that the Maori version is Te Tiriti o Waitangi - thus, pidgin. Maori did not have a word for treaty, before that particular piece of paper was introduced and signed.
Also the word 'student' must now be replaced with 'learner'. WTF. The word is not even gendered. I talked about it with my partner, and we came to the conclusion that a student studies, which implies at least some independent analysis. While a 'learner' is more subordinate, and must regurgitate what the 'teacher' tells them to say.
Oh, and academics are no longer allowed to used the word 'staff'. So that's a head scratcher. How does one replace a collective word for staff that isn't staff? I wasn't aware the word 'staff' was offensive. Can anyone elucidate?
Sidenote: I have two teens in the secondary system. One of the trends is for teachers to pepper their English with Maori words, when on the phone, or writing letters. I understand some of those words from context and familiarity - but there constantly are new ones. I ALWAYS tell them to speak English, or I will hang up. I tell them that I speak four languages, and never in my time of learning to speak them, have I encountered the shmushing of two languages - to be passed off as 'English'. I cannot abide pidgin - not in academia. Do it to anyone else but me.
NZ government now wants to control the speech from academics. Te Kupenga is an organisation that centralized ALL universities and Technical Institutes last year. The centralization happened because Ardern claimed it was fairer - i.e. they must all charge the same fees.
The article is here:
Apart from the gendered pronoun stuff we are all familiar with:
The cover story is that Academics are now deemed to be 'public servants' and so their speech must be 'neutral' - so no 'political' opinions (read anti government) can be expressed. This fundamentally attacks anyone even attempting subjective , or qualitative analysis. Even though such work has been done by law students, philosophy students, etc. Anything investigating morality or ethics is also under the gun. How can one investigate political science, for example if anything running counter the government narrative will be considered as subversive. This is very dangerous.
Furthermore, academics are now not allowed to use the words "Treaty of Waitangi' but MUST use the Maori version - even as the Treaty was written in two languages. A bit of a power grab from the Maori radicals, there.
Also the word 'student' must now be replaced with 'learner'. WTF. The word is not even gendered. I talked about it with my partner, and we came to the conclusion that a student studies, which implies at least some independent analysis. While a 'learner' is more subordinate., and must regurgitate what the 'teacher' tells them to say.
Oh, and academics are no longer allowed to used the word 'staff'. So that's a head scratcher.