Backlash as academics warned to remain ‘politically neutral’ ahead of general election
The boss of the country’s mega polytech has told all staff – including academics – they are “public servants” and must remain politically neutral ahead of this year’s general election.
The apparent muzzling order from Te Pūkenga chief executive Peter Winder has prompted a swift backlash, as academic freedom has protection under law.
In a statement sent to thousands of staff, Winder said: “As a Crown entity, Te Pūkenga and all of our people are public servants.
“That means we have obligations of confidentiality, neutrality and separating our personal views from professional roles.”
No no no! Academics (and BBC Soccer commentators) are protected to speak truth to power!!!
We need more academics commentating on policy, Academics are completely different to Government appointees, we need and demand our academics engage with the debate!
On top of this gag order, Te Pūkenga has an Orwellian list of woke words that are now cancelled…
Te Pūkenga tells academics not to say words like ‘staff’, ‘students’ or ‘Treaty of Waitangi’
The row over academic freedom at Te Pūkenga – the country’s largest tertiary provider – has rumbled on after it emerged staff have been issued with a list of words they should and should not use.
The 30-page internal “style guide” was published in February, two months after Peter Winder became chief executive, to ensure its “written and verbal communication is uniform” and “in line with Te Pūkenga values and reflects the needs of our priority audiences”.
Under the guidelines, the words “student” and “trainee” are discouraged, the “preferred terms” being “ākonga” (student) or “learners”.
…ugh.
Apolitical and woke AF.
What a bland, brittle and shallow education factory.
Increasingly having independent opinion in a mainstream media environment which mostly echo one another has become more important than ever, so if you value having an independent voice – please donate here.
If you can’t contribute but want to help, please always feel free to share our blogs on social media
This is an ongoing debate. And a bit of a fucking joke in this instance actually–even arch liberal Peter Hughes slapped Winder down…
“However, Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes pointed out that, because Te Pūkenga is a tertiary education institution, it is not subject to the commission’s code of conduct or general election guidance.
“The commission has no mandate over academics in these matters.”
I recall when then Prime Minister Key attacked Eleanor Catton for daring to put her head up on neo liberalism.
https://www.ibtimes.com.au/new-zealand-pm-john-key-says-eleanor-catton-has-no-authority-political-issues-1417628
Public intellectuals and academics are an asset this country needs more of. Nicky Hager has to be the classic case of what can happen if you are isolated.
Utterly outrageous. If I worked for this organisation, it would mean I had just been told not to refer to my husband as my husband. I must call him my partner or my spouse. It’s absolutely 1984.
Chip pie set this disaster of the merged mega polytech (words its staff have been told not to use) in action. How much did the polytech merger cost again.?
How much does the authoritarian who runs the polytech earn?
Mega polytechnic merger, mega polytechnic merger, mega polytechnic merger….
Who would have thought repeating these three little words would be an act of political rebellion!
Comments are closed.