Wow!  40 visits since yesterday.....that’s something of a record.  We can only imagine the scenes in several houses yesterday as people realised that their “secret” back-stabbing is now public knowledge; yet more parents stitched up by Management, not that we’re that sympathetic in this case.  

We were busy, however, making another video which we hope to put up tonight.  It is, in a way, an answer to the accusation that we are the only people to have had these concerns, because we are receiving correspondence from others who have also come up against this intransigent and illegal treatment when they tried to question bullying at the school.  

At the secret meeting, it was posited that our website is unbalanced.  Duh!  We couldn’t agree more.  Let’s remind everyone then that we have an OPEN INVITATION to anyone with a point of view to come and be interviewed for a video that will then be posted on this site.  What could be more democratic than that?

Has anyone at the school offered to give us a voice?  I don’t think so.  (Actually we know that people did suggest this at the meeting, Yay... but Mr Thornton apparently didn’t want anyone to.  Boo).

Mark Thornton doesn’t want you to come and talk to us.  Gosh, have you asked yourselves why not?  Let us guess, has he been only too willing to talk to you about it, perhaps on an individual basis? A quick whisper in your ear?  That’s probably straight out of what must be his favourite bedside book, “The Prince” by Machievelli.  Tell everyone something a little bit different, and then if someone squawks, you know who it was.

Wise up people.  It’s sooooo obvious.

One proviso.  Anyone who comes here for an interview will get just that, an interview.  Real questions will be asked and fluff will be identified as such.  Crass generalisations such as “boys are like this that or the other”, don’t qualify as a point of view, because that is just a prejudice.  Real facts are what is needed to create balance, not more prejudice.

So there you go, if there is a real position at the school as to why they chucked out a whole family who complained about bullying, because the class is rife with it, let’s hear it.

Let the people decide.  (Once they are in full possession of the facts that is.)

To the end of everyone being in full possession on the facts, we are aware that many parents think that we “interrogated” children on the video that day when we should have had the meeting and instead were chucked out.  We’ve scratched our heads about this and have decided that a representative from the school should be invited to come and look at the whole video.  We want to put everyone’s minds at rest about this even though we can undertake to promise never to use any accidental footage of any child or parent.  We want you all to know that we did not

a)interview or interrogate any parents or children

b) take the camera into the classroom.

The person who does this will do it on behalf of all of you.  It needs to be someone without vested interest (hard to find actually), or at least someone capable of a balanced point of view.  Also it needs to be someone who has demonstrated calmness of mind because we were very upset that day, and the video is also upsetting.  We have someone in mind for this and are asking them if they would be prepared to do this for the good of everyone.  More on this soon.

No-one has responded to our challenge to put up or shut up, by the way.  So I guess all those parents are going to stand by their comments and put their names to them publicly then, we’ll get to that when we’ve finished the video.

Meanwhile........a sample of positive feedback for this website.......

FROM INSIDE THE STEINER SCHOOL

“considerable talent”

“all the best to you all with this”

“I have read all your archives and mails, and your annoyance and anger [at] the school is absolutely justified.”

“It takes balls to do what you have done and stand up against these corrupt hypocrites”

“I miss seeing you both at the school everyday and I'm sure your kids miss being there.”

FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

“We admire your sticking to your guns. Most parents who have been, or are in your position are too reluctant to stand up and rock the boat for fear of being branded as a troublemaker.”

“I am sure other parents who are interested in the Steiner philosophy in west auckland would like to hear the WHOLE story too.”

“It needs a parent group calling for these changes and nothing less - and that needs majority support by parents.  Until this can happen the school will continue with its autocratic pseudo spiritual arrogance and be accountable only to itself. That is why the teachers oppose integration and in fact even sabotaged efforts some years ago when it was an option!”

AND FROM THE INTERNET - far and wide

“very well put together and should be of great interest to people.”

“the fact that you've had so many hits in such a little time...that goes to show you’re not alone...”

“wooooo the website is strong!..... strong in a good way...”

“what was presented I find disturbing, and if true, and as a Steiner School .. they have stained the cloak of a humane and large international organisation.”

And still, Titirangi Steiner School has nothing to say.