Jackie Blue: Committed to [insert region here]

Written By: - Date published: 9:50 am, November 10th, 2009 - 28 comments
Categories: national, spin - Tags:

An alert reader who, for reasons one can only wonder about, was on Jackie Blue’s website spotted this:

Tuesday, November 3. 2009
Launch of National Standards
Reading, writing and maths are the basic building blocks all children need to learn to get the best start in life.

Currently one in five students leave school without the skills they need to achieve. That’s why last week we launched National Standards….

…..The launch of National Standards follows months of consultation and feedback from teachers, parents and sector groups. It’s been great to receive positive feedback about National Standards and our other education initiatives from parents in [insert region here].

Ah, yes, the good people of [insert region here] have really got behind National Standards.

It’s not the first time Blue’s shown the local touch:

Wednesday, September 23. 2009
Generic Column – Lifting Education Standards
…National is dedicated to providing all children with the opportunities and tools they need to fulfil their potential. It’s been great to receive positive feedback about National Standards and our other education initiatives from parents in [insert region here]…

I wonder if there will be a National Standard in checking that you’ve inserted your piece of faux parochialism before posting the generic waffle written by the spin doctors. At least take out “Generic Column” – people will think you’re not being genuine!

On a slightly more serious note, that’s lying to your constituents, eh? “It’s been great to receive positive feedback about National Standards and our other education initiatives from parents in Mt Roskill (Blue’s buddy electorate)”. The supposed “positive feedback” is in fact just a concoction of National’s imagination, but they’ll tell you it’s true and that people in your community are all behind National Standards.

Great, now they’re making up glowing testimonials of their policies. When did our government become an infomercial?

Update: Anne Tolley got her copy of “Generic Column – Lifting Education Standards” in print. Doesn’t say much for the Gisborne Herald but at least someone remembered to take out [insert region here] and “generic column”.

PS. Here’s a fun game, how long will it take for National to correct the posts? Don’t worry, we’ve got a copy here

28 comments on “Jackie Blue: Committed to [insert region here] ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. felix 1
    10 November 2009 at 8:16 am

    National will probably threaten to sue the hosting company.

    (Also, last link (in small font) needs an “h”)

  3. John Dalley 3
    10 November 2009 at 8:31 am

    “One in five” are failing, that means four out of five are not or 20% are and 80% are not. So National in their infinite wisdom spend shit loads of money too engage with 100% of the kids instead of spending shit loads of money to help the 20%, brilliant.
    The brainless bunch of morons that is National makes a proverbial “mountain out of a mole hill” when the sensible thing to do would be to pour more resources into those whole could best do with the extra funds.

    • Daveosaurus 3.1
      10 November 2009 at 6:24 pm

      You think that’s bad? I have it on good authority that fifty percent – that is, one in every two – New Zealand school children are of below average intelligence!

  4. gobsmacked 4
    10 November 2009 at 8:48 am

    That’s hilarious!

    Then again, she’s just a modern True Blue. We know that John Key supports [insert policy here] because of a lifelong passionate commitment to [insert principle here].

  5. toad 5
    10 November 2009 at 8:50 am

    [insert region here] Dipton?

  6. prism 6
    10 November 2009 at 8:58 am

    Those who want to make policy without consulting with experienced researchers as to its effectiveness always can quote some nebulous agreement which consists probably of a group of inward-facing politicians forming a glee club warbling Oh what a good idea.
    John Dalley I agree about the 20/80 spending. It is crazy to measure what is already failing. We know there is a ‘tail’ of poor readers, etc.
    What is needed is appropriate coaching and including families. Suggested has been giving a grant to parents to help their children with their homework. That would raise both the income and the skill and education levels of child and parent, teaching and giving positive encouragement and endorsement being a skill that is learned.

  7. felix 7
    10 November 2009 at 8:59 am

    My guess is she’d been up all night on the DHMO when she posted it.

  8. frog 8
    10 November 2009 at 9:13 am

    Oh, why didn’t I think of [Generic Post] for my posts? Lol. Great scoop Marty!

  9. r0b 9
    10 November 2009 at 9:21 am

    Further astroturf sightings from:

    Gilmore in Christchurch:

    It’s been great to receive positive feedback about National Standards and our other education initiatives from parents in Christchurch East.

    And from Tolley herself in Gisborne:

    It has been great receiving positive feedback about national standards and our other education initiatives from parents in the Gisborne district.

  10. toad 10
    10 November 2009 at 9:35 am

    Nicky Wagner thinks sport is really important for the children of [insert region here] too.

  11. Bright Red 11
    10 November 2009 at 10:09 am

    jesus, how cynical are these pricks?

  12. SAL 12
    10 November 2009 at 10:36 am

    Rodney Hide is telling the truth. They’re so lazy – and cynical – they don’t even bother to read literature sent/posted in their own names!

  13. Jeremy 13
    10 November 2009 at 11:26 am

    Pansy Wong has posted it under John Key’s name as an ethnic column…

    http://www.pansywong.co.nz/post_lifting-education-standards_1494_988

    • felix 13.1
      10 November 2009 at 12:33 pm

      I do like Pansy’s accidental “peeking over the white wall” graphic.

      Very cute and unintentionally poignant.

  14. gobsmacked 14
    10 November 2009 at 11:38 am

    But wait, there’s more:

    Michael Woodhouse MP has a personal message for you …

    “It’s been great to receive positive feedback about National Standards and our other education initiatives from parents in Dunedin.”

    http://michaelwoodhousemp.blogspot.com/2009/10/lifting-education-standards.html

  15. Richard 15
    10 November 2009 at 11:52 am

    And they’ve been “corrected” now.

    So, it took about two hours.

    • gobsmacked 15.1
      10 November 2009 at 11:57 am

      It’s been great to receive positive feedback about National Standards and our other education initiatives from readers of the Standard.

  16. Brickley Paiste 16
    10 November 2009 at 12:08 pm

    “Currently one in five students leave school without the skills they need to achieve. That’s why last week we launched National Standards .”.

    That should be one in five students leaveS since one, as the loneliest number, is singular, not plural.

    Pretty sad in a release that is about how students can’t write good no more.

    • Daveosaurus 16.1
      10 November 2009 at 6:23 pm

      “One student in five leaves school” would be even clearer (although I’m not sure it’s absolutely grammatically correct either).

  17. The Voice of Reason 17
    10 November 2009 at 7:19 pm

    And here’s Chris Tremaine in the Hawke’s Bay Grey Power newsletter:

    http://www.greypower.co.nz/uploads/October%202009.pdf

  18. The Voice of Reason 18
    10 November 2009 at 7:32 pm

    I googled excerpts from other ‘news’ items from Blue’s website. As well as generic material, she is also plagiarising her boss’s speeches. The item on P is a cut and paste rip off of a speech he apparently gave a couple of days ago. Hope he sues.

    http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/tackling+p

    http://www.jackieblue.co.nz/index.php?/archives/205-Tackling-P.html

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