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Catherine Groenesein / Things
St Joseph’s Catholic School Stratford sent the email to parents on Tuesday.
The Education Ministry plans to remind educators of the “proper approach” during election season after a Stratford Catholic school upset parents by sending an email with reasons for “voting no” in the referendums on euthanasia and cannabis.
The email, which was sent to the parents of students at St Joseph’s Catholic School in Stratford on Tuesday, came from Principal Chris Linders through the school’s office manager.
“You will find the attached information to help you make an informed decision about the upcoming referendum. It is also worth visiting www.votesafe.nz/quiz. It contains 10 questions and only takes a few minutes,” it read. “God bless you Chris.”
JANE MATTHEWS / Stuff
The email contained two documents stating why parents should “vote no” on cannabis and euthanasia.
Each attachment contained a document from valueyourvote.org.nz, which is run by the conservative social group Family First New Zealand.
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The documents were 20 reasons to vote no on cannabis and 20 reasons to vote no on euthanasia.
A school parent told the Herald of New Zealand they complained to the Ministry of Education and said that the note was “misleading” because the information provided offered only one side of the arguments: against the legalization of cannabis and euthanasia.
“I understand that the Catholic Church has a position on the sanctity of life, and that I have chosen to send my children to a Catholic school,” he said.
“The difference is that this is happening on the side of the school. It is not that it is not pro-life, I am, it is more than for me that there is a difference between the school and the educational sector and the Catholic Church.”
JANE MATTHEWS / Stuff
Parents at the school were concerned that email would only give one side of the argument, despite saying it would help make an “informed decision.”
Another parent said Herald of New Zealand: “The school has my personal email address for school-related matters, not for anything outside of school.”
Despite multiple attempts to contact the principal of St Joseph’s School Stratford, he did not respond.
In an emailed statement, Education Ministry Under Secretary for Sector Enabling and Support Katrina Casey said schools could display material encouraging staff and parents to vote, but could not display information about political parties.
“As a state agency, it must be politically neutral and cannot encourage voters to vote or not vote for specific parties, policies or candidates,” Casey said.
“To meet the requirements of the Public Service Commission, you must not allow billboards, posters, brochures, and other political party advertising materials at school.”
A ministry spokeswoman was unable to respond to further questions Wednesday, but said Thursday it would remind schools of the appropriate approach.
New Plymouth’s Francis Douglas Memorial College principal Martin Chamberlain said Catholic schools have a duty to share the “church’s position on things,” but must be careful not to tell people how to vote.
“It’s a murky issue,” Chamberlain said.
He said the problem got even more murky as the school is circulating information that is already in the public domain.
However, Chamberlain said that he personally would not have sent such emails.
