Hollow words

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 513, 23 November 1993, Page 4

Hollow words

□ In your last Bulletin the Ruapehu Principals Association replied to the call by June Bates for a public meeting to discuss education issues arising at a local school. The principals stated that 'The new educational environment encourages greater parental/ caregiver involvement in education and the avenue to influence policy and direction through the Board of Trustees ...' and 'our students in the Waimarino deserve the best in education, schools and parents/ caregivers can achieve this by working together through the Board of Trustees'. I agree with these statements whole-heartedly but my experience with the school in question left me feeling that they are 'hollow words'.

In June I, along with several others, wrote a letter to the Principal on issues concerningthe 'Bilingual Unit'. I enclose a key piece of that letter to show that the concerns were not trivial. 'There have been a lot of staff changes in the last few months, and we would like to know why. Four excellent teachers are no longer teaching in the unit. These four women had such a positive effect on the bilingual unit and the children were not afraid to be themselves, had good self-esteem and loved their teachers and their work. The unit has gone down hill in the last six months, behaviour seems to have deteriorated at school and at home. A lot of children are not happy, especially the younger children. Why?' These questions were followed by a list of very direct questions. The written answers we received from the principal did not answer any of the questions satisfactorily so I approached the Principal directly. Once again I was fobbed off by being told that the parents who had written the letter were a select few and that I should attend a bilingual unit meeting in a few weeks. That meeting was held - but not on the advertised date and the parents were not notified of the change of date. I then wrote a letter to the Board of Trustees telling them the situation and asking them as my representatives to bring the matter up at their next meeting, 30 June 1993. 1 am still waiting for an answer from the BOT. In the meantime I have had to withdraw my children from the bilingual unit and the school because of the situation within the school. The point I am making is this - before the Principals Association start preaching from on high about 'Tomorrows Schools' they should make sure that their house is in order, and that of their BOT's too. Ann Newman PS I have copies of my correspondence to verify what I am saying.