Education ultimatum

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 515, 7 December 1993, Page 4

Education ultimatum

• These are the facts. On 10 November 1993 I convened a public meeting so that parents "might have their say" as promised in Tomorrow's Schools. I also went into the (Ohakune Primary School) staff-room one morning tea time to invite the staff to that meeting. I first asked the principal for pernjission to do so. At the meeting 1 read from a discussion document "Education for the 21st Century" publi shed in 1 993 for the Ministry of Education. "This draft of education for the 21st century is designed to create public debate. It is the starting point to decide what we want from our education system " (Editor's note: enclosing quotation marks are the writer's ). Even though the evening

was subdued by a quite strong representation from the "establishment", it came across "loud and clear" that many parents are not happy with the vertical grouping and it was one of two topics on which a motion was passed: Namely to write to the BoT requesting that a public meeting be held at which information as to how vertical grouping was conceived and how it is working, would be presented. The letter-writer was also to inquire about the school' s homework policy. The reply to my letter read; "The Board of Trus-

tees acknowledges the receipt of your letter dated 1 9 November 1993. As it arri ved after the agenda closed it will not be discussed until our next meeting." At our meeting Wayne Marsh undertook to convey the concerns of the parents to that BoT meeting so one way or another, they should have been discussed. I have heard, unofficially, that Wayne did his best. Because of the false statement contained in the Ruapehu Bulletin 30 November 1993, page three, I see no other recourse than to say that unless I hear from the BoT within the next 10

days of a date being set for a public meeting, I shall write to the Ministry of Education. Education is the right, the treasure, the taonga of all.

June

Bates

EDITOR'S NOTE: Please see this page for a correction to the item in last week's Bulletin regarding Ohakune Primary School's bi-lingual unit.