Anti-college activists get their way - for now

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Fri, 24 Jun 2011 10:52p.m.

By Liz Puranam

The Ministry of Education has given in to public pressure and stopped construction on a college for troubled teenagers.

Residents of Bucklands Beach in Auckland have been protesting the school, which they say poses a threat to their children.

Just two days ago, the site was being prepared for the construction of Thurston Place College. Now, all work has come to a halt.

"We're very happy," says Michael Williams. "We're very happy that the Government is giving us a chance to have a say into what goes into our community and where it goes."

After weeks of protest by Bucklands Beach residents, the ministry issued a statement today, saying: "Construction of a proposed new school has been put on hold to allow proper consultation to take place with neighbouring schools and the wider community."

Education Minister Anne Tolley added: "Local people have not been given the opportunity to learn the facts about the new school, and I'm very concerned about the level of misinformation and malice that has been spread."

So, it looks like the people of Bucklands Beach have got what they wanted.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Education says it will find a way to deliver the specialist care the kids who are to attend Thurston Place College need.

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Comments

04 Jul 2011 08:51p.m.

Liam Puku wrote:

Youre both right! Troubled teens is a nicer way of saying the Those Violent Oafs who got off at court cos they are too young.
Its a real problem for whitey cos there doesnt seem anywhere to escape the poorly brought up / non brought up / run wild masses who are moving north. Maybe he will grow a pair?

01 Jul 2011 05:43p.m.

Kay wrote:

I hope the Ministry knows that "proper consultation" includes a real opportunity to make changes to a proposal, not just waiting for a quiet moment to continue with the original plan. The Bucklands Beach people should read up on "consultation" and "Wellington Airport" for a Court ruling that stopped a project because of flawed consultation. This was years before Wellywood but that's another example of good community action.

01 Jul 2011 10:56a.m.

Greg wrote:

@mia : Of course you are entitled to your opinion, but I consider that an overwhelming majority of the BB community would not agree with you. I agree that almost euphemistic labels were used to hide the thing the BB community was most concerned about here: actual increased risk to kids at nearby schools and the community at large. "Behavioural issues" is inappropriate in conveying a sense of that risk and there was a reluctance from officials to expand on that. But using terms like 'scumbags' is also inappropriate because it is a)judgemental, b)insulting and c)not helpful in relation to understanding the risk either. It would be like me calling you an a-hole stirrer based on your comments. That would be insulting and judgemental (by assuming the main motivation behind your comment is to incite others - which may not be true)- but is also inappropriate because it is unhelpful in explaining the risk associated with your comments. The risk is that people reading your comments might assume you are from the area and that a majority of local people think as you do. Whether you are local is unclear. But the second part is definitely not the case. Of the (at least) 50 or so people I have spoken to directly about this school -all of whom opposed the school being located at this site- none share your way of thinking.

28 Jun 2011 09:10a.m.

Mia wrote:

I dont think scum bag is inappropriate thank you... i think it matches quite well and i do believe saying troubled teens with behavioural problems (and what i have read about what these kids are like) it is just a nice way of saying it...

27 Jun 2011 05:33p.m.

BB resident wrote:

Mia and Pauline. I've attended all the public meetings about this issue and BB residents go out of their way to be as fair to these kids as possible. Language like "scum bags" is completely inappropriate - and I agree with Tina, it seems suspiciously like MOE propaganda.

27 Jun 2011 12:46p.m.

Mia wrote:

Tina... they are little scum bags and its not the ministry of educations fault.. its those kids parents and family lifes fault... get over yourself because thats what people think they are, troubled teens and behavioural problems is just a nicer way of saying it...

25 Jun 2011 06:39p.m.

CJ wrote:

Activists?? So local schools and parents asking the Ministry of Education for consultation and health and safety assurances is called Activism these days? Great headline TV3. Next one should be Minister of Education tells a different story every time she speaks. I wonder where the misinformation comes from.

25 Jun 2011 04:28p.m.

Tina wrote:

Pauline C are you working for the Anne Tolley propaganda team that has been trying so hard to portray Bucklands Beach residents as rednecks? No one in their right mind thinks these students are "little scumbags". The people of Bucklands Beach want the students to have a quality education and all the help they need. However, building an experimental school for 100 teenagers with serious behavioural problems next to a primary school is a bad idea. The ministry of education has failed these students too many times. Plans for Thurston Place College were rushed and ill advised. We don't want another Felix Donnelly College. It is great news Anne Tolley has been forced to put the plans on hold and conduct proper consultation.

25 Jun 2011 12:33a.m.

Pauline C wrote:

This is very good news, only a half wit would allow these little scumbags near a primary school, or any school for that matter!.