Unique school run on sheep station to face axe

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Thu, 03 Nov 2011 7:00p.m.

Around New Zealand schools continue to be closed down.

Under Education Minister Anne Tolley's leadership, 33 schools have gone. Another six are marked for closure - including Paerau School which Campbell Live reported on a few weeks ago.

And now the last remaining correspondence unit is facing the same fate.

The Haldon unit - on a merino sheep station in the Mackenzie Basin - runs just like a school, but the children have a supervisor rather than a teacher, and their lessons are planned by the correspondence school in Wellington.

Their funding is heading for the axe, and with the end of a very unique classroom, so ends a New Zealand tradition.

Watch Natasha Utting’s report

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Comments

04 Nov 2011 08:37p.m.

ex haldon road wrote:

SKY you should be ashamed of yourself denying 6 kids an education.People who don't understand the circumstances should keep their opinions to themselves! The Haldon residents pay huge taxes just like everyone else and they get stuff all for it, don't deny their kids an education of all things!

04 Nov 2011 11:46a.m.

Lyn wrote:

This is disgraceful. Are the big wigs in Weelington going to pay for the transportation of these children or for home schooling? They obviously have no idea of the life on these stations. Some one has to find time to home school, not easy when often all hands are required for farming activities. The CEO and Anne Tolley need to actucally visit the area (preferably when the roads are at their worst)instead of making executive decisions from the comfort of their offices where coffee is delivered to them. There are plenty of people in cities using correspondence when a school is nearby. Look into those. Some do it for health reasons, but not all. If money is a problem cut the CEO and the minister's salaries.What happened in investing in our future?

04 Nov 2011 10:06a.m.

Jan wrote:

What they say and what they do are two very different things...Our children have a right to education. But it looks like it will be on their terms. Will be taught what they say and where they get it... Democracy or is the question? I say if this Government gets back in then we get what we deserve.....

04 Nov 2011 10:06a.m.

Jan wrote:

What they say and what they do are two very different things...Our children have a right to education. But it looks like it will be on their terms. Will be taught what they say and where they get it... Democracy or is the question? I say if this Government gets back in then we get what we deserve.....

04 Nov 2011 08:00a.m.

Sherie whelan wrote:

All we want is what everyone should want a chance to do the best for our children, I think all children in New Zealand should be able to get the best education possible regardless of how poor or rich there parents. Why are we debating this its about kids and because that it matters

04 Nov 2011 07:53a.m.

Karli wrote:

RE Tom Santing: I to live on the Haldon road, and I can assure you it is neither tarsealed to the station driveway or only 30 kms to Fairle. Before you comment I suggest you take a bit more time investigating the facts, and maybe a drive up our long dusty road!

04 Nov 2011 07:41a.m.

Alison wrote:

I have just read Tom's comment about how far away they are for a regular school and I think he might be lost! It is a long long way up the (mainly gravel) Haldon road to "Dog Kennel Corner" (where the bus to Fairlie School is) and then about another 20 minutes drive over the Burkes Pass to Fairlie. This school is very important to those families - it means they can not only learn together but learn important social skills along the way. The correspondence school was set up to help rural families - living too far from a regular school - to access education in the best way possible. Instead the correspondence school is increasingly moving away from this core business into looking after children that have been expelled/excluded from regular schools (not exactly an ideal solution!). The cost of petrol for all these families plus educating them in another school is sure to equal this ammount - save the Haldon School!

03 Nov 2011 10:08p.m.

Sky wrote:

The money would be well spent to catering a large array of children opposed to 6, wouldn't you think? $40,000 a year for 6 kids? gosh.

03 Nov 2011 09:51p.m.

fish face wrote:

@ Bernard. Spot on!!!!!!

03 Nov 2011 09:26p.m.

Phred wrote:

People have to realise. The cost of keeping politicians in the manner they expect is rising daily. Closing this school is just enough to cover an extra latte a day for each MP.