Discovery One School "Completely Bizarre"

Thursday 19 October 2000

" Discovery One - with its third floor classrooms above a fire hazard and fourth floor play ground - seems 'completely bizarre', not Concerned Teachers," said Concerned Teachers spokesperson Peter Calvert. Mr Calvert was responding to criticisms of his comments made by former Christchurch Mayor Vicky Buck, founder of the school.

"Surely it is instead bizarre to place a school for primary pupils above a food court, and to risk pupils falling four floors from a top storey playground," said Mr Calvert.

"Most people in Christchurch think it bizarre to plan to locate a children's school at a Major Bus 'Crossing' or Depot where traditionally layabouts and people on drugs hang out," said Mr Calvert. "Many consider it bizarre to place a school where 24 hour video cameras operate to reduce crime - weekend working bees and evening parent meetings will be interesting (bring a cosh, not a plate!)"

"And surely it is bizarre that a Labour Government would help the Ballantynes set get richer by funding such a school through its 'Closing the Gaps' policy. And what about a Government which recently changed the law to stop schools selecting their pupils and forced them to ballot, allowing Discovery One to select its students. It seems the new Board even intends to offer 'trial placements'," said Mr Calvert.

"What about local schools around the edge of town who could be destabilised by the launch of Discovery One," said Mr Calvert.

"It is bizarre that this school is taxpayer funded and not a private school," said Mr Calvert. "Concerned Teachers is seeking information under the Official Information Act about how approvals for this school occurred."

Ends:

For More information contact: Peter Calvert 021 2111 825

E-mail ConcernedTeachers@xtra.co.nz

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