The New Zealand Parent Teacher Association is pleased that a system of mediation is being set up for schools who are at
present in the throes of review', said Diane O'Sullivan, Secretary of the organization.
It is a fact that some parents want changes and others don't - depending on the quality of the school that their
children attend and whether or not they can afford to 'choose' to change school.
We recommend that communities go along with the mediation proposal and that, more importantly, the mediators listen to
the parents and community with the same care that they listen to the principals and teachers.
Yes, their jobs are on the line but it is OUR CHILDREN, whose education and possible life chances are at stake, which
means that we, as parents, should be listened to most carefully.
Parents do know what they want - they have not often been asked in the past. There is very definitely a need to enhance
parent involvement.
Now that the heat has been taken out of the reviews, we urge all parents to communicate with the facilitators and put
forward their views. In this way a constructive solution can be achieved with far less fear and anger attached'.