Russell Peninsula Families Rule
Friday 21 Nov 2003
Deborah Coddington
Press Releases -- Education -- Save Our Schools
Families on the Russell Peninsula know what's best for their children, not Education Minister Trevor Mallard, ACT New
Zealand Education Spokesman Deborah Coddington said today.
"Last night on Holmes the children, parents, teachers and community doctor put forward a strong case why the schools on
the Russell Peninsula should not be closed.
"Children will be spending a extra hour a day on a school bus - on twisty, narrow back roads.
"One of the school's roll has grown 500 percent in the last 20 years.
"These children are getting a very good education. Their parents support their schools. They are in an area with high
unemployment so they need extra care to make sure they become autonomous, independent citizens.
"I hope when Mr Mallard visits them tonight, he will listen to their arguments and agree with them.
"What they have in this area is not broken, so the Minister shouldn't be trying to fix it.
"The sign erected on the roadside by the good people of Russell Peninsula said it all: LET PARENTS CHOOSE," Miss
Coddington said.
ENDS
online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.