Integration 'a big change’

Press, 10 May 1979, Page 21

Integration 'a big change’

The Ministei of Education (Mr Wellington) does not see the senool integration ! legislation being used as a means of promoting growth [of private schools at the expense of State schools in an address prepared for independent school princi pals and teachers in Christ church. Mr Wellington said integration ‘would be a big consideration jin New Zealand education iover the next few years. It (was the biggest structural j change in mote than 100 years of education. Mr Wellington said co operation and tolerance were (vital—all must work to gather to maintain a high standard. Secondary schools in New Zealand were beginning to feel the impact of falling rolls. Before any private (secondary school was integrated, Mr Wellington said. Ihe must ensure there was (adequate consultation with I.State schools that might be jaffected in any way. Mr Wellington said he saw (that the private school integrating into the State sysItem would have to accept a (limitation on its roll numbers. This would have to be (set in accordance with its 'present rolls and pattern of enrolment over the last few (years. It was far too soon for an “effective review of integration legislation, said Mr Wellington. Experience would have to be gained from the integration of several schools before any legislative changes could be promoted. Mr Wellington said he did not say this lightly as (the compromise of views (which the legislation represented was all too clear to I him. The continuing good will and dialogue between ini terested parties was encouraging. he said. Reporters were excluded from the meeting, which was attended by delegates to the conferences of the Association of Heads of Independent Secondary Schools, the Association of Heads of Independent Primary Schools, and the Independent Schools Assistant Teachers’ Association. | Reporters who arrived to (cover the meeting were (told that they had not been (invited, and that delegates

wanted lo I* able to spe ' Ireelx with Mi Wellington The secretary of the Goin mittee for Defence of Sei it lac Education (Mr J Mui heron said on Tuesday tha the Minister should indeed b concerned that the Integra lion of independent school into the State school syMetl was causing misunderstand ing and reviving old tensions A first step towards ai understanding and an easily ;of "tension” would be t< open up the records of th State aid conference am show the public just hov well the State schools wei represented. Mr Muihero, said. Then perhaps the pul: lie could have some idea o what integration would meat to State education. Mr Wellington should no be puzzled by so many re quests to establish prtvat schools. Once estahlishec these schools would apply t be integrated so that the could be fully State-fundi-schools with spec la privileges, he said. The granting of million of dollars of taxpayer money to improve the pri vate property of integral u schools while State school suffered further cuts wouh certainly lead to tension am misunderstanding. The Government shoulc consider the secular charac ter of State schools to b every hit as special as th sectarian nature of priva , schools, Mr Mulheron said.