Buller school also admits handicapped

Press, 12 June 1986, Page 31

Buller school also admits handicapped

Westport reporter

Dunedin’s Kaikorai Valley High School is not the only senior school in New Zealand which has opened its doors to the intellectually handicapped — Buller High School has admitted them for the last five years. The principal, Mr David Nightingale, said the school had agreed to allow two intellectually handicapped pupils to continue their studies at the high school after the Education Department closed the classroom at the I.H.C. Centre in 1981. The class was closed because of falling rolls and the resignation of the teacher.

Mr Nightingale admitted the arrival of the new pupil strained the school’s resources at first as it had no specialist teachers or

facilities.

However, last year the Education Department allowed extra teacher hours to be allotted for the special pupils. This year, 15 hours a week is available for the two pupils. Jamie Moffitt, aged 16, and Joanne Hansen, aged 14.

Ms Evelyn Nixon is overseeing the programme with Ms Erica Nurse teaching part-time along with a teacher aide, Mr Trevor Dodd. They supervise and help with the pupils’ special Correspondence School lessons.

Jamie and Joanne attend high school full-time and when not receiving special tuition, join regular classes or are supervised by other teachers.

Mr Nightingale believes the acceptance of the in-

tellectually handicapped has helped all pupils.

“It is not all one-sided. It has altered the attitude of the other pupils. They don’t see them as strange any more,” said Mr Nightingale. As proof of the growing harmony, he cited the story of an I.H.C. resident who said that since other intellectually handicapped children had been at high school, she and other I.H.C. people were no longer given cheek or abused by pupils. Working and playing with the special pupils had helped others to see them in a different light, said Mr Nightingale.

Jamie Moffitt is in his third year at high school. Jamie’s mother, Mrs Sharon Moffitt, cannot speak too highly of the school in allowing her son the chance to live a more

normal life. She said Jamie had developed amazingly since he had been at Buller High School.

Recently, Jamie found a part-time job on his own initiative. Mrs Moffitt said his integration with high school pupils helped give him the necessary confidence to apply for it.

She said Jamie was active in a number of school activities such as the yacht club and social club, and he particularly enjoyed school dances.

Mrs Moffitt is full of praise for Jamie’s companions in the yacht club and at school who take time to help and look after him. She said her son could never have achieved the same companionship and learning if he had not been allowed entry to high school.