Specialised evening classes offered

Press, 1 September 1989, Page 19

Specialised evening classes offered

Community education programmes are being offered at a number of Christchurch high schools during the third term. Some schools, especially Papanui and Hagley, run large comprehensive community programmes. Others have smaller programmes, but put emphasis on more specialised subjects. Burnside High School is one which offers a smaller number of specialised classes. According to the school’s community education coordinator, Robin Besley, Burnside attempts to link evening classes with the day school activities. “For example, the school has a very good horticultural course presented by good tutors. It seemed logical, therefore, to extend this to our evening classes. We are running a horticultural spring course during the third term.

“Another area is the performing arts. Burnside High School is known throughout New Zealand for its achievements in music and the performing arts. We therefore have the facilities to offer some innovative community programmes.

“This year, for example, the school was involved in establishing a new Christchurch concert band, ‘No Strings At-

tached.’ This is an orchestra without string instruments. The leader is also the tutor and the concert band is run as a night class.

“We also have our keyboard laboratory. This year, with evening class funds, we purchased some keyboards to cater for the many people who are over 40 but have always had a desire to play the piano.

“These people may not want to go in for individual tuition. By attending one of our classes, at very reasonable cost, they are able to give it a go. Many of these students have been very successful. In fact, our keyboard classes are among the most successful evening classes offered by the school.” During the third term, Burnside is offering 20 evening classes covering subjects such as cake decorating, dressmaking, computing, craft and woodwork. “Some of our courses are primarily designed to utilise our school facilities,” Mr Besley says. “Woodwork is a good example. Students come along to do their own thing. They supply their own wood, but benefit from the tutor’s advice and the on-site equipment. “Burnside is expanding the general arts courses. This year we ran a very

successful life drawing class during the first term. We also have an excellent pottery class in which the tutor caters for a variety of student interests,” Mr Besley says. Burnside High School has introduced some financially self-supporting classes this year. Generally, part of the expenses are paid for by the Government. According to Mr Besley, after next year, changes to Government funding could adverseley affect community education. "We do not know what will happen, but we consider that by establishing some self-supporting courses, our community school may survive even if the worst situation occurs. Generally, our selfsupporting evening classes have been very successful. “Patronage of courses at Burnside has been very good this year and we have been encouraged by the positive response from those attending. “We believe that good tutors have given us a good reputation and we tend to work in areas that are not just a duplication of what every other school does. By providing small programmes in specific areas we have found our niche in community education.”