We are going to do better

Yesterday brought a shattering and confusing announcement to many Cantabrians. After announcing closures of schools and mergers of schools to tearful principals, and as the news rippled across the city and through schoolyards, the Ministry of Education was busy backtracking on at least one part of the announcement. The Stuff story is here.

There is no doubt as to the need for change - some areas are being depleted of population, other areas are growing.

Inevitably there are dollars which can be saved through one set of changes (e.g. mergers) in order to fund other changes (e.g. new schools).

But schools have characters which are worth considering in terms other than dollars and cents. That consideration could lead to imagination about change other than closure or merger. Avonside Girls High School and Shirley Boys High School have history, tradition, and, as it happens, quite a few pupils. Merging them with other schools begs a question or three about other solutions. My one, for what it is worth, is to re-establish them on land in the central city: still in contact with the east of Christchurch but  more accessible to pupils seeking single-sex education via bus from other parts of the city.

Our Diocese is embarking on a 'structural review'. I hope we can do better than the Ministry of Education. While these three sentences also apply to our situation (There is no doubt as to the need for change - some areas are being depleted of population, other areas are growing. Inevitably there are dollars which can be saved through one set of changes (e.g. mergers) in order to fund other changes (e.g. new schools). But schools have characters which are worth considering in terms other than dollars and cents.) there are also important differences. When all the dust is settled on the changes to Canterbury education, children have to go to school, so the new schools will work. But people do not have to go to church, and certainly do not have to go to an Anglican church.

I want to write more shortly about our structural review, but for now, we can learn how to do things better re communication and consultation. We could also usefully take note of where the new schools are going to be built. That is a big clue as to where we might build new churches!

ADDENDUM: Dunedin Diocese Change here.