Dear editor,
What an ill-conceived idea of having a super school, which seems to be anything but a ‘super idea’. I feel great sorrow for students and parents who have to put up with this disaster of an idea. What a pity that $20.5 million for the first stage could not go to the secondary schools already in use.
In The Adviser (Wednesday, July 3), Independent Member for Shepparton District, Suzanna Sheed said, “Members of the community have been fighting for investment in our secondary schools for nearly thirty years and now we have finally been able to achieve an outcome that will provide so many opportunities for our kids.” I could not agree more. We are all different; we don’t need to be cloned.
I’m quite sure students that apply themselves will do well, as has been the case over many years. What evidence do they have to back up that joining schools will achieve better outcomes for students? Yes, the students need to be provided with more opportunities than they are receiving now, but a super school is not going to be a miracle solution for the problems at hand.
Going to school is quite tough for many. Throwing students in the deep end with completely new surroundings will have devastating impacts on their lives. Did they ever ask what the people need? Clearly not because they have no idea how greatly impacted so many members of the community are going to be and the messy situation they have placed them in.
Yours sincerely,
Madge Merrylees
Shepparton.
