Tolley’s zoning proposal ‘perverse’

I would like to thank those of you who gave very rapid rebuttal to Anne Tolley’s proposal to automatically accept siblings into overcrowded schools.

I am expressing my personal view, and largely based on previous personal experience of zoning administration with a primary school board.

I have experienced in Auckland the exponential growth that schools can suddenly go through when demographics change or when perceptions of schools change, and the funding and logistical difficulties that can follow. Popular schools on small sites are already under huge pressures to manage capacity. I think it is in all of our best interests if we encourage the public to look at the big picture.

This is my initial appraisal of the perverse effects that Anne Tolley’s change might produce. If a family puts (say) three family members into ballots for various school years – by winning any one of the three ballots, they could presumably enrol the two unsuccessful students as well (plus three in the future, still at primary school!)

Also, what happens if a Board, in trying to build Year 7 and 8 into viable classes, accepts one family member because there is space. Would they then be forced to overcrowd the more junior classes with the siblings? Conversely, if a young sibling is enrolled for new entrants, would that automatically entitle the older siblings to be accepted into overcrowded senior classes?

I am also wondering if the open door for siblings will encourage more out-of-zone enrolments in the first place. When families apply for an out-of-zone enrolment, they presumably factor in the risk that one child may be accepted and others may not. Now more families will be encouraged to get their “foot in the the door”.

Conversely, will schools still offer as many places, knowing that there could be “hidden” unknowns among siblings of those accepted? How will this increase access for students with specific curriculum needs.Actually, won’t this tilt the odds against single child families – I would bet Anne Tolley never thought of that!

I have just thought of more issues. What about siblings in BLENDED families??!!! What about half-brothers and half-sisters? What about phony de facto relationships that might spring into life to get more kids in the door? Should schools have to get into biological family trees, or go through procedures similar to those associated with matrimonial property? How much resource will schools need to devote to identify deserving and non-deserving cases, and will they come up with definitive answers? Will some schools simply come up with answers that suit them; i.e. that will depend on the “desirability” of the applying student?

The above may sound far-fetched to someone out of touch with this system, but at our zoned primary school, we saw some EXTREME behaviours by “desperate” families.
Elsewhere I could tell you stories about “instant conversions” of families to Roman Catholicism to try to get on Catholic quotas – and some mirth when they failed. I could tell you about a girl who was declined access to a Roman Catholic school as a protestant- but was finally accepted through application of her biological father – through the faith of her biological father’s de facto partner perhaps (although we heard rumours of a personal donation as well!)

I can see that Anne Tolley would regard her idea as common sense. Unfortunately for politicians, and as Lockwood Smith found out as a previous National minister, you do need more than common sense to come up with viable zoning policy. The unintended consequences can be massive.

I am afraid this announcement severely dents my confidence in the readiness of National to take charge of the Education portfolio, which means for me that I do not see a National Government in-waiting at present.

I am copying this to the Minister of Education in the hope that the Government will get immediately on the front foot on this issue. Now is the PERFECT time to debate Education issues, not when the big Tax Cut Auction commences in earnest.
Regards
George Burrell