Parents act over school plagued by violence

Melody Delamere points the finger at some wrongly dressed students at Rangitahi College's front gate. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Parents have been forced to take their children's education into their own hands at a North Island school plagued by drug use, violence and the abuse of teachers and students.

And despite the Ministry of Education sending in a commissioner - its highest level of intervention - to sort out problems at Rangitahi College in Murupara nearly two years ago, a damning Education Review Office report says there has been little progress.

Yesterday, parents at the school 45 minutes southeast of Rotorua, were patrolling the college gates ensuring pupils were wearing the correct uniform.

Other parents were doing their bit to combat the school's high absenteeism rate by picking up children in vans and getting them to school on time.

"We can't be doing all the teachers' jobs but we are trying to get more involvement from parents - that's what our school needs," said Melody Delamere, who has two sons at the college and heads a group called Parent Force. "What happens inside the school gates is their responsibility but we try and do what we can on the outside."

A recent ERO supplementary review report of Rangitahi College revealed staff were forced into a situation where they were managing student behaviour rather than promoting learning and achievement.

The report said the decile one school, with a roll of 47 boys and 46 girls, was "not always a safe environment for staff and students".

"There is evidence of verbal abuse of staff, disobedience by students, instances of theft, vandalism, damage to school property, bullying, fighting and use of illegal drugs by students."

Levels of student achievement at the school were low - just a handful of students managed NCEA Level 1 in 2006 and none passed levels 2 and 3.

Commissioner John Carlyon, whose role is to change the policies, procedures, culture and relationships covering virtually all areas within the school, said the report was devastating. "It was accurate and with no surprises but it's still hard when you see it written like that."

Mr Carlyon, who replaced the school's Board of Trustees in 2005, said it was crucial the community had more involvement.

"I have no doubt at all that until the school is able to work with the community in a partnership the school is going to continue to face difficulties, so I'm thrilled these groups are on board."

He expected to see positive changes at the school this year. "It's not optional, things have to change.

"I've been disappointed that the expectations we agreed to in 2007 were not achieved. I know it's been hard for the school and management but I expected things to have been better."

Ministry of Education schools performance manager Marilyn Scott said lifting the school's performance was not something that would happen immediately. "Nor can it be one person's job to fix an entire school," she said in reference to Mr Carlyon.

"In order to succeed, the commissioner needs the school staff, community and students to all contribute and be positive about change."

The ministry had not set a timeframe for the school to return to normal governance.

Principal Noel Morrison, who came from South Auckland last year, said 2007 was a "consolidation year" and he expected to see a turnaround from the community's and school's more stringent approach to absenteeism.

Other community groups including health and drug counsellors and parents helping out with sports afternoons would make an impression on his students.

* 'KIDS WILL TRY TO HIDE THEIR COLOURS FROM YOU'

Every school day, a group of Murupara parents and school staff wait at Rangitahi College's gates to ensure tardy pupils get to class on time and in the correct uniform.

One of the group, teacher Pam Robinson, keeps a log of who's wearing what, students' arrival time and the names of pupils who have tried to slip their gang regalia back on when they reach the other side of the field.

"You get a few kids who'll show up and they'll try and hide their colours from you, then put them back on when they're on the other side," said Ms Robinson, who has a special role at the school to tackle its high absenteeism rate.

The group of concerned parents, who banded together late last year following a shocking Education Review Office report severely critical of their children's school, have also taken it upon themselves to provide transport for kids who live a long way out or are likely to be absent.

"Whatever the report says, we have to do something about it, it's simple, so that's why we have come together as a group," said Melody Delamere, a 37-year-old mother of five and another former pupil.

No uniform? No problem. The group have also set up an op-shop of donated clothes for children whose parents cannot afford to buy them.

"We can recognise our kids now, I went to an assembly the other day and I saw so many uniforms and not a multi-range of colours," said Mrs Delamere.

The group, who take a zero tolerance attitude towards drugs and crime, are keen to inject a sense of pride among students and their school.

"We try to tell the kids that the school emblem on their shirt is their colour, not some gang thing," said Ms Robinson.

Signs promoting family, safety and the community have been painted throughout the school grounds and the small township's centre.

"All of us are here but the process is slow," said Mrs Delamere.