The summer is peaking out rather nicely in terms of heat and sunshine or, as one chap remarked to me the other day, "just like the Hawke's Bay summers we used to have".
Summers ripe for heading to the river or the beach, or taking to the waters in a
Editorial: Water skills essential in our schools
By Roger Moroney
Hawkes Bay Today·
2 mins to read
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But entering the water can be a risk for some, especially the younger ones who, unlike those from the early schooling era I went through, do not have access to a pool at school.
The pool we learned to initially float and flutterboard in was a very modest affair, but twice a week the classes would traipse to the changing shed with their towels and togs, and spend the next 30 minutes splashing and listening - listening to the sage advice from the "swimming teacher".
I got a couple of little coloured stickers at the end of one summer - one for being able to stay afloat and the other for dog-paddling two lengths.
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I became confident in the water, although never pushed it when the breakers came-a-rolling too big on Marine Parade. Learning to become confident in the water was, to me, vital, and still is.
Yet at many schools the pools have been closed up - due to the cost of maintaining them.
To me, that is not right.
It is no reflection on the school staff or boards because they would dearly love to have a pool, but the budget simply is not there.
We are an island nation and no one is far from water.
Every youngster should have the opportunity to learn water skills and receive tuition at school. As well as being practical and sensible it would also make the day a little more fun anyway.
The government needs to look at this. It needs to find funding (without stripping it from something else equally vital of course) to assist schools get back on the splashy track.