Roses are red, pupils are blue on Valentine's Day

By REBECCA WALSH

If your Valentine is a student at Rangitoto College on the North Shore, don't send that box of chocolates or dozen red roses to the school.

It has banned flowers and gifts being delivered to students at school because principal Allan Peachey says they are a distraction and he cannot justify staff time spent dealing with them.

"Youngsters come to school to do English, maths and science, that sort of thing, not to have their attention disrupted."

Mr Peachey said the policy had nothing to do with the rise in popularity of Valentine's Day. He was not just being difficult. "We are not talking about a mini-workplace with half a dozen employees ... We have nearly 3000 students.

"I don't like the idea of people being able to get access to youngsters, whether it's attention that's sought or not."

Gifts should go to the student's home, he said.

But other schools have no objection to the idea.

Avondale College deputy principal Frankie Wynne estimated that 20 bunches of flowers might be delivered to students and staff on Valentine's Day and she was happy for that to happen.

"It's one day of the year. It's rather a nice thing having flowers."

Hamilton's Fraser High School principal Martin Elliott said it was good to see students thinking about one another. He encouraged students to send him flowers or chocolate cake.

Auckland Grammar head John Morris expected some of the boys to receive roses from girls.

"It's a bit of a laugh. It's quite embarrassing for them."