Letters: Girls' High students stood down

FILE

A selection of letters to the editor. You can comment below or write a letter to the editor here.

Principal Ally Gibbons is to be congratulated on her leadership stance to stand down the senior girls who exited school without permission, citing safety concerns (November 3). The students' actions of wilfully leaving the school grounds without permission rendered them truant from school. Therefore, accountability and repercussions lie directly with the students; not the principal.

It is evident that these young ladies are held in high esteem by their families and the school, and are blessed with bright futures ahead of them at university and, later, within our community. In a moment or two of high spirits, the "fun" has ended, for which there are now consequences. It's a learning curve that I am sure we have all had to deal with sometime in our lives. To the girls I would say learn from it and get on with your lives. The sun will rise tomorrow.

Principal Gibbons has drawn a line in the sand, in what I believe is a message of her concern for all her students' safety and well-being. Surely this level of professionalism should receive bouquets not brickbats.

JOHN HOOKER
Rotorua

In response to Paddi Hodgkiss' letter (Letters, November 5), I wish to state that I am not arguing with the school's right to punish students for breaking rules. What I am more on about is the fact that the punishment given in this instance is over the top and excessive.

The girls should not have have missed the last two periods of school. On their return to school they were made to do litter duty for an hour which to me seems an appropriate punishment for skipping class. That and a good talking to should have been the end of it.

However to strip them of their badges and stand them down for three days at the time of their preparation for exams seems to me to be very excessive.

These girls have been leaders and role models throughout their years at college, and my grand-daughter has proudly upheld the values and rules of the school over her college years. One mistake in a moment of prankish foolishness should not in my opinion negate the wonderful achievements she has earned while at the college. We see leaders of our country making mistakes, being reprimanded, apologising and moving on in their position. This is the way things work in an accountable society.

The girls were reprimanded and, without an opportunity to apologise, were punished, did litter duty, were stripped of their badges and stood down. Even in criminal cases in society, there is the "three-strike" rule.

This punishment is more like sudden death on the first error of judgment.

As a grandfather, I like to teach my 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren the values of honesty, compassion and justice with compassion. Mistakes are made, apologies are accepted, lessons are learned and life moves on.

MIKE JONES
Rotorua