of this year, to take up the role of principal at Palmerston North Girls’ College. For her, it is a time of reflection, not only on the school but education in general. She spoke to reporter Daniel Birchfield about the challenges facing the school, and its future.
Many people in Oamaru will have talked about, or at least heard others speak about, the rolls of Waitaki Girls’ and Boys’ High School being too low and that it is time the two schools merged.
Outgoing Waitaki Girls’ principal Tracy Walker has her own view on the subject.
"As far as I know, there is no intention to merge the schools. What I have always said is that I would like to be guided by my community on that. I certainly think both schools, with their current rolls, are viable as single-sex organisations.
"I think there’s still that strong desire, it’s very traditional and goes back a long time, that we have this gender split and I would say it allows each school to teach to its strengths. That’s worked well for the town and I don’t see why it needs to change.
"We have the three high schools and they each have their niche place. I think the community still like the fact each school can offer a gender-specific education."
The roll at Waitaki Girls’ had usually been about 420 pupils since Mrs Walker arrived in 2012.
"We do hear there’s a lot of newcomers in town. Perhaps that’s true, but I don’t think it’s reached the secondary level yet. There’s not that growth in Oamaru, for teenagers anyway."
When asked if a merger would work, she said it was possible.
"Yes and no. If you look at models in Christchurch and Marlborough, they have what they call co-location. But, that’s not something we’d be looking at because we’re physically quite apart from one another. I guess it’s something that would be considered, but at this stage I don’t see it as being on the cards."
The Ministry of Education this week told the Otago Daily Times there were no plans for a merger because the population of the area was expected to be stable in the short term and grow over the longer term.
Mrs Walker said the "brother-sister schools" had a good relationship that had improved in recent years, which had not necessarily been the case in the past.
The schools had always shared resources, classes, had joint productions and formals, and their kapa haka groups and choirs often performed together.
However, that relationship had solidified since Waitaki Boys’ rector Darryl Paterson took over in 2017.
"I would certainly think it’s strengthened since Darryl has come. He is very open, and I am too, to the fact we have a special link. The relationship has definitely got stronger in the last few years."
That collaboration with St Kevin’s could also be advanced in another area, she said.
It is no secret that the drug methamphetamine has infiltrated Oamaru and its social impact has been widely felt.
"There needs to be a lot of education with schools, police and youth workers. We were in a bit of a safety cocoon here and maybe now we are not."
Mrs Walker did not believe pupils were using meth, but knew of pupils who had been affected by family members using the drug.
It was one of the new challenges all schools faced, alongside a more traditional one — funding.
"Funding is always a challenge because education in New Zealand is meant to be free and that has been tested at ombudsman level. I think we are very lucky here — we are a well-resourced school and we’ve had some really good financial and property management over the past 10 to 20 years.
"I guess the big change coming up is the Government’s donation scheme, which will give us a certain amount of money so we don’t have to ask the parents for it. To us, that makes more sense."
She said there were times when contributions were requested, for activities such as field trips, which were designed to be as low-cost as possible and generally kept within the Waitaki district.
Challenges facing pupils now were much different from those pupils faced 20, or even 10 years ago.
Social media was both positive and negative. While it helped pupils connect and keep in touch, it also had a darker side.
"Obviously, social media is a huge opportunity, but also a huge threat.
"We know it’s hugely addictive and we know people need education around it, particularly if you are a vulnerable teenager. It’s really a partnership with parents, and putting some structure and restrictions around it."
While bullying was not rife at the school, it did occur and she encouraged pupils to speak up or seek support if they needed it.
Whenever it was brought to her attention, it was swiftly dealt with and pupils were educated about "correct behaviours" if needed, she said.
Looking back, Mrs Walker said she was proud of what she achieved at Waitaki Girls’ and was confident of its continued success, whoever its new principal might be.
