Support Makoura College

On July 4th 2008, the Makoura College Board of Trustees announced the college would almost definitely close by the end of the year, citing falling enrollments and reduced funding as the main reasons.

Click [url=here][/url] for more information and how you can help support the non closure of Jemaine's old college.




Jemaine Clement writes ...

I am yet another ex-pupil heartbroken by the news that Makoura might close. When I was there I think a lot of Mastertonians expected Makoura to be "
rough"
because of the part of town it's in. For those of us who actually were enrolled at the school, this idea was laughable.

We're not laughing about it now though as I suspect the undeserved image of the school is what ultimately led to the dramatic drop in the school roll with the end of zoning.

In truth, Makoura was the opposite of its reputation. No gangs of thirteen year old thugs terrorised the science block. You couldn't get whiskey with your salad roll at the school canteen. Not one knife fight ever erupted during our sustained silented-reading class. In fact, it was a pleasure to attend. Students were taught respect for each other.

There is no old-fashioned prefect system which teaches pupils that some kids are important and others aren't or gives some students power over others. Rather, students are taught to value and respect their fellow students, help them with their problems and listen to their opinions. When a young person learns that people are valuable, they learn that they themselves have value.

This is a very emotional subject for current and ex-pupils. For those of us moved by the news of the possible closure, it's easy to let our affection for Makoura to overtake the more serious issue of education. I believe it is a great school, not only because I enjoyed my time there, and made great friends there, but because nationally it has always been recognised as a forerunner in education in New Zealand. If Makoura closes, it will be a great loss for the Wairarapa.

go jemaine for standing up for his school.

I would love to help support him on this, but what can we do? Is there somewhere we're supposed to write to, or what?

If you click on the link it will take you to a website and there are instructions on how to help.

first off, thank you so much ami for posting this information here. this is truly disheartening.

warning: i'm getting on my soapbox... hang on!

i think they are absolutely right, on this site, to blame the closure on social phenomena rather than a mere lack of funds. in the los angeles metropolitan area there are entire school districts, and plenty of individual schools, that are in desperate need of public attention and funds (i know, because my sig other works in such a school district);
yet, because these schools are located in sections of town in which disadvantaged (mainly "
minority"
and therefore underprivileged) populations live, they are not getting the attention that they deserve. that the local government of wairarapa is willing to shut down Makoura College, rather than stage a genuine effort to save this clearly unique and valuable school, tells us much about how that particular community has been (de)valued, i think. i also think this is just part of a larger global devaluation of underrepresented populations. seeing where the attention and money actually goes (ahem, warfare? what kind of sense does THAT make?) is illuminating and disturbing and it gives you a strong sense of just how badly values have been warped.

*steps off of soapbox*

that said;
i'm going to think more about this, and probably write something in myself. i don't know how influential one random american's voice will be, but at least it would represent another set of eyes that are watching the decision making that is going on in that particular community. if we don't hold these community representatives accountable for their decisions (and i include our home countries here as well), they're going to get the idea that they can do just about anything they want to perpetuate social hierarchies that privilege those already in power, whatever the cost may be in human happiness and life. quite frankly, i've had enough of this kind of behavior.

i know it's a lot for jemaine to shoulder, but i do hope that his association with the school is enough to at least keep options on the table, and for school and community leaders to draw in more students.

one also has to wonder about those schools which lack celebrity alumni, and which aren't getting public attention as a result. god, i'm so frustrated (can you tell? ;
) )

wow chrissy! I totally agree with everything you've said here...you are so great with words...if you decide to write something will you share it with me? I don't think I could write for anything like that...

Ugh. . having suffered the notoriously atrocious American public school system when I was a kid (and even then, I was only in a public school for two years--I was privileged enough to have the option to get out) I know how good schools are few and far between. I can't say what schooling is like in other countries, but I know in America it tends to be sub-par and when you've got crappy schooling, or when good schools continue to get shut down it's basically saying "
we don't care about you"
to all the students. It's disgraceful.

I attended a "
low-performing"
inner city public high school and I can tell you that boards of education often expect schools in areas where I grew up to be underachieving and unproductive of college-bound students. Kids that scored high on Boofoo Standardized Test were given options to transfer to better performing public schools, usually college prep schools that were already overcrowded and most of the time had a worse discipline problem than the standard high schools.

I was a student journalist back then, so I interviewed the principal on how a school is branded as "
under peforming,"
and he told me it was derived from dumb, cookie-cutter standardized testing and not with the school's graduation rate, or its number of college-bound graduates to which he told me in his opinion should be the standard in judging a school's performance.

In light of what Chloe said, extracting a school's top performing students is not going to improve the school but rather gives a "
we don't care about you"
message to not only the students but the community around it as well. I'm sure Jemaine's letter is written not only from heartfelt nostalgia but outrage at the politics at hand. I'm going to try my best to help out, despite being just a whiny American. " title="" border="0"/>

Wow...you guys talk like grownups.

*hoping I'm not the only one here who loves to quote Clueless* :-[

Katie wrote:Wow...you guys talk like grownups.

*hoping I'm not the only one here who loves to quote Clueless* :-[

I feel the same way Katie! It's hard for me to say much about this issue because we don't really have this problem with the schools here. I guess we're lucky in that sense. None of my schools have been shut down. I'm not sure about the school's in the bigger cities in Canada though.

I wish I could do something to help out and I really want to but unfortunately I just don't feel I know enough about this to say anything worthwhile. I'll have to think on it.. I definitely want to show my support though.

no child left behind = bullshi ... just in case you DIDN'T know that already.

"
rollin wit the homies!"
*does hand wave gesture* <
------- just for katie

Amily wrote:

Katie wrote:Wow...you guys talk like grownups.

*hoping I'm not the only one here who loves to quote Clueless* :-[

I feel the same way Katie! It's hard for me to say much about this issue because we don't really have this problem with the schools here. I guess we're lucky in that sense. None of my schools have been shut down. I'm not sure about the school's in the bigger cities in Canada though.

Actually, that's the primary reason my folks moved all the way to Canada: to put me and my sister into a good school and I'm so thankful that they did. That was the best thing they ever did for us.

Personally, I tend to think that kids shouldn't be forced to go to school and that their parents should teach them, or some kind of alternate home-schooling program should be instigated. . .but I dunno, I've got crazy ideas.

yea...fallon I understand the whole "
testing"
thing and then moving on to a higher performing college prep high school. We had that in california too....I spent my last two years of high school there. The school I went to was considered a 'performing arts' school...and all the kids there thought you had to be special or be a performer to go there...well, low and behold when I got out there that school was just in my district...so there I went. my husband still to this day believes you had to be part of drama, art or the band/orchestra to get in there...even though I was playing the violin I knew that I went there because that's what was closest.
but, you could test out! you could go to a better college prep school...but over there testing was not looked at so much as graduating was...our 2000 class was the last class to have over 2,000 students graduate...it just went downhill from there.
but I grew up here in Wi where testing was a HUGE thing...it would be this whole circus of scheduling to do a whole days worth...BORE

anyway! I agree about the school systems...they are all about the "
standardized tests"
and who scores the highest...since I grew up in public schools I still to this day hope that my kids could go to grade school and then be home schooled for jr high and high school. (yes, it's a dream but may not happen) only because being in public schools is the worst for those ages...and I am sure that is something that contributed to the problems here at Jemaine's school...and not just the area or the testing that tells that this is a "
low-performing"
it's all about politics...it sucks

I have no knowledge of the Wairarapa or Makoura College itself whatsoever, but I do know that Boards of Education like to make false assumptions on a school based on the reputation of the area it's in.

What's pissing Jemaine off royal about this is not just the fact that they're closing down the College, but the false reputation it's been given which has inferably led to the decision to shut the school down.

And yes, No Child Left Behind = very backasswards.

Conchords may play at Makoura's 40th reunion
28.07.2008
By Matt Stewart

Flight of the Conchords could play an exclusive gig at Makoura College's 40th, and possibly final, anniversary reunion if the timing is right.

Rae McKenzie is head organiser of the reunion and has taught at the school for more than 30 years.

She said former Makoura student Jemaine Clement, and Brett McKenzie  his partner in the internationally-acclaimed musical-comedy duo  had both agreed in principle to putting on a show.

Clement has been a high-profile voice in the fight to save the beleaguered college  last week sending a humorous email, with serious undertones, defending his old school to the supportmakoura website.

Mrs McKenzie said Clement was planning a return to New Zealand in December when the hastily-organised celebration is planned.

"
We talked recently on the phone and he asked what he could do to help the college.

"
We talked about perhaps having a concert and he said Brett's agreeable.

"
We're in negotiations and we'll just have to see if the dates pan out,"
Mrs McKenzie said.

The Conchords' Makoura show has been tentatively pencilled in for Saturday, December 13, pending confirmation from the duo who are currently filming the second series of their TV show in Los Angeles.

Mrs McKenzie said the decision to hold the reunion was formalised on Thursday night.

"
Most reunions take about a year to organise but we'll get this one together somehow.

"
It's a chance to celebrate the success of the college  it's something positive amongst the doom and gloom."


The weekend promises to be a social one with former classmates and staff given the opportunity to catch up and reminisce with sports, cultural and social events, including a dine and dance, all in the line-up.

The reunion begins at the end of the school term on December 12 and runs through the weekend with organisers hoping to attract former students and staff.

It's possible the reunion may also double as the last hurrah if the Ministry of Education decides to close Makoura, which will stay open until the end of term four.

"
It might be the last reunion  no one knows the answer,"
she said.

Mrs McKenzie is teacher in charge of Makoura's Teen Parent Unit but would not be drawn on the fate of the specialist annexe for young mothers should the school close.

source: [url=http://www.times-age.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3779865&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thes econdsubsection=][/url]


((I think the little squares might be em-dashes my browser couldn't display))

while it's terrible and sad that the closure is due to misinformation and assumptions, it's nice to see them as hometown heroes. i hope everything works out for the best, and perhaps it might just take one well-known voice to make the cause be heard.

hellomyfriend wrote:Conchords may play at Makoura's 40th reunion

I hope they get to play and that everything works out for the best.

Glad to see that Jemaine takes himself seriously in 'real' situations. It's such a shame that stuff like this happens and that schools have to rely on the local area's reputation to survive. As far as I know, the whole transfer thing doesn't happen in Britain, thank goodness!

Ditto that.

Plight of the Conchord
Comic's former high school faces closure
KRISTIAN SOUTH - Sunday News | Sunday, 17 August 2008

GRAMMY-WINNING Kiwi comic Jemaine Clement isn't laughing about the threat to close his former high school.


The internationally-acclaimed funnyman one half of Flight of the Conchords sent a message of support to Makoura College, after the Masterton school was earmarked for shutting down by the Ministry of Education.

Clement, 34, attended the school in the 1980s while growing up in a Masterton state house with his mother Merianne McArdell and brothers Zed and Te Maia.

When he heard about Makoura College's impending doom, he sent it an email of support laced with his trademark humour.

"
I suspect the undeserved image of the school is what ultimately led to the dramatic drop in the school roll,"
Clement wrote.

"
In truth, Makoura was the opposite of its reputation.

"
No gangs of 13-year-old thugs terrorised the science block, you couldn't get whiskey with your salad roll at the school canteen.

"
Not one knife fight ever erupted during our sustained silent-reading class."


Ironically, the plot of Clement's hit move Eagle vs Shark has him playing uber-computer nerd Jarrod who trains in martial arts to return to his home town and exact revenge on his high-school bully.

But Clement said the ministry's attempt to shut Makoura College was a real-life drama.

"
When I was there, I think a lot of Mastertonians expected Makoura to be rough because of the part of town it's in,"
he said.

"
For those of us who actually were enrolled at the school, this idea was laughable.

"
We're not laughing about it now, though."


The troubled college led last year's Ministry of Education statistics in suspensions, with 30 more than one for every 10 pupils.

Earlier this month, the school's board of trustees resigned suddenly in a move that could spare it from closure.

The resignation came less than a month after the ministry told the 245 students at the low-decile state school that closure was the only option after a cycle of plummeting rolls and past financial and leadership issues.

The school and Makoura community have been fighting the threatened closure, holding a series of town meetings and circulating petitions.

"
This is a very emotional subject for current and ex-pupils,"
Clement wrote.

"
For those of us moved by the news of the possible closure, it's easy to let our affection for Makoura overtake the more serious issue of education.

"
If Makoura closes, it will be a great loss for the Wairarapa."


The board of trustees resignation meant the ministry has to appoint a commissioner to the school and conduct an inquiry.

A school spokeswoman said Clement's email had helped drum up support.

"
He's a very important person at the moment, I'm sure it made a lot of people listen,"
the spokeswoman said.

Education Minister Chris Carter said: "
I am keen to see the ministry working closely with the commissioner to charter a brighter future for the school."


Clement is in the US, writing and filming a new series of Flight of the Conchords. He and fellow Kiwi star Bret McKenzie took home this year's Grammy award for best comedy album and have been nominated for three Emmy awards for Flight of the Conchords.

source:

I read somewhere that the college is going to stay open for at least one more year. I'll have to do some googling and see if I can find that article...

Zed? What an odd yet cool name.

Zed...like the letter Z but it's spelt how it's pronounced in NZ/Canada etc.

I'm just making a guess

Yeah, like the letter we call zee.

With the kiwi accent I imagine it sounds kind of like zeed.

SheWolf wrote:Yeah, like the letter we call zee.

With the kiwi accent I imagine it sounds kind of like zeed.

"
Yis, thus ees Zid."
Aww! " title="" border="0"/>