The Lawrey Story

We all know Nelson can be a great place to raise kids but Matt Lawrey reckons we sometimes lose sight of how lucky we are when it comes to our schools. He also argues that Nayland College’s introduction of a zone isn’t the big deal some people think.

I know it sounds mean, but I pity parents in other parts of the country.

In the years before I became a dad, people would say to me, “you think Nelson’s great now but just wait until you have kids.” I used to respond with a polite smile and nod but, to be honest, I had no idea what they were talking about. Once we became parents, however, it became very clear that those people really did know what they were talking about.

There’s no doubt about it, if you’ve got somewhere to live and you’re not skint, Whakatū is a brilliant place to raise kids. I had a great childhood growing up in Wellington but the truth is most of my memories come with concrete-coloured skies, wind and a fair bit of rain – much of it of the sideways variety.

By contrast, our kids’ memories will be a lot sunnier and include lots of time spent at the beach and jumping into rivers.

Possibly the number one reason I feel sorry for parents in other parts of the nation, though, is the huge amount of energy so many of them spend angsting over education. Seriously, the amount of time that people in other towns and cities spend worrying about what school their kids are going to attend and whether or not they’re in the right zone is tragic.

Gloriously, we don’t really have that problem here because Nelson-Whakatū has no bad schools. It doesn’t matter where you live, your local school is ready and willing to give your kid a good education.

Occasionally, we lose sight of our good fortune.

Recently there’s been indignation in some quarters over Nayland College’s introduction of zoning, thereby denying families in town the option of a state co-ed secondary school. Not having been to a co-ed secondary school myself, and being generally happy with the education our sons are receiving at Nelson College, I struggle to relate to this concern.

I should add that attending a single sex secondary school does not appear to have stopped me, or my friends, from enjoying healthy and happy relationships with women.

I have no doubt that, the way society is going, single sex state schools will eventually become a thing of the past and that Nelson College and Nelson College for Girls will one day merge. Personally, I really like the idea of NCG becoming the city’s junior high school and NC becoming its senior high.

For now, though, us townies have to deal with what we’ve got and I really don’t think that not having a co-ed option is as big a deal as some people might have you think.

The way I see it, there are advantages and disadvantages in both single sex and co-ed models, most local boys and girls spend primary school and intermediate together, and there are plenty of opportunities for them to hang out when they’re not in class at Nelson College or Nelson College for Girls.

I’m also a big believer in the societal, familial and individual benefits that come with kids attending their local school. So, if you live in town and can’t bear the idea of your kids going to a single sex school, then move to Stoke, become part of that community, and send your kids to Nayland. If you don’t want to live in Stoke or moving seems like too much of a headache, just relax. Take a breath and a moment to reflect on how lucky we are, in the greater scheme of things, to live in a city full of good schools and hardworking teachers who care about our kids and their education. Then take a minute to think about how much more enlightened education has become across the board since we were at school. If that doesn’t work, take moment to picture all those parents in other parts of the country stressing about education and ask yourself: would I rather live here and have the options I’ve got or live somewhere else and have more choice but a whole lot more grief? Call me crazy but I’m quite comfortable with what we’ve got.