The decision to merge Griffith High School and Wade High School across separate campuses has provoked strong reactions across the community.
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The Area News contacted a former student from each school to get their opinions.
Bree Yerbury, former Wade High student
Ms Yerbury, who has siblings still at the school, said she does not see the practicality in the school merger.
“Of course, I understand how expertise in subjects based on campuses could potentially benefit students. However, I don't see the merger working efficiently,” she said.
Ms Yerbury said from her own schooling she has come to see students have a diverse skill set in subjects.
“What would happen to those sorts of students?,” she asked.
“I think travelling from campus to campus is a major issue, but a major concern of students is a social divide that exists among student.”
“In theory, the merger could bring unity to the schools but I think each school have that school spirit that makes them unique”.
Bruce Harper, former Griffith High student
Mr Harper was in Griffith for the weekend for the 50-year reunion of Griffith High’s class of 1967. He was also a teacher for 39 years who worked in both public and private schools across NSW.
He said, as an outside observer now living in Wagga, he didn’t see a lot of benefits in the merger for Griffith High.
“I think it’s step backwards. The bigger the school, the more impersonal it gets.”
Mr Harper said Griffith High has state of the art facilities today, as good as any public school he’s ever seen. The school’s current student population of around 600 was “perfect”.
“Back in the 1960s, we had nearly 2000 students at the school and it was bursting at the seam. This is one reason they opened Wade High.”
Mr Harper said students travelling between the two campuses would get tricky, as they’re a long way apart.
Coverage of the 1967 Griffith High school reunion will be published soon.
Poll results
Around 60 per cent of respondents to a poll by The Area News did not agree with the decision.
In response to the question “are you pleased with the final decision regarding Griffith’s high schools?”, the results were as follows:
41 per cent said no, leave our schools alone.
19 per cent said no, we need a different plan to fix Griffith’s secondary government schools.
9 per cent said they were not sure.
14 per cent said yes but with some minor tweaking.
16 per cent said it’s exactly what we need.