Swimming in Schools

This is a copy of the text I sent to Ian Ferguson regarding swimming and specifically swim instruction at schools.

Dear Ian

I saw you tonight on Close Up and I could not agree with you more regarding children learning to swim and schools having pools. I do feel however that many within the lobby group are missing the point re schools in pools.  There are still a number of schools (like ours) that have pools and run very good programmes for their children.  Those schools need to be looked at and questions need to be asked as to why and how the schools continue to manage their pool, and this information then to be shared amongst schools and their board of trustees.

We have a 30 to 40 yr old (18m x 6m) concrete pool that works just as well now as it did when it was built.  Over the last  to 8 years we have made a conscious effort to maintain and upgrade it.  We have provided seating, shading, new surrounds, fencing and to top it all off solar heating to ensure we have 25 to 27' temp in the pool.  the vast majority of the funding has come through community grants and sheer hard work by the community.  We have received community grant funding for instructors, mid-winter swimming programme at QE2 (before earthquakes) and trained up a staff member to run after school swim programmes.  I must say the NZCT has been fully supportive of any initiative with regard to swimming.

I do feel that some schools have taken the easy option of filling their pools in without really looking hard tat the long term consequences. I know that it costs us a lot of money to run our pool, chlorine, extra caretaker hours and general wear and tear.  But it is a cost we have been prepared to wear for the benefit of our school and local community.  I would be lynched if i proposed to get rid of the pool.  It is a tremendous asset.

Maybe groups could look at those schools that are making it work and use them as models.  North Canterbury i believe is very proactive in not only having a number of schools that still have pools, but we have a proactive sports trust that subsidises instruction for hundreds of school children.  This year all yr 3,4, and 5 students are getting 10 lessons for $10 either at the school or the local community pool.

I am more than happy to help with anything regarding this or share photos or just provide support to schools who are thinking about the future of their pool.

Regards
Stuart