'Hooligan' label on school unfair and astounding

ANOTHER good school is shot down by The Herald (I know, I have been reading it for 36 years). To call Westering High the hooligan of the day is astounding and unfair.

How many days have you spent at Westering High seeing the teachers there every day, managing the over-capacity of children admirably, teaching them every day in organised and disciplined environments that the pupils appreciate and enjoy? Have you been to see the coaching that takes place on the sportsfields, the cultural activities that are offered, the after-school tuition and the safe, secure, well maintained surroundings that are provided?

The finances are impeccably monitored and the management of the school is organised and well planned – one of the best in Port Elizabeth. Have you been there to see all of this?

Have you ever applauded them for all these things that are done behind the scenes? A few reports about a good rugby match or a dramatic production does not tell an eighth of the story of what a good school is all about and yet you seek to destroy it because of one incident involving a few pupils and call the school a hooligan.

Those pupils and parents knew the rules before they came there, so why did they not complain at the time? Put some blame on to them as well and not just the school.

As the motto says, Westering High "strives for the best" (Optima petamus) and is a whole lot better than thousands of others who have not been labelled hooligans by your newspaper. Westering High is a good school – I know, I taught there for 36 years.

M Abrey, Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth