The Editor
Bay of Plenty Times
Durham Street
Tauranga.
Dear Editor,
My daughter is a new student at a local high school. I have just received a notice advising me that her class will be going on camp for three days at the end of February and that I am required to pay a minimum of $80 towards the costs as well as supplying some food and the usual equipment. For an extra $40 my child can participate in kayaking and water skiing activities.
I have some strong objections to this proposal. Firstly, I feel that students should start the academic year in class so that they acquire good study habits. They should be reading, writing, and doing mathematics and science, not playing around on the beach. They have had 6 weeks to do this already. In my view camps are more of an end-of-the year activity as they are mainly social events and the students usually have far too much free time to get up to mischief (smoking etc.)
Secondly, I cannot afford the cost, and especially not the extra $40, having had to pay for a new uniform and all the stationery for my daughter’s courses. I imagine other parents will be in the same situation. It seems unfair that some students will miss out and feel embarrassed that they are ‘too poor’ to do these extra things.
My final objection is more of a personal one. My daughter has been the victim of bullying at her previous school because she is very shy, quite small in stature and not physically strong. I am concerned that her hopes of a fresh start at high school may be dashed because the teachers will not know the students well yet and may not notice what is going on.
I plan to convey my concerns to the school but I am sure other parents out there feel likewise.
Yours sincerely,
Carol Armisted (Mrs)
Tauranga
FORMAL WRITING: Formative task: write a Letter to the Editor
As part of your Camp English learning focus, you are to write a response to this letter, based on your own opinion and experiences of school camps. You can agree or disagree, or give both the advantages AND disadvantages of school camps. (Go to ‘Formal writing’ on http://9eng.wikispaces.com/ for hints on writing this kind of letter.)
Start your letter as follows:
ü Use formal polite language.
ü Give examples to support your opinions.
ü Paragraph clearly.
ü Proofread carefully.
ü Correct errors.
ü Sign with your own name.
ü Write 150 – 200 words.
# Your letter will be marked and you will be given feedback on your formal writing skills.