Page 19 - The Gonzaga Record 1986
P. 19
parents that they could make voluntary offerings to help the school
provide the necessities. People get tired of being continually requested for
these 'voluntary' contributions. They are often generous, but after a few
years they tend to dry up, and one has to go begging again. It was turned
down as a serious option for Gonzaga.
Amalgamate with a girls' school
This was an interesting option, either in the form of full secondary school
amalgamation, or as an amalgamation only at the Leaving Certificate
level. The discussions were persued with vigour and interest. However, as
the investigation progressed it became apparent that there were problems
not easy of solution. Because of confidentiality the Editor does not feel
free to give a unilateral account of these investigations. But there was
great good will on both sides, and it was with a genuine feeling of regret
that the proposal had to be abandoned.
The Option of Closing the School
This, too, was examined. But not in the sense of selling up the whole
complex to, say, an enterprising developer. The idea was that Gonzaga
College would remain a school, but the Jesuits would retire from it
completely, and sell it as a running concern to a private group or corpor-
ation. Would there have been a buyer? Those who were in a position to
know were persuaded that there would be. But the buyers were expected
to turn it into exactly the kind of school they wanted: one that was highly
academic, fearfully expensive, and one whose aim would be to assure the
future in business and the professions of their own children. In a word,
that the privileged would hold on to and even improve their privileges.
The more one thought about it the more likely that outcome seemed.
So that too became another of the rejected options.
The Final Option
So, after a long, roundabout, and wearying journey, the Jesuits came
back to something very like what they already had when the investigation
started. But it would be very wrong to regard the effort expended as
largely wasted. What was chosen now would be chosen with full
knowledge of what one was rejecting. It does make a difference.
It would be kept a small school, just two streams in Secondary. The
Preparatory school would be kept open, but only as a single stream. The
reasoning for this was as follows: a small school like Gonzaga over the
years will tend to become rather inward-looking, almost a self-perpetuat-
ing enclave. If one kept the Preparatory School single-stream, but
doubled the Secondary school, there would be a second intake at about
twelve years of age. It .was hoped that this would bring a broadening of
17
provide the necessities. People get tired of being continually requested for
these 'voluntary' contributions. They are often generous, but after a few
years they tend to dry up, and one has to go begging again. It was turned
down as a serious option for Gonzaga.
Amalgamate with a girls' school
This was an interesting option, either in the form of full secondary school
amalgamation, or as an amalgamation only at the Leaving Certificate
level. The discussions were persued with vigour and interest. However, as
the investigation progressed it became apparent that there were problems
not easy of solution. Because of confidentiality the Editor does not feel
free to give a unilateral account of these investigations. But there was
great good will on both sides, and it was with a genuine feeling of regret
that the proposal had to be abandoned.
The Option of Closing the School
This, too, was examined. But not in the sense of selling up the whole
complex to, say, an enterprising developer. The idea was that Gonzaga
College would remain a school, but the Jesuits would retire from it
completely, and sell it as a running concern to a private group or corpor-
ation. Would there have been a buyer? Those who were in a position to
know were persuaded that there would be. But the buyers were expected
to turn it into exactly the kind of school they wanted: one that was highly
academic, fearfully expensive, and one whose aim would be to assure the
future in business and the professions of their own children. In a word,
that the privileged would hold on to and even improve their privileges.
The more one thought about it the more likely that outcome seemed.
So that too became another of the rejected options.
The Final Option
So, after a long, roundabout, and wearying journey, the Jesuits came
back to something very like what they already had when the investigation
started. But it would be very wrong to regard the effort expended as
largely wasted. What was chosen now would be chosen with full
knowledge of what one was rejecting. It does make a difference.
It would be kept a small school, just two streams in Secondary. The
Preparatory school would be kept open, but only as a single stream. The
reasoning for this was as follows: a small school like Gonzaga over the
years will tend to become rather inward-looking, almost a self-perpetuat-
ing enclave. If one kept the Preparatory School single-stream, but
doubled the Secondary school, there would be a second intake at about
twelve years of age. It .was hoped that this would bring a broadening of
17
