Today we have learned something that could not have been taught at school - how distorted the media is. Although a great number of us achieved extremely high UAIs, because of the simple fact that none of these scores were in the top 99, our Year-group has been branded a failure. Thankyou Manly Daily. Thankyou Sydney Morning Herald.

In todays edition of the Manly Daily, we the 'failures' featured front page. "The peninsula has fared poorly in the honours list of top HSC students...No student from Manly High, the only selective school on the northern beaches, made the honour roll." This quote brands us as failures as it singles us specifically out, and the entire article is written in a negative tone. Not one single mention was made of our yeargroups success - namely Sam Gibbs, Amandeep Hansra, Stuart Lawton, Chrrissy McClatchie, and Ingrid Butler. These names are just to name a few.

Although Mr Buggy attempted to clarify the situation in the article, the way it was quoted made it seem worse. "Manly High principle Terry Buggy said although the school had not produced any high flyers, overall results were good. 'In the selective schools' hierachy we are not the top,' he said 'But I can't make any excuses - we are not up there because we are not good enough at this stage' ". Although Mr Buggy meant well, the message now obviously reads that our yeargroup is 'not good enough at this stage'.

To rub salt in this false wound an indirect comparison was made to Davidson and Barrenjoey High's 'success'. "Barrenjoey High publicity officer Delia Han said 11 students at the school had achieved a UAI of more than 90. 'This is an extraordinarily good year'....'I have no doubt this is one of the best schools around'".........ummmmm no.

Our claim to fame in the Sydney Morning Herald came when they said "But some selective schools, including Manly .. had no students on the list". What the Sydney Morning Hearld and Manly Daily failed to mention was that other prestigious government selective schools such as North Sydney Boys, Gosford High, and Sydney Boys also failed to make the list.

---

On January the 13th, Lauren and Mr Campbell had their replies published:

---

A STUDY OF DISAPPROVAL

I have just completed year 12 at Manly High School.

Your article 'Slim Pickings' (MD Jan 5) angered many 1998 year 12 students including myself.

Of the thousands of NSW students sitting for the HSC, only 99 made the honours list. Surely it is not surprising then that only two from the peninsula appeared on the list and does not mean that the 'Peninsula has fared poorly.'

I also fail to see how Mr Brogden's comment that the small business and trades backgrounds of many Peninsula families is relevant to how students achieved in the HSC.

Manly High School principal Mr Buggy's comments, as on of my friends put it, was like a slap in the face after working hard for 12 months only to be told by our principal that we are not good enough.

One third of my year - 40 students in all - achieved UAI's in the 90's, and the majority of those not scoring in the 90's were also happy with their marks. Surely this is better than merely 'good.'

My year are a group of highly intellegent and motivated young people.

Congratulations to everyone for achiving so well.

Lauren Finemore, former student Manly High school


MARKS DON'T TELL FULL STORY

I would like to make a few point concerning the annual frenzy of analysis of HSC results.

These students have come to the end of 13 years in the school system and I would hope peoplewould not judge their success and achievement, and that of their schools, solely on a number on a piece of paper.

Education does not begin and end only with the learning of information in a classroom which can be regurgitated in an exam.

As year 12 student adviser of Manly High School, I have had the priviledge to be closely associated with an exceptional group of young people for the past six years. I have watched them mature, display tolerance and respect for others, develop strong moral codes, achieve in myriad areas outside the classroom and develop close ties of friendship which will endure for the rest of their lives. Surely this also constitutes success and achievement and is a process repeated in schools throughout the state.

Academic achievement is a highly subjective and relative concept. For many students in our schools merely sitting for the HSC is is in itself an achievement, as much as another student who recieved a UAI result of 100. The vast majority of students have worked with commitment and determination to gain their results.

They have achieved and should be recognised for having done so. We should acknowledge that most students have applied themselves conscientiously to the best of their ability in order to complete testing and arduous courses of study. They have different objectives and abilities and their numerical results do not need to be compared.

Success and achievement cannot always be measured in these terms.

John Campbell, North Narrabeen