When one sheep is lost the shepherd goes looking; but when a whole mob wanders off it gets ignored. At least that is what has happened in Yass with the division forced by the closure of the Mt Carmel secondary school.

The pupils are largely going to Yass High where they will do well. The three hours of travel to and from Canberra schools simply to bail out bad decisions which left some Canberra schools short of pupils is unrealistic.

The teachers are looking for other jobs, years of dedication do not count for much.

The Archbishop does not answer his letters.

The people are aghast.

Worse still, the Archbishop will not let the State Education Authority into the buildings to assess them as an independent high school. These are the buildings that had millions spent on them in the Education Revolution. The Archbishop's power is questionable. The state government gave the land for a school. The Sisters of Mercy gave it to the parish. The rumblings are for an approach to Rome on one hand, or action in the Supreme Court, to replace the trustees who are not acting in the best interest of the beneficiaries.

There is a flock without a shepherd.

Ray Burn,

Yass