Mangere Central School
254 Kirkbride Road,
Mangere,
Auckland

23rd of June, 1999

Dear Mr Ron Phillips,

Thank you for having a great imagination and a motivation to help young people succeed.

Over the past term my class has been following the journey of the boy in Gem of the First Water. It has been an opportunity for them to look at the boys life and see how he relates to them.

Many of the students in my class began the start of this year as the boy began his life in the book - negative, upset with themselves and upset with the world. Through the boys journey they have been able to look at their own life in a non threatening way and think about where it is heading. Many of them decided that they didn't like the direction that their life was heading and have begun to make the necessary changes.

The class attitude and behaviour on a whole has improved and changed. One of our key phrases is now "Think before you act, and think before you speak." The behaviour has moderated and toned down, violence and negativity is disappearing.

I wish I could say that there has been a 100% improvement on all the students, but that would be a lie. I can however say, that all students now know what their options are and are more aware of where their actions will take them. They have all had their "seeds" planted within their life.

Thank you once again for your story and inspiration as with out it I doubt that I would still be working Room 15 or as a teacher. I look forward to reading the rest of the series and have promoted this story to many people.

Yours Sincerely

Nari Thomas.