Page 4877 - Week 16 - Thursday, 29 November 1990
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Cook Primary School - Pupil-Free Days
MR MOORE (5.27): Mr Speaker, I can remember Mr Collaery commenting on how long it takes Mr Berry to rise to his feet. I think I had the advantage of that former knowledge.
Mr Speaker, this evening I would like to comment on a meeting that I went to last night at Cook Primary School. It was attended by approximately 150 people, and they passed a series of motions. Those motions were carried with nobody voting against them. I must say that it is disappointing to see the Chief Minister leave at this stage because the enthusiasm - - -
Mr Collaery: He has an engagement.
MR MOORE: I just said that it is disappointing.
The enthusiasm of the people to retain that school was great to behold. One of the issues that have arisen is, of course, the issue of the pupil-free days at the end of the year. It would appear that parents have been written to by the reshaping team - I think the letter was signed by the reshaping team - saying that there will be three pupil-free days at the end of the year.
As I have said publicly, and I take this opportunity to say it in this house, that is an indication to the people of the ACT of the attitude towards the last few days of school. It indicates either that we do not have an appropriate educational program or that those particular students are going to miss out, one of the two. The three pupil-free days that are being provided here are not for purposes that would normally be convincing to parents, such as professional training of staff and those matters; rather, I understand that they are to allow teachers to pack up, which is not part of their duties anyway.
The meeting voted not only to reject those pupil-free days outright but also to advise parents - and, of course, a large number of those people were parents - to send their children to school on those days. I am greatly disappointed that the Minister for Education chooses to leave now, as this is an issue that is of great importance; it is an issue that is particularly important to those parents and to all parents in the ACT. Mr Wood has had experience in teaching. In fact, we discussed this earlier today. Mr Wood, are you going to have a word yourself? Mr Wood will speak for himself.
My own experience is that, whilst programs at the end of the year are different, they have specific educational value. Teachers ought to be able to justify that particular educational value, and I would argue that most teachers in the ACT could do so. So, for the ministry to choose to pick on those particular students and say,
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