Page 4324 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 13 October 2009
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Canberra and Campbell high schools; connect 10 programs in each school district for students in years 9 and 10 who are at risk of dropping out, which are located at the Lake Tuggeranong college, Lake Ginninderra college, and Dickson college; and the Canberra Institute of Technology vocational college, which offers a personalised and tailored approach to studying for the year 10 and year 12 certificates. One of the big advantages delivered by the new CIT college is the ability to combine two courses of study. Students can work towards essential skills like year 10, year 12 and English while making a start on their work qualifications.
Besides these alternative settings, schools select a variety and combination of programs to assist them to care for every child and create connected and respectful communities where differences can be aired and relationships repaired. These programs include restorative practices, friendly schools and families and the “you can do it” programs, all designed to support schools in countering bullying and building positive relationships.
The government’s vision for education is that everyone learns, and this amendment to the Education Act will make it more possible for everyone to learn. Suspensions are one behaviour management strategy in schools. Principals and teachers know their schools. They should have more flexibility around suspensions. Combined with quality teaching, a diverse and interesting curriculum, a caring and supportive school community and alternative education settings, we will make sure that everyone learns and everyone reaches their full potential. That is the environment of the ACT public education system, and I commend this bill to the Assembly.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Children and Young People, Minister for Planning and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation) (12.09), in reply: I thank members for their contributions to the debate. We have certainly seen a diverse range of views expressed in the speakers from all three parties—so much so that I am reminded of a certain song that was sung by the band Stealers Wheel in the seventies, Stuck in the Middle With You. Whilst I will not regale the Assembly with a singing expose, I will—
Mr Doszpot: Just the chorus will do.
MR BARR: Yes, indeed. There may not be clowns to the left of me, Madam Deputy Speaker, but there certainly are jokers to the right, and I think we have seen that in the presentation from the Liberal Party on this bill today.
The government is listening to parents, teachers and the wider community. There is no doubt that they have expectations about behaviour in our schools, and we are helping principals to uphold those expectations. But we are also supporting students, providing checks and balances.
As previous speakers have mentioned, the bill increases the ability of principals to suspend a student from five to up to 10 days in ACT public and systemic Catholic schools. Parents and students expect principals to set standards—high standards of achievement and high standards of behaviour—in our schools. Principals have this responsibility, so principals should have the corresponding power and autonomy to uphold school standards.
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