[Greens-Media] Mr Abbott - more teachers not big sticks will help our kids

[Edwards, Jon (Sen K. Nettle)]

Mr Abbott - more teachers not big sticks will help our kids

15.06.07

Greens Education spokesperson Senator Kerry Nettle today urged Tony
Abbott to keep his 19th Century views on discipline in schools to
himself, and leave it to professional educators to protect children in
schools.

Senator Nettle was responding to comments made by Minister Abbott on
Channel Nine this morning in light of footage of an attack in a school
yard where he said ;

"I mean, we've taken corporal punishment out of the schools because we
think that's brutal and yet our playgrounds seem to be becoming more
brutal than ever...maybe a little bit more discipline in the schools
would prevent some of the ugliness that we've just seen."
	 
"Tony Abbott may think it's a good idea to beat kids, but history has
shown us via many tragic stories that it simply doesn't work, and has
been shown in some cases to promote the use of violence not reduce it.

"Discipline in schools is best dealt with by having smaller class sizes
and more teachers, who are better paid and resourced. 

"If Tony Abbott is so concerned about school discipline I'd suggest he
make this point in the Cabinet room and secure much needed funds to
reduce class sizes.

"If Tony Abbott thinks that the use of violence by teachers made school
yards better behaved in the past then he is living in fairy land."


Contact - Jon Edwards 0428 213 146