[Greens-Media] O'Farrell should dump Young Liberals education witch-hunt

[John Kaye]

O'Farrell should dump Young Liberals education witch-hunt
 
Media Release: 1 April 2008
 
NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell must dissociate himself from the 'dob in a teacher' fear campaign being run by the Young Liberals, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
 
Commenting on a story on page 12 of today's Sydney Morning Herald, Dr Kaye said: "The Young Liberals want to turn students into ideological vigilantes. They are resurrecting the spirit of US Senator Joe McCarthy to ignite a season of witch-hunting in the classroom.
 
"This would be almost funny if it were not for the endorsement of senior Liberal Senator Brett Mason's.
 
"If NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell and his Education spokesperson Andrew Stoner want to be taken seriously, they will have to publicly criticise this outrage against educational professionalism.
 
"The Young Liberal's 'Make Education Fair' campaign invites students to inform on educators in schools and universities who express a political opinion.
 
"Without a shred of evidence, they have slandered this nation's teachers and academics. Based on nothing but a few unattributed rumours, they feel justified in opening the floodgates of  suspicion and finger pointing.
 
"The Young Liberals have handed a malicious weapon to every disgruntled student to anonymously lodge vexatious complaints against an unpopular teacher. They have taken one small step towards undermining classroom discipline.
 
"These extremists have no understanding of the culture of open inquiry and free discourse. The quality of education will be undermined if every academic and teacher has to look over their shoulder for a potential informer.
 
"This is a recipe for narrow mindedness. By threatening educators who ask students to see an issue for a variety of perspectives, the Liberal party's youth wing is trying to plunge Australian schools and universities into a new dark age.
 
"The Young Libs are flirting with the weapons of some very unpleasant dictatorships. Creating a climate of fear is the worst enemy of quality education," Dr Kaye said.
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: john.kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000