[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Bartlett Must Ban League Table Publication_N McKim MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

BARTLETT MUST ACT ON BANNING SCHOOL LEAGUE TABLES PUBLICATION

Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader and Education Spokesperson

Monday, 24 August 2009
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today reiterated their call for Premier and
Education Minister David Bartlett to legislate to ban the publication of
school league tables after the state conference of the Tasmanian State
Schools Parents and Friends association voted overwhelmingly against
publication.

Greens Leader and Education Spokesperson Nick McKim MP said Premier
Bartlett appears to be too busy rehashing statements about his long-term
visions for the future of the Tasmanian education system, instead of
actually taking action to address issues that are damaging the system
right now, such as the publication of school league tables.

"Premier Bartlett claims to listen to the people, and if he is a man of
his word he must move to legislate to ban the publication of school
league tables following the State Schools Parents and Friends
Association State Conference voting against publication this weekend,"
Mr McKim said.

"The Australian Education Union, the State Parents and Friends
Association, the Tasmanian Principals Association, The Australian
Primary Principals Association, the Australian Secondary Principals
Association, and a range of national and international academics are all
against this practice due to the damage it can do to disadvantaged
schools and their communities."

"It is widely recognised that the publication of survey results without
any context is wildly misleading and simplistic, and does not reflect
accurately what is going on in schools."

"The argument that publishing is a form of free speech is also
simplistic as we all know that those rights come with responsibilities,
which is why there are very appropriate restrictions on publishing
racist, sexist and other matters that are deemed detrimental to a
healthy society."

"Instead of continually wringing his hands in false concern over this
issue, the Premier needs to take decisive action and ban the publication
of school league tables," said Mr McKim.




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