Page 5998 - Week 18 - Thursday, 12 December 1991
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Therefore, our Social Policy Committee did what was only right and proper - it examined an issue that will not go away and will not be tackled unless society and government deal with it. I put society first because I think a lot of the blame lies at society's doorstep. There have always been children whose behaviour has been at odds with their parents and with older society. There is no lack of comments on this matter in history.
I was brought up in a very strict and disciplined era in society. I feel at times that we are overlooking the fact that children have this right to be able to do whatever they like. We have to reach a point where we teach children that they have responsibilities as well as rights. I lay this at the feet of the parents. If parents are not prepared to take responsibility for their children they cannot expect society to do it. However, I feel that it is not always the parents' fault. The point is that parents need a lot of teaching.
The measure of the increase in significant behavioural disturbance is presented in the evidence of this important inquiry. Unquestionably, trends associated with society today are such as to place much greater pressure on families; hence the need for a greater look at the problem. I share the community's concern about the extent of behavioural disturbance and I strongly support the recommendations which attempt to alleviate this problem.
There are some recommendations of particular importance. One of these is the urgent need to identify children with behavioural problems as early as possible in their preschool and school life. The earlier that attention can be paid to these children, the better the prospect that there will be some successful outcome. Very often, Mr Speaker, the trend is to attend to the most urgent problems which are usually surrounding the older students. This is a great mistake. Because the younger child or a child at preschool can be easily contained, the problem is often overlooked.
Mr Speaker, I believe that it is very important that links between the home and the school be strengthened considerably. Where a child is disturbed in his or her behaviour, it is very difficult to make any improvement unless the home is fully involved and totally committed in this process. It is essential, therefore, that family counselling be available for parents who are already under severe stress because of the demands placed upon them by society, and who suffer enormously from the further disturbance caused to their lives by the children who are unable to behave acceptably.
Mr Speaker, I also give high commendation to the teachers in the ACT who are called upon to handle these students, and to do so while providing a full program for 30 other children in their classes. Indeed, they may well have more than one student with quite severe problems. I acknowledge
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