Page 4314 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 7 December 1993
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MRS GRASSBY (4.06): I rise briefly to make some comments on this report. Firstly, let me say how pleasant it was to serve on a committee whose report was endorsed unanimously by its members. I think the report on community and cultural use of schools is a good example of cooperation and broad support across the political spectrum. Importantly, there is also a broad consensus in the community that we should be getting better use out of our schools and infrastructure. Not only does this have the potential to save the Government money on infrastructure and running costs, but also it can recoup some of its considerable investment in schools. Additionally, community and cultural use of schools serves a very socially useful purpose. I agree with Mr Cornwell that people who get things for nothing really do not appreciate them. I do think that we do have to have a charge. One of the things that I noticed, as did Mr Cornwell, is that there seem, although I am not completely sure, to be a lot of people paying very little money for the use of schools. I think that that should be looked into.
The committee examined the best use of the buildings for community and cultural use other than schooling and ways by which after-hours use of buildings might be maximised. The committee has made 15 very useful and practical recommendations. I do not propose to speak to each one of them, but I would like to point to several and to make some general comments. The first recommendation is that priority be given to activities which offer greater benefit and assistance to achievement of educational outcomes. I believe that that is very important. I do not think that there was anybody on the committee who did not agree. That is consistent with planning policies and it meets important social objectives.
We all know the importance of teaching young people and older people Japanese. After the twinning of our city with a Japanese city, it would be very good if at least a quarter of our community could speak Japanese. I am pleased that the teaching of languages other than English will be made easier and more accessible to the community. I think it would be more accessible if it could be done after school hours. The Greek community particularly spends time after school and on Saturday mornings teaching their young people Greek. It would be very good if this could be done. This widens our cultural appreciation of languages and people, and works to increase the tolerance and social harmony of our community, which I think is very important.
There are a number of advantages in encouraging the use of schools after hours. Not the least, as I alluded to earlier, is the more efficient use of school buildings which otherwise would be empty for more than 50 per cent of the time. We know that this is what happens. When schooling is finished at around 3.30 pm or 4.00 pm a school is pretty well empty until the next morning. There is considerable evidence which demonstrates that the use of our schools for longer hours reduces the level of vandalism of the buildings. I think we all know and appreciate that. I believe that this takes place for two reasons. Firstly, the presence of people discourages vandals and wreckers, and, secondly, schools are becoming an integral part of our community. A sense of personal ownership of the asset is developed. Not many people wantonly damage their own goods when they feel that they really are part of them, so I think this is important.
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