Page 2206 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 16 August 2006
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MR BARR: Dr Foskey just said that schools that were larger than some of the schools she listed offered students poor education. That is an outrageous assertion!
Dr Foskey: I did not make it, Mr Barr.
MR BARR: That is the assertion that has just been made. It is very unfortunate that those sorts of comments have been put on the record. In some way it insinuates that larger schools do not have the same sort of pastoral care.
Dr Foskey: Is that what I said, Mr Barr?
MR BARR: You made a reference to your experience.
Dr Foskey: You looked for a reference, Mr Barr.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Dr Foskey will cease interjecting. The minister will direct his comments through the chair.
MR BARR: When Dr Foskey presented her argument about small schools she somehow suggested that schools that were larger did not offer students the same quality education, or the same quality of pastoral care. It is unfortunate that she contributed to debate in that manner.
MR SPEAKER: The motion that was moved earlier was to refer the petitions relating to proposed school closures to the Standing Committee on Education, Training and Young People.
MR BARR: I am simply responding to a comment that was made in debate by another member, which I consider to be unfortunate and a poor reflection on that member. The fundamental issue is that these petitions will be received in the spirit in which they were delivered to the government. We have a fair and open process and that is the process in which petitions are received by this government.
Mrs Dunne: What are you going to do with them?
MR BARR: They will form part of the consultation process. Last night I attended a meeting of the School Board Chairs Network. I continue to engage with school communities. I met with members of the Students Representative Council at Kambah High School. I met with them in my office and I have been to the school. I have had one meeting with the board and I will have another meeting in the next few weeks.
I continue to engage with school communities on these issues. Some members of parliament do not have the maturity or the ability to engage in these issues sensibly, or to debate education issues. Last night at the School Board Chairs Network meeting I was pleased to announce the commencement of the education seminar series.
MR SPEAKER: Order! That issue has nothing to do with this motion. The minister is really overstepping the mark. I ask him to come back to the subject matter of the motion.
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