State Opposition told to stop blaming teachers

By Maree O’Halloran

Federation's Senior Officers have told Opposition education spokesperson Jillian Skinner to back off from blaming teachers for critical incidents in schools.

Mrs Skinner and Opposition leader John Brogden have inflamed a number of critical incidents at schools by their comments. They have also fed the Daily Telegraph attacks on public schools.

On June 9 Mr Brogden said in a media release "....when the teachers had the opportunity to act swiftly and stamp out a problem it is simply covered up." That statement was a disgraceful and untrue attack on the profession.

Not only did the teachers in question ensure the student involved was looked after but they put in place correct disciplinary procedures and suspended the students involved in the incident. Counselling was also provided for the victim.

To blame teachers for such attacks is a sign of a weak political leader looking for headlines.

These sensationalised and inaccurate stories in the media cause immense disruption, consternation and damage to the schools that are named.

It is about time that people who purport to be political leaders in the state stop blaming our public school teachers and start supporting them to do their job.

Maree O'Halloran is the President.

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June 2005 contents