Meander Valley Council will consider a motion to oppose proposed changes to the school starting age at its meeting on Tuesday.
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The move comes after Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff proposed legislation that would give parents the option to send their children to school half a year earlier.
Meander Valley councillor Deb White, who will issue the motion, said while the issue was not one council would normally tackle, it was imperative council concerned itself with the health and wellbeing of residents in the municipality.
“This question of the school starting age hinges very largely upon the health and wellbeing of children and also their families, and the reason I feel strongly about it is that it actually flies in the face of all research and evidence concerning school age and child development,” Cr White said.
“It's not a wise move and it'll be counterproductive, so that's the reason I'll be putting this motion to ask my fellow councillors if they'll support that we communicate with the minister on this.”
Mr Rockliff announced the amendment last month in a letter to all Tasmanian councils, stating the new policy would provide more options for parents; the people best placed to decide when their children should start school.
“The evidence is clear; investing in a child’s early years is by far the most effective way of ensuring that he or she will lead a happy, healthy and productive life,” the letter read.
Ms White agreed parents were the best judges of their child’s readiness for school but urged Mr Rockliff to heed the advice of the Australian Education Union and Early Childhood Australia, who have both denounced the proposed changes.
“These are professionals in the field and they would have no reason to take any stance unless it was supported by evidence.
“I've discussed this with fellow councillors who are parents and the empirical feedback is that parents are very concerned because they know their children, and they know that at such a young age their child's needs are not going to be met by formal schooling.”
A 6000-signature petition against the optional lowering of the school starting age was presented to Mr Rockliff late last month.
