Education Deep End
OUR education system appears to throw new teacher graduates into schools considered problematic whilst experienced long term teachers have worked their way up into the "good" schools.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
I know all dedicated teachers have the welfare of their students as their main priority - that is why they chose education as their career.
It would appear to make a lot more sense and be a lot more successful for the experienced, confident teachers to be able to be allocated to those schools where lower socio economic environments and other social problems are prevalent.
The new graduates would gain experience and confidence with less challenging schools and students, and move on when they have attained those levels.
I know of several new enthusiastic and dedicated graduates thrown into very challenging schools who have lost their confidence and felt unsafe and have left that career.
Dianne Scetrine, East Launceston.
Free to Air TV
I TOTALLY concur with Steve Clarks (The Examiner, February 5). I didn't have access to Pay TV for a week and only had access to free-to-air television. The never ending tripe that was promoted in the name of entertainment was eye wateringly pathetic.
The only programs worth watching were ABC local news and Channel 7 Tasmanian news.
Francis Sheahan, Riverside.
Prison at Westbury
THE battle lines over the Westbury prison proposal are now quite clear.
On the one hand the prison supporters are happy to take, and continue to take, of the millions of dollars of taxpayers money that this prison will cost.
They believe this is a good way to build a community.
On the other hand, opponents of the prison believe their future lies in free enterprise, true wealth creation, and the less dependence on taxpayer money the better.
Now, which of these is a belief and commitment in fundamental Liberal values?
Chris Donaldson, Westbury.
North-East Railway
TOURISM, tourism, tourism.
That's the catch cry of the Greens, Liberals and Labor politicians. We need tourists, they say. Great. So, what do they do? Give permission to a council to rip up a perfectly good railline to accommodate a select few cyclists who spend little instead of letting a group run a tourist train that would attract hundreds. I am not sure if this makes sense to the politicians, but it doesn't make sense.
Cyril Patmore, Poatina.
Emotional Intelligence
WE were discussing the depth of emotional intelligence in the workplace.
My lawyer revealed that in his first job his boss and mentor was a former spitfire pilot. This led to further discussion on the life experience and understanding of those who manage people in organisations.
We had also observed that today's supervisors and managers have two jobs: to complete their own work and manage people - with the latter being a secondary consideration in terms of measuring their competence. In political organisations this is even more pronounced. Which brings us to the state of affairs in Australian politics. When winning at all costs is the culture and you have a nest of advisers with limited life experience you finish up with the Bridget McKenzie sports rort.
Tony Newport, Hillwood.
Firefighters Superhumans
I HOPE that when the bushfires that have caused such destruction and heartache across Australia for weeks and weeks are finally over. Prime Minister Scott Morrison needs to stop patting himself on the back, and line up every one of our superhuman firefighters and awards them all a medal for bravery and courage beyond the line of duty for the pure hell they have gone through for months and months.
Steve Clark, George Town.
The Planning Scheme
IT'S all too silly for words that many people are now corresponding, either for or against, the proposed Gasworks car park.
No-one saw fit to comment about a month ago when council asked for representations to be made, either for or against, the development before the application was considered. The development has now been refused so what is to be gained with belated commentary?
But it goes further than that.
After about 10 years work, and with the City of Launceston contributing a further two years to include additional local detailing, for example the Building Height and Massing Study, a statewide planning scheme is basically in operation but we find the first two major projects to be considered, the Gorge Hotel and the multi-level car park at the Gasworks, have both been refused, mainly because of height. You would think the developers and council would know the rules? Or are the rules silly?
As the editorial wrote (The Examiner, January 28) "It's up to all involved to get on with getting it right, or get out of the way".
Jim Dickenson, Launceston.
Credit Where it is Due
TO THE kind citizen who handed in my credit card to the manager at IGA in Norwood. Also to the staff who safely looked after my card - when I didn't. This gesture was most sincerely appreciated.