New Opposition education spokesperson Andrew Stoner's first public act in the job has been to attack the Teachers Federation for their attempts to "brainwash" students through the display in public schools of advertising posters for Sunday's Rockin' For Rights concert in Sydney. The concert aims to protest the Federal government's industrial relations reforms, and says Stoner, "It's brainwashing kids to Labor's own political agenda."Stoner went on to explain that politics has no place in public schools, and that if parents wanted their children exposed to political agendas they were free to pay thousands in fees at exclusive private schools, and that any Liberal government would be happy to subsidise this choice.
Other Opposition MPs joined the chorus of discontent, one explaining to The Daily Worry that "it is not the role of teachers to politicise issues, but to present the facts in a fair and impartial manner. So for example a teacher could explain to their students that the new laws will result in the teacher being paid less and the students having to accept low wages without any benefits or protections when they take up their first job, but that this is not necessarily a bad thing."
Malcolm Greenwood of the NSW Young Liberals told The Daily Worry that in the interests of fairness, teachers should explain to students the flip-side of union arguments - "that any superficially negative outcomes are balanced against the new ability for wealthy skilled workers to negotiate even more money, and that the peace of mind afforded business in knowing that it can sack people for no reason means that unemployment can be reduced through the creation of even more low-wage unprotected jobs. Which in turn means less dole-bludgers, and that's something we can all support."
Malcolm Greenwood of the NSW Young Liberals told The Daily Worry that in the interests of fairness, teachers should explain to students the flip-side of union arguments - "that any superficially negative outcomes are balanced against the new ability for wealthy skilled workers to negotiate even more money, and that the peace of mind afforded business in knowing that it can sack people for no reason means that unemployment can be reduced through the creation of even more low-wage unprotected jobs. Which in turn means less dole-bludgers, and that's something we can all support."
Federal MPs were also outraged, one Liberal backbencher complaining to The Daily Worry that union advertising has always glossed over the fact that lower wages result in greater employment and lower inflation - "just look at China for example. Nearly anyone can get a job. Multi-national corporations like Nike are absolutely clamouring to do business there, and the Yuan is going gangbusters. Do we really want to be left behind?"
The Teachers Federation declined our request for comment, explaining that all delegates were currently on smoko.
The Teachers Federation declined our request for comment, explaining that all delegates were currently on smoko.
1 comment:
I always prefer my shoes polished with the salty tears of young children.
Post a Comment