Insight into our public schools EDITORIAL
INSIGHT: The Weekly Advertiser editor Dean Lawson with Horsham Primary School students Levi Johns and Zeb Bamford. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
By Dean Lawson, editor
T
aking time to spend a day at a public Wimmera primary school as an independent observer is an eye-opening experience.
It also galvanizes just how important it is for governments, communities and society as a whole to get our education formulas as right as possible. Being asked to be ‘principal for the day’ at bubbling Horsham Primary School was a privilege. To venture into a melting pot of emerging young personalities, where dedicated professionals provide stimulating and creative as well as measured direction for burgeoning youngsters, was fascinating. As principal Chris Walter, who offered the invitation, took time out from a busy schedule to provide insight into the school community and its operations, the process and complexities of providing quality guidance and education became obvious. What was immediately evident as we ventured from classroom to classroom was the expansive and eclectic mix of
unbridled, impressionable and wonderful humanity. There was colour everywhere, not just on the walls where learning messages, stimulants and children’s work were clearly on display, but in the children themselves and, importantly, their teachers. Remarkably, within this hubbub, was a sense of direction, purpose and dedication. While you could see the children from a broad demographical mix getting engaged and encouraged, it was also evident they were being carefully
managed. Make no mistake. This is a tough gig. But it is also obviously rewarding and from random observation, the passion and hard-work ethic in Mr Walter’s teaching team born from critical responsibility, was more than apparent. What was also clear was the year-toyear fragility of how public schools can provide or maintain standards, based on government recognition of circumstances and financing. Hearing about collective work between public primary schools in Hor-
sham, minus any sense of rivalry, was also encouraging. Regional schools must work together to get the best for everyone in our community. There are many boxes that need ticking for our public schools to be able to provide everything from solid educational structures to basic health and wellbeing facilities. Horsham Primary School, through clever juggling and a smart, transparent and no-nonsense approach based on student and staff development and wellbeing, appears to be ticking those boxes.
Children’s Week fun Northern Grampians Shire residents can celebrate National Children’s Week next week at free community events in Stawell and St Arnaud. Mayor Tony Driscoll encouraged families to attend events in Stawell on Monday and St Arnaud on Wednesday. This year’s theme focuses on celebrating children’s views and opinions and is based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. “With this in mind, fun and interactive activities will be taking place at both locations to help spread this message,” Cr Driscoll said. The Stawell event, from 10am to 12.30pm at Central Park gardens, will include arts and craft activities, a fire safety wagon from Parks Victoria, outdoor garden games, story-time sessions with Stawell Library staff, a fresh food for kids discovery tour and face-painting. The St Arnaud event, from 10am to 2.30pm at Market Square, will include outdoor garden games, a drawing and colouring station, story time, playdough, singing and interactive games. Free fruit and water will be available at both events.
Independent critical of Coalition promise Independent candidate for Lowan Barry Shea has described a Liberal-Nationals promise to include a return of a domestic Horsham service as ‘typical spin by a politician’. Mr Shea said he believed the Coalition had made the statement because it was worried about his declaration to ‘seriously’ campaign for passenger rail to Horsham and Hamilton. He said he was critical of uncertainty surrounding circumstance and time frames when a Coalition government might re-establish passenger rail to both centres. He also added that any government elected in the November election should work on establishing basic services before launching into a grandiose project. “Member for Lowan Emma Kealy stated that in the best-case scenario, people might be stepping on and off Horsham Railway Station platform with a domestic service in four years – on the proviso the Coalition won government. That is a big ‘if’,” he said. “It is like saying ‘if’ the fox hadn’t stopped to smell a bush he would have caught the rabbit, but I digress.
Barry Shea “The fact is that Opposition leader Matthew Guy has stated his government would build a $19-billon super-fast rail service to cities such as Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong and then work out what is needed beyond these centres.
“So from that you can work out how long it would take to get the train service to and from Horsham and Hamilton – probably next century. “What I would be demanding is putting the horse before the cart – for example, commit to spend a fraction of that $19-billon dollars to get the rail to Horsham and Hamilton first – not the other way round.” Mr Shea said he could be the difference in forcing ‘real’ change if Lowan voters elected him as an independent representative in parliament’s lower house. “At the moment the polls are indicating a return of the Andrews Labor government, which means we would get nothing,” he said. “But that is where I would have pulling power if elected as an independent. “The same applies to the Warracknabeal Education Precinct, which is only half completed. Think about it.” Mr Shea, a retired police officer who with his wife has raised their now adult family in Horsham, said anyone keen to discuss issues with him could email barryshea1955@hotmail.com. – Dean Lawson
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