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Letter to the Editor
Following the community meeting at the Mt Arthur centre, a smaller private meeting was held to discuss some of the issues. The progress towards upgrading the local police officer to 24 hour status is pleasing, and will continue to be pursued. There were some school issues that needed addressing, so a letter was written to the Principal of the Lilydale District School.
The school is an integral part of our community, with most people being either students, ex-students, parents of students, grandparents of students, users of the
library or users of the on-line centre . In some way most of us have a personal connection with the school and feel the desire to be involved in school issues.
Vandalism, theft, aggressive and inconsiderate
behaviour are community problems and will only be solved through a co-operative effort.
The letter was presented to the Acting Principal (Rose Parker) at the May Parents and Friends meeting. Rose Parker has agreed to raise these issues in an
appropriate way at an appropriate time.
The letter to Rose Parker raised the issue of
widespread community and parent concern that the School's previously very high reputation and 'climate' have been falling in some parts of the school in recent years. Reputation and climate are easy to loose, but very difficult to re-build. The issues contributing to reputation and climate need to be addressed as soon as possible.
We will be working the issues through School Council and P&F. If you wish to discuss any issue, please
approach a School Council member, come to P&F or talk to us.
These are the issues raised in the letter.
Bullying at school (long term) and on school buses. The school is obviously tackling this issue. However, if a victim of bullying does not see 'light at the end of the tunnel', self-esteem and pride are lost, the 'expectation to under-achieve' attitude prevails, and sometimes it is the victim who has an 'adjustment problem'. Some of the bullying is
becoming more violent and child safety at school
becomes an issue.
Lack of class control, particularly with
relief teachers. Query too many relief
teachers. It seems to be very common for classes to have relief teachers. This is not generally seen as a positive situation for a class; for learning or
behaviour. Class curriculum work needs to be
continued with relief teachers.
Concern that there may not be enough male teachers.
Lack of long-term occupancy for the
Principal's position. It is unfortunate that this
position remains acting for 2003 after being acting for 2002. The prospects of it being temporary for 2004 would be quite unacceptable. It is absolutely vital that
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