27 June 2012

A new low from Steve Dozspot on disability services in schools

| johnboy
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We’ve seen no shortage of stupid statements out of Steve Dozspot over the years.

But this afternoon’s effort really takes the cake.

He starts by thundering:

BOURKE SAYS ‘NO’ TO EQUALITY FOR CHILDREN WITH A DISABILITY

Steady on! Would Chris Bourke really say such a thing???

Why no. No he wouldn’t. What he has done (even in Steve’s own media release) is less about disability equality and more about the public education system being funded for children who are in public education:

Chris Bourke told Estimates today that he is not interested in considering giving children with a disability at non-government schools the same transport subsidy provided to 600 government students.

Which really seems fair enough.

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KimBelco said :

I have no great love for Dozspot either. In fact, I think this the first time I’ve heard anything from him for years.

Nor for Bourke for that matter as he appears completely and utterly without any knowledge whatsoever concerning his portfolio.

Give him a go, he’s only been an MLA for a year with 3 large portfolios. I’ve even seen him catching the bus to work. Not many MLAs would do that.

HenryBG said :

It’s not fair enough at all.

It’s OK for the Grammar schools or Orana, who charge very high fees and studiously avoid enrolling any special needs students, but non-government schools that *do* choose to enrol disabled kids (and they waive fees if the parents can’t afford them) get far less funding than would be the case were that student at a public school.

Parents are faced with the choice of either sending their disabled child to the same school its siblings attend, knowing the school and its teachers will struggle to find the resources to provide the assistance required, or enrolling their disabled child in a completely different school from the one its siblings attend. As if you could choose to do that.

In the interests of equity and justice, finding for disabled children should exist irrespective of that child’s enrolment, although I draw the line at home-schooling, because we really don’t need any more Kaons, even with cerebral palsy.

I think the grammar schools like special needs kids because of the additional federal and territory govt subsidies, at least in the junior years. And if parents can afford to send their kids there, surely they can afford the transport costs as well.

Sorry to disappoint you Thumper,i’m happily employed in a very satisfying Commonwealth government job in Canberra. However, I am an ACT Labor voter. You’re a regular contributor to this site and judging by your previous posts I bet my bottom dollar I know where you work.

I would like to ask HenryBG, another regular contributor, to provide an example for his/her claim. It’s not the experience I have.

It’s not fair enough at all.

It’s OK for the Grammar schools or Orana, who charge very high fees and studiously avoid enrolling any special needs students, but non-government schools that *do* choose to enrol disabled kids (and they waive fees if the parents can’t afford them) get far less funding than would be the case were that student at a public school.

Parents are faced with the choice of either sending their disabled child to the same school its siblings attend, knowing the school and its teachers will struggle to find the resources to provide the assistance required, or enrolling their disabled child in a completely different school from the one its siblings attend. As if you could choose to do that.

In the interests of equity and justice, finding for disabled children should exist irrespective of that child’s enrolment, although I draw the line at home-schooling, because we really don’t need any more Kaons, even with cerebral palsy.

Johnboy says:

“Steady on! Would Chris Bourke really say such a thing??? Why no. No he wouldn’t . What he has done (even in Steve’s own media release) is less about disability equality and more about the public education system being funded for children who are in public education:”

(as well as) the private education system being funded for children who are in private education.

These Canberra Liberals are only trying to create a wedge between private education and public education. I have children in both systems because each system suits each of them individually.

Steve Doszpot what would the Canberra Liberals do? I saw you on the news last night criticising the ACT Labor Government but not willing to articulate the Canberra Liberal’s policies on education. You really are a Tosspot

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