OUCH - That's gotta hurt!

[master*and*commander]

Communities angry as six Queensland schools close

5:18pm September 17, 2013

More than 500 students and almost 100 staff will be affected by the schools' closures at the end of the year, after the state government deemed them unviable.

Some parents didn't even realise the school was closing until media approached them for interviews.

Queensland Teachers' Union deputy secretary Kate Ruttiman says the lack of communication isn't good enough, particularly given the union, like many others, has had to hear about the announcement in the media.

"Those principals only found out an hour before the rest of their communities did that their schools would be closing," she said.

"You would think out of respect for those communities they'd have a little bit more notice."

Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mulherin slammed the closures as a cash grab, saying the government is more concerned about clearing prime real-estate areas than the school communities.

Mr Mulherin suggested the decision, initially expected in July, was delayed until after the federal election so it wouldn't negatively impact Liberal National Party candidates.

Mr Langbroek rejected the claims and said any money gained from the school closures would go back into the education system.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/09/17/14/47/qld-govt-to-close-six-public-schools

[polksaladallie]

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@catmad*2013 wrote:

yes, it sure was ... and I am not going to use your ID to reply to .. I find it offensive 

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But you did.

[catsnknots]

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@polksaladallie wrote:

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@catmad*2013 wrote:

yes, it sure was ... and I am not going to use your ID to reply to .. I find it offensive 

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But you did.

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so sorry... let me be more specific for those that do not understand my post... 

I didn't use her ID in a reply like I would for most posts.. I also didn't quote it like I did with this one...

Is that a bit more clear? 

[cherples]

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@catmad*2013 wrote:

Labor closed 139 schools over 20 years.

Where was the uproar about those schools? 

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Same place as it is now.

When ever schools close there are complaints, unless it's to relocate to a new school within 1 minutes travelling time of the existing. Then you get complaints about the,money wasted.  😄

[i-need-a-martini]

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@catmad*2013 wrote:

Labor closed 139 schools over 20 years.

Where was the uproar about those schools? 

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Source?

[i-need-a-martini]

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@catmad*2013 wrote:

I understand peoples frustrations... 

BUT ... The government is a business for the people. It must manage for everyone and not just a minority. 

Do I think that my taxes should go to support a school that is not running efficiently and wasting cash when it should be looking for best managment and services???

______________________________________

Government is NOT a business. It is a service.

People that say that governments should run like a business aren't thinking. Business is about profit. Government is not about profit?

Imagine if the government were dumb enough to take on the suggestion it should run like a business - how do you propose a school makes a profit? How would you run a hospital like a business? What about our armed forces - could the Navy make a profit?

It's a dumb statement made by people who assume that government would run more efiiciently if it were 'run like a business'. 

[izabsmiling]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/striking-wa-teachers-to-lose-half-days-pay-barnett/story-f...

PROTEST: 20,000 angry teachers, education staff vote for more strike action

• YASMINE PHILLIPS AND AAP
• PERTHNOW
• SEPTEMBER 19th 2013

 a number of parents supported the strike to show that the teachers and education staff did,contrary to the Premier's remarks  have Community support .

[izabsmiling]

absolutely Martini , a government can't just cull a service and/or it's people just because they don't give them a profit ...so totally different to running a business .

[catsnknots]

There are plenty of businesses that are not for profit.... they need to have all the bills paid, the services provided and money in the bank for a rainy day.... 

some people just think that there is a never ending pot of cash that needs to be spent on everything... the fact is that we can't provide everything... there is no pot of gold... 

[izabsmiling]

Investment in education is investment in our future work force ....it pays off in the long term.

failing to invest ....could cost heaps

job losses now, budget cuts now ...will cost  so much more and in so many different ways in years to come.

[vampire-teddy]

one of the schools that is closing is the high school that i went to.  it has a lower enrolment at the moment as the suburb and those around it had an ageing population, many of the residents being in their 70s and 80s like my own parents.  many of those residents are now moving into retirement villages or passing on and new families are taking their place.  the enrolment at the local state and private primary schools are starting to grow quickly again.  in 8 years time there will a lot of high school age kids in the area and no school.  the nearest schools are a pretty decent distance away in each direction and those schools are either in the same boat enrolment wise or already over crowded.  it was previously promised when my old school amalgated with another a number of years ago that the school would never be closed and also promised by this govt that it wouldn't be closed because it has a special ed unit.  also was promised by this govt that there would be a one year delay for the current year 11s to finish school.

the school however is on a very large piece of elevated prime real estate two minutes walk from the two nearby railway stations and bus stops. only a 15-20 minute train ride from the city.  wouldn't have anything to do with development i wonder.  there are already strong rumours about high rise residential development going in.

the students will get $750 each for new uniforms (except students going into year 12 who get nothing) (taken from the letter given to students from the government) and students will have to find a school which offers the subjects they are currently enrolled in.