Leaving home ...By RICHARD PICKUPEarlier this year the Tasmanian State School Parents & Friends conducted a comprehensive survey of parents and students in regional and isolated areas. The survey was directed at three specific groups:
Year 10 students planning to continue their study. The survey was undertaken in response to concerns raised by parents from west coast communities, whose children have to leave home at an early age - sometimes as young as 15 - if they wish to study pre-tertiary subjects in Years 11 and 12. The clear indication from the majority of respondents - both parents and students was that while most young people want to continue their studies and are supported in that choice by their parents, having to leave home at such a young and vulnerable age is an unfair and extremely difficult burden. Results indicated that those who live too far away from the senior secondary colleges located in Tasmania's major cities often struggle to find reasonable accommodation and experience problems at having to separate from their families. It's not just about leaving their parents, it's also about having to move away from their local community, their friends, give up the possibility of part time jobs and involvement with sporting and other recreational clubs. While the original concerns raised centred on the lack of suitable, accessible supervised accommodation for the students within Tasmania’s major city centres, particularly Hobart a large number of responses also clearly highlighted the concerns felt about students having to travel long distances – in some cases up to an hour and a half each way – to attend senior secondary colleges. For those who travel daily their capacity to participate within their community in any meaningful way is also limited because of the time spent travelling to and from school often over and hour and a half each way. These kids’ lives are reduced to travelling, attending school and travelling again. They are worn out and exhausted and have real problems finding enough time to study, let alone anything else. TASS &F plans to use the survey responses to negotiate with the Education Minister for a funding increase to high and district schools so that a full range of Year 11 and 12 subjects (both non and pre-tertiary) can be offered, ensuring students can stay within their own communities. We believe this can be done through a combination of utilising 'On Line Learning' with provision of specially trained tutors, supplemented by specific subject teachers who are already at the District Schools teaching year 7 – 10. In making this recommendation TASSP&F took into account a number of other points: 1. The extension of the school leaving age to 17, which means every student currently in Year 7 and those that follow, will have to undertake at least year 11 study; 2. The restructure of the department and the proposed clustering of schools; 3. The availability of a comprehensive On Line network within the state. In the short term the Minister must ensure adequate housing for all students having to leave home to undertake Year 11 and 12 study. That includes ensuring accommodation is accessible during the day and on weekends, meals are provided and hostels are supervised by adults. As well a register of approved private board should be established. Given most students choose to travel even quite long distances rather than move away from home, the bus transport should be as efficient and as comfortable as possible. In the longer term the Minister and the Department have to address the reality that in the coming years, ALL students will be going on to Year 11 and they should not all be expected to leave home to do that. Tasmania is the most regionalised state in Australia, with a large number of small communities dotted around the state. Thinking outside the square and putting the best interests of the students first must be the prime consideration and starting point for any solutions. Some comments received from parents and students ... Queenstown Parent: "Travelling every Friday and return on Sunday which is more than 4 hours knocked the kid a bit, mentally and physically." Snug Parent: "Puts them at a disadvantage compared to the mainland where high school is to year 12. … whilst they are studying their hardest years at school they should not have to concern themselves with cooking a meal at the end of the day … and having to maintain a flat or share house, it's too much. the start times and finish times are all over the place and it makes it very difficult in getting buses." Konya Parent: "Too young to leave home." Bridport Parent: "The family unit is severed earlier than families whose children attend college from the cities." Grade 11 student in board: "Don’t know many people, miss family and friends." Grade 11 student: "The trip times, the cold." Grade 11 student: "The long bus rides, and its very tiring its worse when it’s cold." Grade 11 student: "I would rather be home." Grade 11 student: "Travel time limits the amount of home work done on the weekend." Richard Pickup is State President TASSP&F.
RAPID RESPONSE EMAIL: What do you think? Thursday, December 2, 2004 |