❓ Mrs Roberts questions the Minister for Education on the use of SMS alerts for informing parents of school incidents. The Minister acknowledges SMS alerts as one option but highlights the need for a range of communication methods and notes the voluntary nature of the current program.
AnsweredQoN 69Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SCHOOLS — BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT
I ask a supplementary question. Does the minister now agree that short message service alerts are the best way of informing parents of dangerous and violent incidents occurring in and around schools; and, if so, when will she move to implement the initiative? Dr E. CONSTABLE
I ask a supplementary question. Does the minister now agree that short message service alerts are the best way of informing parents of dangerous and violent incidents occurring in and around schools; and, if so, when will she move to implement the initiative? Dr E. CONSTABLE
AnswerView source ↗
SMS alerts are one way of alerting parents to incidents. There are also other ways. The problem with SMS alerts is that not all parents have mobile phones. We need a range of ways to contact parents. I am the first to recognise that the introduction of SMS alerts was a good initiative of the former government. It was introduced just over a year ago, in September 2007. It has not been rolled out to all schools. In fact, schools voluntarily decide whether they will be part of it. Sixty-nine schools are currently involved: 20 primary schools and 49 secondary schools. We hope that that will increase to about 100 schools by term 1, 2009. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Who is in charge? Are you the minister? Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member for Midland loves to ask questions but she does not like listening to any answers. I expect 100 schools to be involved in the SMS program by term 1, 2009. It is up to schools to decide whether they want to be involved. I am reviewing that policy—that was the policy of the former government—to see whether we can roll it out faster. SMS contact with parents is one way to contact parents. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Midland had the opportunity to ask a question. People respected that process and listened. She had the opportunity to ask a supplementary question. She may want to ask further questions tomorrow. I would like to see this place proceed with further questions. This sort of behaviour is not helping that process. Dr E. CONSTABLE : In conclusion, I was trying to make the point that sending SMS alerts is one way of contacting parents. There is a range of ways of doing that, including emails or alerts over the radio, if there is an emergency. We need to incorporate these methods into a suite of ways of contacting parents.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: SMS alerts are one way of alerting parents to incidents. There are also other ways. The problem with SMS alerts is that not all parents have mobile phones. We need a range of ways to contact parents. I am the first to recognise that the introduction of SMS alerts was a good initiative of the former government. It was introduced just over a year ago, in September 2007. It has not been rolled out to all schools. In fact, schools voluntarily decide whether they will be part of it. Sixty-nine schools are currently involved: 20 primary schools and 49 secondary schools. We hope that that will increase to about 100 schools by term 1, 2009. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Who is in charge? Are you the minister? Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member for Midland loves to ask questions but she does not like listening to any answers. I expect 100 schools to be involved in the SMS program by term 1, 2009. It is up to schools to decide whether they want to be involved. I am reviewing that policy—that was the policy of the former government—to see whether we can roll it out faster. SMS contact with parents is one way to contact parents. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Midland had the opportunity to ask a question. People respected that process and listened. She had the opportunity to ask a supplementary question. She may want to ask further questions tomorrow. I would like to see this place proceed with further questions. This sort of behaviour is not helping that process. Dr E. CONSTABLE : In conclusion, I was trying to make the point that sending SMS alerts is one way of contacting parents. There is a range of ways of doing that, including emails or alerts over the radio, if there is an emergency. We need to incorporate these methods into a suite of ways of contacting parents.
SMS alerts are one way of alerting parents to incidents. There are also other ways. The problem with SMS alerts is that not all parents have mobile phones. We need a range of ways to contact parents. I am the first to recognise that the introduction of SMS alerts was a good initiative of the former government. It was introduced just over a year ago, in September 2007. It has not been rolled out to all schools. In fact, schools voluntarily decide whether they will be part of it. Sixty-nine schools are currently involved: 20 primary schools and 49 secondary schools. We hope that that will increase to about 100 schools by term 1, 2009. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Who is in charge? Are you the minister? Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member for Midland loves to ask questions but she does not like listening to any answers. I expect 100 schools to be involved in the SMS program by term 1, 2009. It is up to schools to decide whether they want to be involved. I am reviewing that policy—that was the policy of the former government—to see whether we can roll it out faster. SMS contact with parents is one way to contact parents. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Midland had the opportunity to ask a question. People respected that process and listened. She had the opportunity to ask a supplementary question. She may want to ask further questions tomorrow. I would like to see this place proceed with further questions. This sort of behaviour is not helping that process. Dr E. CONSTABLE : In conclusion, I was trying to make the point that sending SMS alerts is one way of contacting parents. There is a range of ways of doing that, including emails or alerts over the radio, if there is an emergency. We need to incorporate these methods into a suite of ways of contacting parents.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Who is in charge? Are you the minister? Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member for Midland loves to ask questions but she does not like listening to any answers. I expect 100 schools to be involved in the SMS program by term 1, 2009. It is up to schools to decide whether they want to be involved. I am reviewing that policy—that was the policy of the former government—to see whether we can roll it out faster. SMS contact with parents is one way to contact parents. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Midland had the opportunity to ask a question. People respected that process and listened. She had the opportunity to ask a supplementary question. She may want to ask further questions tomorrow. I would like to see this place proceed with further questions. This sort of behaviour is not helping that process. Dr E. CONSTABLE : In conclusion, I was trying to make the point that sending SMS alerts is one way of contacting parents. There is a range of ways of doing that, including emails or alerts over the radio, if there is an emergency. We need to incorporate these methods into a suite of ways of contacting parents.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member for Midland loves to ask questions but she does not like listening to any answers. I expect 100 schools to be involved in the SMS program by term 1, 2009. It is up to schools to decide whether they want to be involved. I am reviewing that policy—that was the policy of the former government—to see whether we can roll it out faster. SMS contact with parents is one way to contact parents. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Midland had the opportunity to ask a question. People respected that process and listened. She had the opportunity to ask a supplementary question. She may want to ask further questions tomorrow. I would like to see this place proceed with further questions. This sort of behaviour is not helping that process. Dr E. CONSTABLE : In conclusion, I was trying to make the point that sending SMS alerts is one way of contacting parents. There is a range of ways of doing that, including emails or alerts over the radio, if there is an emergency. We need to incorporate these methods into a suite of ways of contacting parents.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Midland had the opportunity to ask a question. People respected that process and listened. She had the opportunity to ask a supplementary question. She may want to ask further questions tomorrow. I would like to see this place proceed with further questions. This sort of behaviour is not helping that process. Dr E. CONSTABLE : In conclusion, I was trying to make the point that sending SMS alerts is one way of contacting parents. There is a range of ways of doing that, including emails or alerts over the radio, if there is an emergency. We need to incorporate these methods into a suite of ways of contacting parents.
The SPEAKER : The member for Midland had the opportunity to ask a question. People respected that process and listened. She had the opportunity to ask a supplementary question. She may want to ask further questions tomorrow. I would like to see this place proceed with further questions. This sort of behaviour is not helping that process. Dr E. CONSTABLE : In conclusion, I was trying to make the point that sending SMS alerts is one way of contacting parents. There is a range of ways of doing that, including emails or alerts over the radio, if there is an emergency. We need to incorporate these methods into a suite of ways of contacting parents.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : In conclusion, I was trying to make the point that sending SMS alerts is one way of contacting parents. There is a range of ways of doing that, including emails or alerts over the radio, if there is an emergency. We need to incorporate these methods into a suite of ways of contacting parents.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: SMS alerts are one way of alerting parents to incidents. There are also other ways. The problem with SMS alerts is that not all parents have mobile phones. We need a range of ways to contact parents. I am the first to recognise that the introduction of SMS alerts was a good initiative of the former government. It was introduced just over a year ago, in September 2007. It has not been rolled out to all schools. In fact, schools voluntarily decide whether they will be part of it. Sixty-nine schools are currently involved: 20 primary schools and 49 secondary schools. We hope that that will increase to about 100 schools by term 1, 2009. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Who is in charge? Are you the minister? Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member for Midland loves to ask questions but she does not like listening to any answers. I expect 100 schools to be involved in the SMS program by term 1, 2009. It is up to schools to decide whether they want to be involved. I am reviewing that policy—that was the policy of the former government—to see whether we can roll it out faster. SMS contact with parents is one way to contact parents. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Midland had the opportunity to ask a question. People respected that process and listened. She had the opportunity to ask a supplementary question. She may want to ask further questions tomorrow. I would like to see this place proceed with further questions. This sort of behaviour is not helping that process. Dr E. CONSTABLE : In conclusion, I was trying to make the point that sending SMS alerts is one way of contacting parents. There is a range of ways of doing that, including emails or alerts over the radio, if there is an emergency. We need to incorporate these methods into a suite of ways of contacting parents.
SMS alerts are one way of alerting parents to incidents. There are also other ways. The problem with SMS alerts is that not all parents have mobile phones. We need a range of ways to contact parents. I am the first to recognise that the introduction of SMS alerts was a good initiative of the former government. It was introduced just over a year ago, in September 2007. It has not been rolled out to all schools. In fact, schools voluntarily decide whether they will be part of it. Sixty-nine schools are currently involved: 20 primary schools and 49 secondary schools. We hope that that will increase to about 100 schools by term 1, 2009. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Who is in charge? Are you the minister? Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member for Midland loves to ask questions but she does not like listening to any answers. I expect 100 schools to be involved in the SMS program by term 1, 2009. It is up to schools to decide whether they want to be involved. I am reviewing that policy—that was the policy of the former government—to see whether we can roll it out faster. SMS contact with parents is one way to contact parents. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Midland had the opportunity to ask a question. People respected that process and listened. She had the opportunity to ask a supplementary question. She may want to ask further questions tomorrow. I would like to see this place proceed with further questions. This sort of behaviour is not helping that process. Dr E. CONSTABLE : In conclusion, I was trying to make the point that sending SMS alerts is one way of contacting parents. There is a range of ways of doing that, including emails or alerts over the radio, if there is an emergency. We need to incorporate these methods into a suite of ways of contacting parents.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Who is in charge? Are you the minister? Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member for Midland loves to ask questions but she does not like listening to any answers. I expect 100 schools to be involved in the SMS program by term 1, 2009. It is up to schools to decide whether they want to be involved. I am reviewing that policy—that was the policy of the former government—to see whether we can roll it out faster. SMS contact with parents is one way to contact parents. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Midland had the opportunity to ask a question. People respected that process and listened. She had the opportunity to ask a supplementary question. She may want to ask further questions tomorrow. I would like to see this place proceed with further questions. This sort of behaviour is not helping that process. Dr E. CONSTABLE : In conclusion, I was trying to make the point that sending SMS alerts is one way of contacting parents. There is a range of ways of doing that, including emails or alerts over the radio, if there is an emergency. We need to incorporate these methods into a suite of ways of contacting parents.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member for Midland loves to ask questions but she does not like listening to any answers. I expect 100 schools to be involved in the SMS program by term 1, 2009. It is up to schools to decide whether they want to be involved. I am reviewing that policy—that was the policy of the former government—to see whether we can roll it out faster. SMS contact with parents is one way to contact parents. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Midland had the opportunity to ask a question. People respected that process and listened. She had the opportunity to ask a supplementary question. She may want to ask further questions tomorrow. I would like to see this place proceed with further questions. This sort of behaviour is not helping that process. Dr E. CONSTABLE : In conclusion, I was trying to make the point that sending SMS alerts is one way of contacting parents. There is a range of ways of doing that, including emails or alerts over the radio, if there is an emergency. We need to incorporate these methods into a suite of ways of contacting parents.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Midland had the opportunity to ask a question. People respected that process and listened. She had the opportunity to ask a supplementary question. She may want to ask further questions tomorrow. I would like to see this place proceed with further questions. This sort of behaviour is not helping that process. Dr E. CONSTABLE : In conclusion, I was trying to make the point that sending SMS alerts is one way of contacting parents. There is a range of ways of doing that, including emails or alerts over the radio, if there is an emergency. We need to incorporate these methods into a suite of ways of contacting parents.
The SPEAKER : The member for Midland had the opportunity to ask a question. People respected that process and listened. She had the opportunity to ask a supplementary question. She may want to ask further questions tomorrow. I would like to see this place proceed with further questions. This sort of behaviour is not helping that process. Dr E. CONSTABLE : In conclusion, I was trying to make the point that sending SMS alerts is one way of contacting parents. There is a range of ways of doing that, including emails or alerts over the radio, if there is an emergency. We need to incorporate these methods into a suite of ways of contacting parents.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : In conclusion, I was trying to make the point that sending SMS alerts is one way of contacting parents. There is a range of ways of doing that, including emails or alerts over the radio, if there is an emergency. We need to incorporate these methods into a suite of ways of contacting parents.
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