Mr Omodei questions Premier Carpenter about his comments on Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) and commentary from those removed from the classroom. Carpenter defends his remarks, acknowledges potentially unhelpful language, and affirms his support for education and teachers, promising support for those needing it.

AnsweredQoN 300Legislative Assembly
Asked
30 May 2006
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

OUTCOMES-BASED EDUCATION - COMMENTARY
Does the Premier still stand by his comments on 3 May this year when he said that much of the commentary on the issue of OBE has come from people who have not been in the classroom for 40 or 50 years? Mr A.J. CARPENTER

AnswerView source ↗

That comment was made in relation to a comment by the Prime Minister about the education system. I pointed out that commentary like that was coming from people who had not been in the classroom, I think one would have to say from the Prime Minister’s perspective, for probably 50 years. There were others in the same category. This is what I said today in relation to some of the terminology that I have used. I have probably used language that has made the situation and the concerns worse. I have used terminology that, in hindsight, probably would have been better used in another way. I think all teachers in Western Australia understand that I support the education system. I support public education; I support improvement. I doubt whether anybody, even my most fierce critics - or should I say fiercest critics - would consider that I do not support education. They have not done what I have in my time in politics to improve the education system. However, there will still be people who do not like that change. There will still be people who need some support. We must work with those people to let them understand that we support them. Mr P.D. Omodei : You need to delay it, just for those two years. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We will provide support to those teachers who need it.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: That comment was made in relation to a comment by the Prime Minister about the education system. I pointed out that commentary like that was coming from people who had not been in the classroom, I think one would have to say from the Prime Minister’s perspective, for probably 50 years. There were others in the same category. This is what I said today in relation to some of the terminology that I have used. I have probably used language that has made the situation and the concerns worse. I have used terminology that, in hindsight, probably would have been better used in another way. I think all teachers in Western Australia understand that I support the education system. I support public education; I support improvement. I doubt whether anybody, even my most fierce critics - or should I say fiercest critics - would consider that I do not support education. They have not done what I have in my time in politics to improve the education system. However, there will still be people who do not like that change. There will still be people who need some support. We must work with those people to let them understand that we support them. Mr P.D. Omodei : You need to delay it, just for those two years. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We will provide support to those teachers who need it.
That comment was made in relation to a comment by the Prime Minister about the education system. I pointed out that commentary like that was coming from people who had not been in the classroom, I think one would have to say from the Prime Minister’s perspective, for probably 50 years. There were others in the same category. This is what I said today in relation to some of the terminology that I have used. I have probably used language that has made the situation and the concerns worse. I have used terminology that, in hindsight, probably would have been better used in another way. I think all teachers in Western Australia understand that I support the education system. I support public education; I support improvement. I doubt whether anybody, even my most fierce critics - or should I say fiercest critics - would consider that I do not support education. They have not done what I have in my time in politics to improve the education system. However, there will still be people who do not like that change. There will still be people who need some support. We must work with those people to let them understand that we support them. Mr P.D. Omodei : You need to delay it, just for those two years. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We will provide support to those teachers who need it.
Mr P.D. Omodei : You need to delay it, just for those two years. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We will provide support to those teachers who need it.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We will provide support to those teachers who need it.

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