Fight for Sandy Bay campus
TASMANIAN EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY of Tasmania administrators seem to have too much money, yet too little long-term vision. Buying hotels in the parking-starved CBD may be a temporary fix for a dearth of accommodation, but it’s a sad departure from the vital concept of a campus. It may be that some Right-wing extremists would be happy to disempower students as a political body, but the scholastic campus is so much more than a body politic; it is, or should be, a fount of enlightenment, vision and wisdom. To disseminate the campus across our city is not making us more of a university town, but rather turning the university into a grandiose version of a cottage industry. We must all resist the diminution of the Sandy Bay campus and fight to make our university one of the ‘sandstone’ centres of learning and wisdom. ism by reducing hotel accommodation. Consideration is being given to selling the beautifully located Sandy Bay campus and moving to the CBD. With the dire traffic in Hobart it is hard to imagine the benefit. The hotel buying spree is going to mean a drop in income for Hobart City Council because the uni has a rates exemption. Ratepayers are going to have to pick up the tab, as well as costs of dealing with congestion. UTAS has grown like topsy as a consequence of policies of successive governments, but there is not much evidence of a strategy to strengthen the fabric of the city, rather than to exploit the infrastructure. The residents of Hobart might well ask “what’s in it for us?”
What are people taught?
THE discussion about the wilful destruction of Adult Education reflects what is happening in this state in education. The impact on the wellbeing and engagement of our citizens, and reduced development of knowledge, interests and skills echoes the trend in our education system and society in general. Our government appears keen to dumb down the electorate and withhold information. It’s no wonder we have such appalling literacy and numeracy skills. What are people being taught in 14 years of pre-tertiary education that sees about 50 per cent not able to adequately read, write, spell and do basic mental arithmetic? It’s the same situation with poker machines in pubs and clubs. It’s time there was a boycott of these venues that take money from those who can least afford it. Charities could set up donation centres outside venues and request patrons donate to assist the homeless and underprivileged instead of lining the pockets of parties who have no concern for the long-term damage they are causing.
Buddy with a teacher
IN regard to Tony Geeves’ comments (“School’s out,” Letters, January 30), I suggest he buddy with a teacher for a week, enjoy getting to school at 8am, being in class at 8.20am to supervise students before the class starts and to speak to parents/guardians, enjoy the 20-minute lunchbreak he might achieve between supervision duties, enjoy the whole day trying to keep 30 students on task and dealing with the accompanying behavioural issues, possibly do a bus duty or attend to other after-school matters, attend the usual two after-school meetings per week, then go home and mark work from that day and plan the next day’s work.
Beers and barbie
WHEN it’s all over, let’s hope the government will have a big barbecue and a few beers for all the personnel who have given their time and life to help Tasmania, don’t just leave it up to the people.
Helicopter saviours
SOME people don’t want helicopters flying tourists into national parks. Only for helicopters during the recent fire crisis we would now not have any national parks to go to.
Well done, Gutwein
READER Chris Needham asks, “where is the democratic process” in Peter Gutwein giving the MWCC access to public land so they can lodge a development application (Letters, February 16). The HCC blocked MWCC from being able to do what’s required to lodge an application. Where’s the democracy in that? No public consultation there! Well done, Peter Gutwein, on allowing due process to proceed.
Not sure about that
SO, Labor and the Greens’ medevac policy relates only to those refugees who are already on Manus and Nauru. It won’t apply to future boat arrivals. Sorry, I have to dash. A pig has just perched on my roof.