Primary schools set for civic program

– Rebecca Fraser
PRIMARY school students in Casey are set to gain a fresh insight into the world of local government.
Casey Council is taking steps to implement a primary schools’ local government program similar to its Australia Day Study Tour, which is presented annually to 10 Year 11 students.
The new program would provide selected students from Casey’s 57 junior schools with the opportunity to explore local government, meet the mayor and councillors and learn more about the municipality in which they live.
The proposed program is still in its infancy but a council report has suggested that it could be developed in conjunction with the Department of Education and tied in with grade five and six civics and citizenship studies.
Cr Wayne Smith said the new program would offer something different and innovative to primary school aged students.
“These are the young people of tomorrow and we hope they jump on board and gain experience and knowledge.
“This will have a clear benefit to the community and I am sure schools will embrace the program wholeheartedly,” he said.
Cr Janet Halsall also supported the program and said it was money well spent.
Cr Paul Richardson was the only councillor to stand up and oppose the new program, calling it a waste of ratepayers’ money and questioning who would be accompanying the students to Canberra.
However, Casey director community services Jennie Lee subsequently informed him that unlike the Australia Day study tour this program would not involve a trip to the nation’s capital or any long-distance travel.
“The only travel they will do is being put on a bus,” she said.
Councillors then resolved to refer $46,000 for consideration in the 2006-07 budget to conduct the program.