TIME TO CONSIDER HAVING FEWER COUNCILLORS?
Your story on Page 1 of (last) Friday’s Area News accepted without question the conclusion that Councillor Snaidero’s convicted results in his disqualification.
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It may not be so easy, but either way, if he does stand down and a casual vacancy occurs, what a golden opportunity to reduce the number of Councillors.
After all Albury, Wagga, Leeton Murrumbidgee and dozens of others get by famously with nine. There are many other Councils throughout the state that do just fine with seven.
Griffith is the only Council in the State with a population between 20 and 40 thousand who has 12 Councillors. Historically they are the most expensive councillors as well.
Stop winging about the cost of a by-election save some real money by getting rid of a few more.
Bill Lancaster, Griffith
SUPPORT, QUALITY TEACHING TRUMP BUILDINGS
The Area News is right to highlight the criticism of the planned building works by the Education Department for the Griffith High and Wade High site (‘Capital Shirk’, Nov 5). The first that the teachers knew of the proposed building works and cosmetic erections was when it was revealed to them at a staff meeting.
No consultation at all with the staff in general and my guess is that there was very little even with the Head Teachers, some of whom were told they were losing valued teaching areas.
Wasn’t the original excuse given for the Big School that the students at each school were not performing up to expectations and that the merger would lead to significantly improved student performance.
Of the major factors that affect student performance parental support, the quality of teaching and come out way ahead of buildings and rooms, no matter how swish they might try to make them. So I’m still trying to work out what impact “outdoor decking” is going to have on student outcomes.
I’ve seen buildings around the regional built with money from the Labor Party’s Building the Education Revolution program under Kevin Rudd. One that I know of cost over $900,000.
If a local builder couldn’t have done it for half the price I’ll eat my old blackboard duster! All of them were simply grossly over-priced jobs for the big construction boys in the big cities and most of the companies involved weren’t from local communities across Australia.
The other thing the Executive Principal, Peter King, and local Education Department officers haven’t explained is where the students and staff are to be taught while the building works are being done, nor has it been explained where canteen services are to be supplied from while the building works drag on away beyond their supposed finishing date.
There is so much that the community of Griffith has not been told about this educational disaster for Griffith’s students and their families. One mother said to me, “We’re sending our child to a private school. We don’t want them to be a guinea pig”. Fair comment.
Kevin Farrell, Griffith
WHEN WILL WE BE FREE TO EXPRESS OURSELVES?
I was disturbed very much after reading this news-item in the Sydney Morning Herald of 9 November 2018, ‘Blasphemy woman walks free’.
During the Middle Ages the so called blasphemy was prevalent in Europe also. But now Europe is enlightened enough about the so called blasphemy.
On the other hand the European nations are helping the aggrieved Christian woman Asia Bibi in Pakistan
In the Western world every body has the right to express himself / herself freely. When will we have the freedom to express ourselves freely without any hindrance?