Sorry, the pix are darker than how they appeared on my screen at home.  That’s luck for you, I spent quite some time getting the contrast and brightness to maximum advantage, etc, posted it and they are a little dull.  Sorry again.

Reflecting on bureaucrats who determine that courses should not run unless they’re financially ‘viable’, what gives the bureaucrats the right to reduce our services when the bureaucrats themselves, and their offices, are not viable?

It’s the pot calling the kettle black.

No need to apologise Garry, the photo’s still look great and you have reported the evening’s progress with a uncanny accuracy.

As a former Adult Ed student, I found common ground with nearly all the speakers. Kerry Finch covered an area of Adult Ed that I thought no one was going to speak on - socialisation.

Apart from the educational aspect, the social connection is spiritualy important, - not in a religious sense, but more as a ‘state of mind’.
To learn a language, cooking classes or perhaps a craft serves to stimulate and aid in preventing dementia. It encourages social skills and community networking.
Adult Ed may prevent those from depending soley on the state by nuturing an independence and previously unknown confidence within an individual.
Not everything can be judged on a dollar value.

Kim Polley? I believe that she sees TAP as the enemy of the ALP. She obviously had formed a hastily prepared agenda and used the meeting as a platform.

What Kim was opposed to was the call of a public forum, organised by TAP,in which local Aldermen, politicians and public members locally had called for. That forum was held successfully today.

The public forum called for, and unaminously voted, for a halt to the ‘fast track’ changes to planning laws until a reasonable time is allowed for public consultation and input.
David Bartlett’s ‘kind, caring & open’ government is attempting to push through without public or media attention.

TAP believes that it is a democratic community group and planning law changes as touted, are far from what government process should represent.

Kim Polley obviously saw democracy as something different.

re #1 No problem about the pics. I have no doubt the meeting was dull as well.

(sorry, couldn’t resist that)

I see yet another ‘action’ group to be formed, It is getting hard to keep up with all of these very important groups and one-person think tanks. Seems that there are some with quite a bit of time on their hands - maybe it would be good to enroll in a few more adult ed courses.

For every person not at a rally or a protest there are many, many more who are sympathetic but cannot attend. I was, sadly, one of those people. It was therefore terrific to see Garry Stannus’ photo essay - congratulations! Democracy in Launceston - if it saves Adult Ed, I might just move up!

Sorry, have I got this wrong - or were there really no managers from Adult Ed at the forum?  What is wrong with going along and listening to the concerns raised by the public - maybe some good decisions would actually be made! And maybe the managers could take back really strong messages to David Bartlett. Go for it, Friends of AE. I reckon that if the Ed Dept cannot show up to a forum, they deserve everything they get in the media.

I see ‘Tomas’ is still lurking a bit but, with (as usual) very little of value to contribute. Just the usual snarky comments.
As an intermittent Adult Ed tutor for over thirty years, I have seen at first hand it’s very real value. I hope Bartlett has a big swag of hidden money to pump into mental health programmes, because he’s going to need it if Adult Ed goes under - it is a vital service - I have had students tell me (often in tears) that the course they just did ‘saved’ them - read into that what you will. Without things like Adult Ed, our Psych wards are going to be overflowing - I hope Bartlett is prepared. Furthermore, Adult Ed gives people the confidence to go on to Uni or other courses- they become valuable, contributing members of society - without the support of non-threatening, supportive Adult Ed classes, these people will be lost. It opens doors to people which would otherwise probably remain firmly closed.

Tomas’ comment seems to encapsulate quite nicely the attitude that so many people in Tassie are heartily sick of - that the only people that should be involved in decision making in our democracy are pollies and their bureaucratic cronies.  Heaven forbid that ordinary citizens participate - after all, what would they know about government, about the operation of the organisations they work for and/or engage with?

Take a look Tomas.  The premier and his dullard functionaries have made an absolute pigs breakfast of Adult Ed, and they’re doing the same with the reform of senior colleges and TAFE. 

Perhaps that was the government’s intention.  (Though you know what they say, given the choice between a conspiracy and simple incompetence, incompetence is a far more likely culprit).

Good on ya Friends of Adult Ed.  Participatory democracy in action.  There should be more of it!

And yes, Tomas, you are right.  Some people’s time would be far better spent in Adult Ed classes than sniping from the sidelines on TT.  I understand there’s a class on starting a revolution.  I think you’d benefit from it.

I just stumbled across this - it seems to be coming business in the parliament and it confirms my impression that both Sue Napier and Nick McKim had a good grasp of the issue of Adult Ed and an ongoing commitment. - Garry S.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/ha/hanote.htm

No64 Wed 10 June 2009

549     Mrs Napier to move—That the House:—

(1)        Values the role played by Adult Education over the past sixty years in Tasmania, and expresses its concern that despite reassurances from the Premier both in Parliament during 2009 and in the new Adult Education Winter course guide released on 23 May 2009, that people should be assured that Adult Education is in good hands, the evidence is there that the offerings are being significantly reduced.

(2)        Notes that:—

(a)        the number of programs offered in this year’s winter program has dropped in the South from 608 courses in 2007 to 539 in 2009, in the North there is a drop from 300 in 2007 to 224, and the North West program has halved over the past three years;

(b)        the number of new classes has plummeted by over 50% some of which are only expression of interest classes; and

(c)        this drop in offerings fit with the Premier’s own projections in the last Education Department Annual Report that participation rates have fallen since David Bartlett became Minister and introduced the Community Knowledge Network Initiative in 2006, where the number of students enrolled in Adult Education fell from 31,358 in 2006 to 29,773 in 2007, with projections of further reductions.

(3)        Warns the State Government that the reduced offerings in the winter guide are a self fulfilling prophecy, and that despite the Premier’s protestations, all the evidence is that Premier Bartlett is blatantly winding back Adult Education in Tasmania.

(4)        Calls on the State Government to fully support and take steps to enhance the role of Adult Education in the Tasmanian community.  (27 May 2009)

550     Mr McKim to move—That the House:—

(1)        Notes:—

(a)        that despite the Premier’s statements that Adult Education would not be downgraded the latest winter course guide demonstrates:—

(i)        that the current northern Adult Education program has decreased by 30% in two years since Hon. David Bartlett became the Minister for Education, and Adult Education was incorporated into the Community Knowledge Network;

(ii)        that this year’s winter program has only 224 classes on offer compared to 300 in 2007;

(iii)      18 of those 224 are merely expressions of interest meaning that in reality there are 94 fewer learning opportunities than there were two years ago; and

(iv)      that the expression of interest classes were therefore included in the guide to boost the apparent number of classes.

(b)        that despite the win for concession rates brought about by the community campaign to protect Adult Education, and the public scrutiny this issue has recently received:—

(i)        the regional north has missed out with cuts to the ‘Country Areas’ program, and apart from two computer classes in Deloraine no classes will be held outside of the Launceston area;

(ii)        since the advent of the Community Knowledge Network and the National Textile Art forum, the Adult Education choir, Adult Education music evenings and the Not Yet Famous Art Exhibitions have all disappeared; and

(iii)      costs have increased to computer courses, as well as health and well-being classes, by reducing what students get for the amount that they pay.

(2)        Calls on the Premier to cease winding back Adult Education and instead enhance its crucial role in the Tasmanian community.  (27 May 2009)