WHAT makes a good Prime Minister?
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The children at Tathra Preschool have some ideas – and it may surprise some that their answers show a political maturity beyond their young years.
Tathra Preschool director Jane Courtney said it all started last week with a small suit jacket in the school’s dress-up collection.
“A child put on the jacket and said ‘I am the Prime Minister’,” Ms Courtney said.
“She decided she needed a clipboard and pen to carry out this role.
“Other children throughout the day took turns to wear the jacket and engage in the imaginative role play of Prime Minister.
“We wondered what things were important for a Prime Minister to do and here is where the magic began as children shared their ideas,” she said.
You know what they say about “out of the mouths of babes”!
* “Give people jobs and help people” - Rory Pennington
* “Tell the people not to cut down too many trees” - Sofia Javes
* “The Prime Minister needs to be good at being the Prime Minister” - Lilah Mortimer
* “They need to pay lots of money to the shop keepers” - Luka Morgan
* “To help people and the Prime Minister needs to like people” - Cooper Connolly
* “To listen to people” - Llewie Ford
* “Be nice” - Isaac Mitchell
* “Stop people from going to jail” - Jet Morgan
* “She needs to walk around and check if everything is good” - Malia Whatmore
* “The Prime Minister has to wear a seat belt” - Olivia Barker
* “To tell the police what to do ‘cause the police are the judges…the boss” - Francesca Jory
* “The Prime Minister needs to write down stuff and help people” - Laura Pouliot
* “Stop people going too fast” - Molly Greenwood
* “Help people when they are lost” - Nicholas Gleeson
* “The Prime Minister has to call the meetings” - Evan Horsfall
* “Important to listen” - Zak Smith
* “Not be a bossy boots” - Rory Pennington
* “The Prime Minister needs to get everyone to look after each other” - Lilah Mortimer
* “The Prime Minister has to be nice” - Lilah Mortimer
* “Tell the teachers if anything is bad, if anything is a problem” - Malia Whatmore
* “To show people around, look after people, if someone falls over help them up” - Malia Whatmore
* “To look after people” - Millie Vaughan
* “To tell people don’t hit people, don’t kick people and hands off’ - Jade Potter
* “To work, lots of work” - Daniel Plumb
“There are so many themes in this list of responses that reflect children’s understanding of what makes a leader,” Ms Courtney said.
“Overwhelmingly their responses reflect the need for a Prime Minister to show care, empathy and respect.”
Ms Courtney said the preschool plans to send a letter with the children’s responses to Prime Minister Tony Abbott.