Safe Schools is back in the spotlight after Bega Valley Shire Council voted to remove its support from the program.
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After Greens councillor Cathy Griff instigated a motion of support in December, a rescission motion was successfully passed over the issue at an extraordinary meeting last week.
An alternative motion was proposed – to write to the federal government to request continued funding for a school education program aimed at anti-bullying measures and support programs for young people, especially those identifying as LGBTQI – and it too was passed, but likely only by chance.
At the meeting Cr Robyn Bain spoke against the alternative motion, but later she left the room and did not return in time to vote.
As the vote of the present councillors was locked at 4-4, Mayor Kristy McBain used her casting vote in order to pass it.
If Cr Robyn Bain was in the room she would likely have voted against the motion and it would have been rejected.
The alternative motion no doubt has good intentions, but the NSW Department of Education already has a policy for preventing bullying that requires all government schools to implement an anti-bullying plan.
At Bega High School, for example, its plan includes protection, prevention, early intervention and response strategies for student bullying.
As ex-teacher Cr Liz Seckold said at the meeting, “All schools have anti-bullying programs, but Safe Schools targets our most vulnerable students”.
During the debate Cr Jo Dodds, who supported Safe Schools, said if the rescission was voted down councillors who did not want council to support the program may continue to block the implementation of Cr Griff’s motion through rescission requests every three months.
“It may send a message to the community that council is dysfunctional and backward,” she said.
“It may send the message that council does not support inclusion and diversity.”
Debate over Safe Schools is both passionate and polarised, as a glance at commentary under related stories on the Bega District News’ Facebook page will tell you.
But what kind of message has been sent by council’s back flip on supporting a federal government-accepted anti-bullying program that focuses on stamping out the harassment of LGBTQI children?