Mr MILLS - 2006-08-31
You say that you are confident that mums and dads and school councils can regulate school canteens, in the absence of consistent guidelines or leadership from government. How is it that you can draft policy on school uniforms, but fail to place importance on our most valuable resource – healthy children?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. It is not a failure of leadership at all. It is a matter of trust, and it is a matter of trust in the judgment of school principals through our system and the parents of the students who attend our schools. Do not think they do not keep an eye on these things; they do. As I said, it is an ongoing matter for discussion at all school council meetings I have ever attended, and I would suggest all other members of parliament, as questions are asked.
If you look at what went through some of those school canteens years ago, I would also suggest that the level of community education and knowledge about diet, and nutrition is much more widespread and better understood these days than when we were at school.
All I can say, on this matter, is that I do trust the judgment of principals who know about these issues and the parents. They are entrusted with all manner of things about schools, including the school canteens. I do not see the need, and it has not been prosecuted to me that there is a need, for government to mandate in this area.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. It is not a failure of leadership at all. It is a matter of trust, and it is a matter of trust in the judgment of school principals through our system and the parents of the students who attend our schools. Do not think they do not keep an eye on these things; they do. As I said, it is an ongoing matter for discussion at all school council meetings I have ever attended, and I would suggest all other members of parliament, as questions are asked.
If you look at what went through some of those school canteens years ago, I would also suggest that the level of community education and knowledge about diet, and nutrition is much more widespread and better understood these days than when we were at school.
All I can say, on this matter, is that I do trust the judgment of principals who know about these issues and the parents. They are entrusted with all manner of things about schools, including the school canteens. I do not see the need, and it has not been prosecuted to me that there is a need, for government to mandate in this area.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016