Greens

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From: Samantha Dunn Upper House Candidate Eastern Victoria The Australian Greens Victoria Inc

Sorry I haven't been able to get to you till today. I wanted to assure you that the Victorian Greens believe that all schools must be adequately funded to ensure the provision of the material resources and staff necessary to enable all children to learn well and to realise their full potential. The provision of well-stocked libraries and teacher librarians is part of that necessary resource. The Victorian Greens’ state education policy includes the following key priorities: • Increase funding for Victorian public education to best international practice levels. • Ensure all public education institutions have necessary facilities, or students have easy access to facilities as close to home as possible. You can read more on our education policy here: [] Although the policy does not specifically mention teacher librarians, the Greens fully appreciate their value in every school and we regard libraries as basic resources that should be provided to all public schools. The Greens are on public record to Robyn Saltmarsh in relation to the importance of school libraries and their teachers. Further to this the Victorian Greens support the staffing of public school libraries with qualified teacher librarians. The Greens acknowledge that improving student literacy levels is paramount and that's why we believe the provision of well-stocked modern libraries and teacher librarians is vital. The Greens Victoria will work towards increasing funding for Victoria’s public education system to international best practice levels. We believe that there must be rigorous and appropriate professional development for all teachers throughout their careers. The Australian Greens Victoria believe that a thriving public education system is fundamental to a just and democratic society and that education is a process to engage with rather than a commodity to be bought and should be freely and equitably available for all Victorians. As a parent of a primary age child I understand the current challenges faced by teachers and librarians and I hope that come election time the Greens are in a position to be able to make our education system a planned, integrated and world-class education and development system that it should be. All the best Samantha 0429 29 29 04
 * From:** sdunn.vicgreens@gmail.com [ mailto:sdunn.vicgreens@gmail.com ]
 * Sent:** Friday, 19 November 2010 5:50 PM

Thank you for writing to me about library funding at ........ Primary School.

I believe that all schools must be adequately funded to ensure the provision of the material resources and staff necessary to enable all children to learn well and to realise their full potential. The provision of well stocked libraries and teacher librarians is part of that necessary resource.

In answer to your specific questions, the Greens state education policy includes the following key priorities:

· Increase funding for Victorian public education to best international practice levels.

· Ensure all public education institutions have necessary facilities, or students have easy access to facilities as close to home as possible.

Although the policy does not specifically mention teacher librarians, I fully appreciate their value in every school and I regard libraries as basic resources that should be provided to all public schools and not through local fundraising.

Yours faithfully,

Sue Pennicuik

MLC Southern Metropolitan Region

P 03 9530 8399

F 03 9530 8499