Ceres
26-02-2009, 04:20 PM
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25110312-5005961,00.html
SENDING teachers to positive psychology workshops is not a waste of money, Education Minister Julia Gillard says.
The Rudd Government has come under attack this week for spending $1 million of taxpayers money on positive psychology workshops for Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) staff and teachers.
The Commonwealth spent $642,000 sending 100 DEEWR staff to a five-day course in late January and $350,000 sending 209 government and non-government teachers to two other workshops earlier in the month.
The Opposition has ridiculed the seminars.
It says the "happiness workshops" were a waste money that couldn't possibly improve well-being and productivity as intended.
But Ms Gillard hit back today, saying the opposition didn't care about the welfare of children.
The workshops for teachers would help them assist students battling illnesses such as anorexia and depression, she said.
"Supporting teachers to be better teachers in their classrooms is not a waste of money," Ms Gillard said.
"The Liberal party would be aware of the worldwide research that says there's nothing more important."
American psychologist Martin Seligman, who heads the Positive Psychology Centre at the University of Pennsylvania, ran the residential workshops at Geelong Grammar School.
Ms Gillard attacked Liberal frontbencher Andrew Southcott for attempting to "parody" Prof Seligman, who she described as a "noted educationalist".
"He is the leader in the development of (a) resiliency program that has been shown to make a difference to mental health issues amongst young people, including issues like anorexia and depression.
"That is actually serious and ought not to be cat-called about."
In its haste to score a cheap political point the Opposition had ignored the needs of students, Ms Gillard said.
SENDING teachers to positive psychology workshops is not a waste of money, Education Minister Julia Gillard says.
The Rudd Government has come under attack this week for spending $1 million of taxpayers money on positive psychology workshops for Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) staff and teachers.
The Commonwealth spent $642,000 sending 100 DEEWR staff to a five-day course in late January and $350,000 sending 209 government and non-government teachers to two other workshops earlier in the month.
The Opposition has ridiculed the seminars.
It says the "happiness workshops" were a waste money that couldn't possibly improve well-being and productivity as intended.
But Ms Gillard hit back today, saying the opposition didn't care about the welfare of children.
The workshops for teachers would help them assist students battling illnesses such as anorexia and depression, she said.
"Supporting teachers to be better teachers in their classrooms is not a waste of money," Ms Gillard said.
"The Liberal party would be aware of the worldwide research that says there's nothing more important."
American psychologist Martin Seligman, who heads the Positive Psychology Centre at the University of Pennsylvania, ran the residential workshops at Geelong Grammar School.
Ms Gillard attacked Liberal frontbencher Andrew Southcott for attempting to "parody" Prof Seligman, who she described as a "noted educationalist".
"He is the leader in the development of (a) resiliency program that has been shown to make a difference to mental health issues amongst young people, including issues like anorexia and depression.
"That is actually serious and ought not to be cat-called about."
In its haste to score a cheap political point the Opposition had ignored the needs of students, Ms Gillard said.