Tas PWS Deny Edu Exemption to Fees for grade 6-8 kids camp
Posted: Mon 07 Sep, 2020 10:07 am
So as not to further side track the other topic, Tas PWS Parks Fee Changes at end August 2020, I'm continuing this in its own topic.
I was genuinely shocked that any staff in PWS believe that it's possible for kids to have their first overnight bushwalk and NOT learn some valuable lessons!
Son of a Beach on 17 August 2020 wrote:...for the annual youth camp that I've been helping to run for the past few years... for the first time this year, PWS have rejected our application for an educational exemption because the exemptions are for (and I quote), "bone-fide (sic) educational purposes, not leisure activities". I find it quite disturbing that the PWS bureaucracy thinks that fun and education are mutually exclusive. Some of them must have had a terrible upbringing. I mean, of all people you'd think that PWS would appreciate that education can be achieved by enjoyable activities.
In my opinion, it is impossible for a child to NOT learn some valuable lessons on their first overnight bushwalk. I mean life lessons like this, learned while out doing/being/seeing are at least as valuable as formal maths, science and english from a book. I could not sleep last night. I was so upset. (Yes, I am trying to have the decision overturned.)
At an extra$80$40 each, I don't think the camp would be feasible at all. Some of these kids' families can't afford the camp fees even without this additional cost (some get sponsored to attend by generous schools or other entities who appreciate the benefit to particular children).
I was genuinely shocked that any staff in PWS believe that it's possible for kids to have their first overnight bushwalk and NOT learn some valuable lessons!