School swimming lessons 'under threat'.

School swimming lessons 'under threat'. :

"The State Government is reviewing aquatic and music programs.

The union says the Government plans to allocate funding for swimming lessons directly to school principals, rather than through a central fund."

In a state which prides itself on the Arts and has a long history of supporting and promoting the Arts ...why would you tamper with music programmes except to improve and enhance them? Fewer and fewer students have access to music and that is a sorry state of affairs, particularly when so many Australians give so much to the performing arts. It's not just a sideline here and so our educational institutions and our communities should do everything they can to promote a curiosity and success in the Arts.

Same for sports. We are a nation which gets everyone involved in sports. Schools have never thought you have to be good at sport to do it and as a parent I have been in awe of how teachers involve children in all sorts of sports at all sorts of levels. As for the swimming and aquatics programmes...they have to be compulsory because we live on the coast and we swim. We are engaged with water all the time. Our littlies attract a lot of attention overseas because they are so at home in the water and have such good skills and our older people enjoy the benefits of aquatics at home and on holiday. From a safety point of view it's essential. As a parent the swimming programmes were a godsend but they also promoted an interest in aquatic activities outside of school. Active is good!! Interests are good and safety is of paramount importance!! The young ones are a lot more water savvy than older people and they are like that because they have an affinity with the water. It's the Learn ot Swim programmes and the spin off which have generated that enthusiasm and ease. Health, safety and serenity...that's what it's about!