Primary Students Take Over Parliamentary Debate

PRIMARY STUDENTS TAKE OVER PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE

Students from across Victoria will take over the floor of the Victorian Parliament today to debate the role of social media in children’s lives.

Minister for Education James Merlino opened the Primary Schools’ Parliamentary Convention in the Legislative Assembly chamber this morning.

More than 100 Years 5 and 6 students from government, Catholic and independent schools around the state will spend the day debating whether all social media should be banned for children under 12.

Students will make opening statements, participate in group discussions, debate issues relevant to social media and formulate solutions, and at the end of the day vote to support or refute the proposal that all social media should be banned for children under 12.

The convention is a partnership between the Department of Education and Training, the Catholic Education Office Melbourne, Independent Schools Victoria and the Parliament of Victoria.

All Victorian schools are supported to improve cybersafety and deal with cyberbullying in schools through initiatives such as Bully Stoppers and eSmart Schools.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino

“Getting students and young people engaged in our democracy means we can take their views into account in policy decision making and they can learn the value of being an active citizen.”

“Inviting students into Parliament provides an opportunity for them to experience the political heart of our state and the topic of this year’s Convention – safe social media use – is something that impacts their everyday lives.”

Students from the following 50 primary schools are taking part in the convention:

Tootgarook Primary School, Ascot Vale West Primary School, St Thomas More Primary School, Beaconsfield Upper Primary School, Cairnlea Park Primary School, Oakleigh Primary School, De La Salle College, Moe (Albert St ) Primary School, Glendal Primary School, Mount View Primary School, Lysterfield Primary School, Bialik College, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Findon Primary School, Warranwood Primary School, Waverley Meadows Primary School, Wangaratta Primary School, Ararat Primary School 800, Abbotsford Primary School, Kilmore Primary School, Caulfield Primary School, Altona P9 College, Darley Primary School, Yarra Junction Primary School, Apollo Parkways Primary School, Highton Primary School, Yarra Primary School, Ultima Primary School, Foster Primary School, Footscray West Primary School, Mount Blowhard Primary School, Morwell Park Primary School, Rowellyn Park Primary School, Oatlands Primary School, St Margaret Mary's Primary School Spotswood, Pleasant Street Primary School, Movelle Primary, Yarraman Oaks Primary School, Camberwell Girls Grammar School, Benton Junior College, Greensborough Primary School, Northcote Primary School, Mount Ridley College, Parkmore Primary School, Coburg North Primary School, Chatham Primary School, Reservoir Primary School, Malmsbury Primary School, Bell Primary School, Clunes Primary School, Lalor Primary School, Islamic College of Melbourne, Tooborac Primary School, Wales Street Primary School, Narre Warren South P-12 College, Kyabram P-12 College, Oak Park Primary School