Premiers’ Reading Challenge

Posted on November 11, 2011

Premier Weatherill should call on his predecessors from both sides of politics for this year’s Premier’s Reading Challenge.

Leader of the Opposition Isobel Redmond said Mr Weatherill must put literacy ahead of politics by shifting the apostrophe, thus making this important initiative the Premiers’ Reading Challenge.

Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu launched the Premiers’ Reading Challenge earlier this year by bringing together past Premiers in an historic day of bipartisanship and unity.

This initiative will not only present a united front with both Liberal and Labor Premiers, but it will also deliver a lesson in grammar.

As Mr Baillieu put it: “A simple apostrophe change makes it a lesson in grammar, a lesson in literacy and a lesson in history.”

“Mr Weatherill should take a leaf out of Mr Baillieu’s book and stand united with former Premiers Mike Rann, Rob Kerin, John Olsen, Dean Brown, Lynn Arnold and John Bannon,” Ms Redmond said.

“The objective of the Premiers’ Reading Challenge must cross the political divide and focus on literacy and improving standards in our education system.

“Reading is a crucial life skill and books are a gateway to a child’s imagination.

“Our children not only need to learn to read, but they also need to understand how a simple shift of the apostrophe can change the meaning of words.

“Not only will Mr Weatherill be teaching our children about grammar and literacy by shifting the apostrophe, but he will be putting the best interests of our children ahead of Party politics.

“I look forward to Mr Weatherill taking up this opportunity to further enhance our children’s learning.”