Greens hit out at truancy policy

Children who wag school won't be encouraged back to class by Labor's anti-truancy
policy, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has warned.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced on Sunday that Labor, if re-elected, would
prevent truant students from taking part in organised sport unless their attendance
improves.
The policy would hinge on a partnership between the government and eight national
sporting organisations that would require children to attend school to play in their
competitions.
It will receive $2 million in funding from the Australian Indigenous Education
Foundation program already announced in the budget.
But Senator Hanson-Young said children should be encouraged to study, not punished
for failing to attend class.
"Julia Gillard has proved herself to be a spoilsport," she told AAP.
"I think it's really concerning that the federal government is spending their time
announcing these types of policies.
"If a person is good at sport, it's perhaps the one talent they have, and they are
not necessarily getting a lot out of their schooling.
"Why would we go down the line of making that (school) a negative experience for them."
Senator Hanson-Young said there were many reasons children wagged school, including
personal, educational and family issues.
The Greens would take a more practical, compassionate approach, with more resources
for schools to cut class sizes and better engage pupils, she said.