Number 2430
PERTH, WA: 23 — 29 May, 1985
LOCATION 26 John St, Perth, (off Fitzgerald St) POST ADDRESS: PO Box 50, Perth Aberdeen St, WA, 6000
PRICE 40 cents
TELEPHONE: (09) 328 1388
• ABC television studios in Perth this week had a unique experience when visiting guru, Dom Bede Griffiths, recorded a special Mass. See story, picture page 2.
SCHOOLS SUFFER IN CUTS
Education cuts announced by the Federal Treasurer, Mr Paul Keating last week mean Catholic schools will lose some $500,000 of the $900,000 the schools were to receive in 1986. The Catholic loss will be the result of the following reductions to WA nongovernment schools in 1986:
• The Record this week begins a special three part in-depth series looking at the comprehensive aspects of Natural Family Planning. Sydney writer ANNE ROBERTSON talks about NFP and its relevance to Catholic couples and a Brisbane story gives Queensland views on contraception. See pages 10 and 11.
Senator Susan Ryan
Figuring it all out
• library grants reduced from $408,000 to zero • participation and equity program covering students staying longer at school: $184,000 • country areas program for remote schools: $90,000 • English as a second language program: $65,000 • special education covering physically and intellectually handicapped: $50,000 • multi-cultural education $20,000 Mr Tony Curtis, executive secretary of the WA Catholic Education Commission said he did not foresee any increase in school fees as a result of the cuts but the anticipated improvement in t he above programmes would not be possible.
ODE
Parishes move to computers Parishes throughout Australia likely to move into the computer age will use a system that is nationally compatible, following a directive of the Australian Bishops Conference. After submissions from 19 companies, a national committee has chosen IBM, Sperry, Televideo and Ultimate as machines to be used along with an NEC printer. Monsignor McCrann as WA representative has attended four interstate meetings leading up to the present decision.
He said the bishops have produced a standard software program covering parish census, registration of baptisms, confirmations and marriages, financial records for planned giving and school fee accounting. He said there are no plans to further centralise the system either nationally or at diocesan offices which will still collect data from print-outs. A typical parish computer can be inspected at the Chancery Office, Victoria Square, 325 4300.
Pictured at last week's demonstration of parish computers by Mr Chris Neilson (right) of Melbourne Catholic Schools Fund are (from left) Fathers O'Reilly (Applecross) and Casey (South Perth), Mr Peter Lewis (Mirrabooka), Chancery staff Mr John Hennessy. Mrs Lily Antonelli and Monsignor McCrann.
He did not rule out possible further cuts in the August budget. He said although Catholic schools were receiving increases in the general recurrent grants program, their value would be significantly eroded by the current cuts. Adjustments would have to be made in the Catholic Education Office distribution of funds. "We are very disappointed at the reductions which are targeted at students with special needs, such as migrant and handicapped children," Mr Curtis said. "The abolition of the library grants program is especially damaging. The library grants program has not been used for school buildings as was implied in the budget statement. "It has been a crucial resource for our schools in providing books and related materials. All Catholic schools have been dependent on it," Mr Curtis said. "It seems inconsistent for the government to claim credit for improving the current resource position of
Executive secretary of the WA Catholic Education Commission, Mr Tony Curtis. our schools with its ncw needs-based funding scheme on the one hand, and on the other hind to reduce substantially our recurrent resources by abolishing the library grants program and other programs for students with special needs. "Our schools generally operate with very modest
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resources and on the has s of significant parental sacrifices," he said. "While we understand the need for public expenditure restraint and the pressure for a reduced Federal deficit in the interests of sound economic management, these cuts will make things harder for schools in real need," Mr Curtis concluded.
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I A BUILDING SOCIETY 297 Murray Street. Perth WA Telephone. 327 3333.