| Since I wrote about the need for submissions on the Education and Training Bill, I've been asked by a number of people to supply example submissions to help them with writing their own, and more info on how to easily make a submission. So here we go..... |  |
The Steps to Making a Submission
1) Think about what you want to include in your submission. What points of the Bill are of concern to you, and what do you want changed? Do you have any suggested wording? I have written HERE and HERE and HERE about the various aspects of the Bill that may be of interest to you in regards to submissions. The first article covers the two most important points (I believe), but do have a read of the others and see if there is anything else that concerns you. (The first article and the parliament link below also have more info on the submissions process etc.)
2) Write up your thoughts and comments. I recommend you do this in Word or similar, and convert it to a pdf. You do have the option of typing your submission directly into the online form, but then you will not have your own copy of it, which could be useful, and it's harder to think it through and refine it first. So I believe it's better to write it up on your computer, and then upload the file when you put the submission in as below.
There is a standard format to submissions:
One of the first questions you will be asked is whether you wish to make an oral submission before the Select Committee. If you do so, it does add strength to your overall submission, but even if you don't think you wish to make an oral submission, I would encourage you to tick YES, and here's why:
2) Write up your thoughts and comments. I recommend you do this in Word or similar, and convert it to a pdf. You do have the option of typing your submission directly into the online form, but then you will not have your own copy of it, which could be useful, and it's harder to think it through and refine it first. So I believe it's better to write it up on your computer, and then upload the file when you put the submission in as below.
There is a standard format to submissions:
- They should clearly identify the Bill you are submitting on - in this case "Education and Training Bill 193-1"
- You should open with a statement about whether you support or oppose the Bill as a whole, and why
- You can then add specific contents. It is sensible to use headings to identify the sections of the Bill you are commenting on - I use the Subsection numbers and headings from the Bill.
- If you wish, you can include specific suggestions on wording, but you should definitely make clear your recommendations and reasons for them.
- Remember NOT to include your personal contact info in the actual submission, as they will be published publically once they have been read by the Select Committee. The place to put your contact info is in the webform when uploading it.
One of the first questions you will be asked is whether you wish to make an oral submission before the Select Committee. If you do so, it does add strength to your overall submission, but even if you don't think you wish to make an oral submission, I would encourage you to tick YES, and here's why:
- You will be contacted later about making an oral submission. You can always change your mind then.
- There is another option which may be possible - to nominate someone to represent you in the oral submissions. This would give people the option of nominating a representative of homeschooling such as myself, Todd Roughton, regional group leaders or other persons who may be able to do a good job of presenting on behalf of the wider home educating community. If they are nominated by many people, then they will ususally be given additional time to speak and present their case. There is no guarantee this will happen, but it's valuable if it does.
Example Submissions
Ideally, your submission should be in your own words and reflect your personal views. However, it is ok to borrow someone else's words if they say what you want to. To make it easier on those who need it, I have put together two example submissions (with somewhat different wording to my own actual submission). The first covers only the issue of the right of appeal, and the second covers that and the ELX issue. If you have any other issues you wish to discuss, then just follow the same format and add the other parts. And of course, feel free to change the wording of either of these to suit you, or just use them as a guide/base on which to write your own. Click on the titles/links below to download these examples. They are in Word for ease of amending/typing into. If you have difficulty with these, please contact me for an alternative version.
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