'Pauline's right': Teachers agree autistic students should be segregated from classes
Teachers are throwing their support behind Pauline Hanson's controversial call that students with autism should be segregated from mainstream classrooms.
Hanson dropped a bombshell in parliament this week when she said autisitc students were holding other students back in the classroom and needed to be given attention in separate classes.
While the outspoken One Nation senator faced immediate criticism for the statement, Sunrise host David Koch said a lot of teachers had sided with Hanson, claiming there wasn't enough funding to integrate disabled children into mainstream classrooms.
"Whenever Pauline says anything it's like using a sledgehammer, and we all react against her because we all want inclusion in our schools," Koch told education minister Simon Birmingham on Friday morning.
"But a lot of teachers emailed us and said 'Pauline is right, because we don't have the funding and we don't have the teachers aides to be able to integrate kids with disabilities into the classroom, we want more funding'."
Pauline Hanson has drawn support from teachers after saying children with autism should be segregated into seperate classrooms.
David Koch told Education Minister Simon Birmingham that a lot of teachers had sided with Hanson, claiming there wasn't enough funding to integrate disabled children into mainstream classrooms. Source: Sunrise
It was an opinion not shared by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who said his government completely "reject" the idea of segregation.
Without mentioning Senator Hanson's name, Mr Turnbull said it was important children with disabilities were given the maximum opportunity to do their best in the classroom.
"I know there's been the suggestion there should be some sort of segregation - we do no accept that, we reject that," he told 2GB's Chris Smith.
Senator Hanson was strongly criticised by Labor and the Greens on Thursday, but Senator Birmingham denies coalition MPs were told to remain silent during final negotiations on the so-called Gonski 2.0 education package.
"Absolutley not," he told ABC radio.
Senator Birmingham said he didn't agree with the way Senator Hanson put some of her remarks.
"But I absolutely respect the fact she voted for our reforms last night," he said.