Teachers union says Melbourne Cup may be educational opportunity
{{date|November 5, 2007}}
{{Australian news}}
A leading Queensland union says that the [[w:Melbourne Cup|Melbourne Cup]] due to be run tomorrow at 3:00pm Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time could be used as a valuable educational tool in the classroom.

The [[w:Queensland Teachers Union|Queensland Teachers Union]] president Steve Ryan said that he supported staff making their own decisions on whether to watch the race but statistics principles could be taught in conjunction with showing the race.

Mr Ryan said that incorporating the Cup into the curriculum would make statistics 'real' to work with, rather than using textbook material. "It's about making subjects real and certainly that's a good example of how you can use a particular situation."

Many religious schools in Brisbane have chosen not to show the race due to gambling concerns.

{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22706756-2,00.html
|title=Cup can be educational: union
|author=Jessica Marszalek
|pub=Herald Sun
|date=November 5, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/05/2081743.htm?section=sport
|title=Cup sweeps a gambling risk for young: welfare group
|author=
|pub=ABC News (Australia)
|date=November 5, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22698756-5007200,00.html
|title=Ban the Cup from schools
|author=Hannah Davies, Sophie Elsworth and Neil Hickey
|pub=The Courier-Mail
|date=November 4, 2007}}
{{archive}}
{{Publish}}

[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Oceania]]
[[Category:Education]]
[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:Queensland]]
[[Category:Melbourne]]
[[Category:Victoria, Australia]]
A leading Queensland union says that the Melbourne Cup due to be run tomorrow at 3:00pm Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time could be used as a valuable educational tool in the classroom.

The Queensland Teachers Union president Steve Ryan said that he supported staff making their own decisions on whether to watch the race but statistics principles could be taught in conjunction with showing the race.

Mr Ryan said that incorporating the Cup into the curriculum would make statistics 'real' to work with, rather than using textbook material. "It's about making subjects real and certainly that's a good example of how you can use a particular situation."

Many religious schools in Brisbane have chosen not to show the race due to gambling concerns.
Australia Oceania Education Sports Queensland Melbourne Victoria, Australia