John Brumby, Premier of Victoria, loves to claim that “education is our number one priority,” repeating these words like a mantra. If you say it often enough it must be true. Such a shame that his government’s actions don’t come anywhere near this lofty claim.

The latest proof that education is not a Victorian government priority at all comes from education minister Bronwyn Pike who went on radio yesterday and flipped the bird at Victorian public school students.

Ms Pike, a former school teacher, said things such as air-conditioning are “optional extras” that schools can choose.

Ms Pike said schools could fundraise for air-conditioning.

“We certainly need heating in Melbourne, but we don’t really necessarily need to have air-conditioning.”

Ms Pike said the school year was structured so hot days were during the holidays.

What an utter load of shite. I work in a hundred-year-old public school building not dissimilar to most school buildings in the state. I’ve had the air conditioning running in my classroom at least a day or two a week for the last month and will have it on almost every day for most of term one next year. Without the air con my room turns into a sauna and ceases to be a productive learning environment. As any Victorian will tell you the hottest months of the year by far are February and March — the bulk of term one. It is not unusual to have strings of days in the high 30s or even low 40s. And our minister for “Victoria’s number one priority” expects kids to learn good while slowly roasting in cramped rooms of 28 sweating pre-pubescent snot monsters?

No wonder every Victorian public school teacher would not hesitate to slap Brumby and Pike upside the head if they saw them in public.