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The Forum > Article Comments > Equity in education is worth fighting for > Comments

Equity in education is worth fighting for : Comments

By Jenny Miller and Joel Windle, published 17/4/2013

Imagine a race where the runners with the highest level of material, technical, physical, social and emotional advantages were given a huge head start, while those who were struggling with basic survival were placed way behind the starting gate.

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I disagree with this article in its assumption that all children should receive an equally funded education. The author continually claims that if you don't think all schools should have exactly equal funding then you must believe that disadvantaged children deserve to be disadvantaged.
Having or not having certain opportunities has nothing to do with whether or not you deserve it.
Some children have good parents and some have bad. It has nothing to do with what the children do or do not deserve.

I attended public schools and my daughter attends a public school. I could send her to a private school if I wanted to, knowing that my contribution of some thousands of extra dollars a year would mean that she gets the benefit of extra resources. However, I choose not to spend my money doing that. It has nothing to do with whether or not my daughter deserves better schooling resources. I believe the education she receives is adequate and if she works hard she will succeed.
Other parents are happy to put their hands in their pockets to provide extra opportunities. Good for them and lucky for their kids. I don't see it as a reason to strip their schools of the same funding that my own daughters school receives though.
Posted by Rhys Jones, Wednesday, 17 April 2013 11:16:03 AM
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This article is an ideologically based emotional rant and not factually based reasoning.

1. Comparing .01% extremes such as Knox Grammar vs a hypothetical child in an unnamed location who theoretically had been denied access to the internet does not really describe the state of the education system. Nor does it explain why children do or don't succeed.

2. Criticism of manicured lawns,attending eco resorts and nice buildings is simply evidence of jealousy politics as these things do little or nothing for one's learning and do not contribute to higher HSC marks. (Despite the authors fantasy that they do). These are adult envy topics. Children do not care about such things.

3. The statement that in prestige schools traumatised or learning disabled children are asked to leave is a scurrilous and untrue accusation.

4. Better performance in most children is due to factors such as genetic inheritance, more interested parents, motivation to study.
NOT manicured lawns. 99% of children have access to vast amounts of information through the internet negating the idea that lack of 'resources' are to blame.

5. If being an immigrant is a disadvantage, then ask yourselves why the Asian population does so well? (motivation, involved parents, hard work and choosing good schools)

No, despite the authors flimsy assertions, throwing masses of money to their designated "disadvantaged students" (who are assigned by political ideology not logic) will barely increase the outcomes.
This is because the factors that contribute to school performance are not manicured lawns but personal attributes some of which are genetic and some provided by their parents. School facilities should meet a certain standard but you don't need lawns and swimming pools to do well. Disadvantage is NOT the cause of poor school performance unless in those rare cases where it is extreme, and they are very few in number.

Face it, some children are more intelligent and more motivated. Gonski can't change that.
Posted by Atman, Wednesday, 17 April 2013 11:19:52 AM
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Foyle,

Actually what is really idiotic is misreading someones post and then attacking them on something they didn't say.

I said "Getting rid of government subsidies would close MOST independent schools" meaning the majority of independent schools for whom the gov funding makes up a majority or a significant portion of their funding.

As for the high fee schools, the resulting increase in fees will only hurt those that scrimp and save to give their kids the best education.

Davidf,

Why should those with their kids in independent schools subsidize far more, parents who send their kids to public schools?
Posted by Shadow Minister, Wednesday, 17 April 2013 11:38:56 AM
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Some people will always fail, regardless of the opportunities and or breaks they get!
Yes sure, but, we can all but ensure such outcomes, by denying some Australian kids, a fair start or education equality, or the best version of it we're able, given our limited tax dollars.
But particularly, if we start to means test all of our federal funded, health and education paradigms? [Our charity ought to be for the needy, not the greedy!]
Even so, we can still improve coal face funding outcomes even further, simply by granting more independent autonomy, and direct federal funding, that eliminates at least one tier of entirely unnecessary administration!
Namely the states!
You know, those administrations that made some of our school hall roll-outs, 30% more expensive, than those private schools, that received direct federal funding!
Simply put, we just don't need as many micro-managing, inordinately expensive, state based bureaucrats, all of them breast feeding at the teat of the nanny state?
As others have noted, we could do worse than largely emulate the excellent egalitarian Finnish example!
We may well be on the very doorstep of Asia!
But in our minds and our culture, we remain essentially European?
And therefore, without bias, or detracting in any way from Asia and or Asians, we should look to successful European examples to emulate?
Rhrosty.
Posted by Rhrosty, Wednesday, 17 April 2013 11:50:41 AM
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Don't concern yourself with trying to imitate Scandinavian countries. Australians just don't possess that mentality. Scandinavians pay high personal taxes but low company taxes, have heavily restricted investment housing market and everybody is expected to work. Here, people want expensive houses, low taxes and work when they feel like it. Over there they don't compete with each other socially. Australians are forever trying to compete socially for better houses, higher social standing etc. Flat societies only work where people are not envious of the other and willing to work as required.
Posted by Atman, Wednesday, 17 April 2013 12:54:32 PM
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Dear Shadow Minister,

We pay taxes for a public good. Bachelors and people with no children pay taxes which go to the public schools. The taxes of pacifists go to support the army and navy. The public schools exist for all children including those who go to private schools. The fact that the parents of those children choose not to send their children to public schools should not relieve them from supporting those schools through their taxes.
Posted by david f, Wednesday, 17 April 2013 1:08:51 PM
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