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The Forum > Article Comments > Independent schools contribute significantly to Australian education > Comments

Independent schools contribute significantly to Australian education : Comments

By David Robertson, published 31/1/2014

The new school year has kicked off with many of the familiar themes once again in the media spotlight including, unfortunately, a revival of the old public versus private schooling debate.

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"The continued growth in independent school enrolments clearly indicates that parents believe they receive value in terms of the investment they make in school education."

Of course they 'receive value', because their personal choices are involuntarily subsidised by the poor bloody taxpayer. I would 'receive value' too, if I could choose to drive a Bentley for half price and pass the remainder of the tab on to the taxpayer. Let parents pay the full cost of 'independent' schooling for their children, and we'll see how much value they feel they are getting then.
Posted by Jon J, Friday, 31 January 2014 7:34:57 AM
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Of course “Independent schools contribute significantly to Australian education”, but to the extent that they socially segregate Australian children, they detract from the overall achievement level of the country.

Unfortunately, the Gonski panel’s endorsement of the Howard government’s SES funding model (Recommendations 2, 3, 20 and 21) promotes social stratification because it says the more you earn the less your child gets. Thus, the wealthy, the upper middle, the middle middle, the lower middle and the poor all have to concentrate in their own schools because the funding system segregates them. A school that wants to take both middle class and poor students will not be able to because the presence of middle class students will cut its government funding and thus push its fees up and thus drive out the poor, who will end up at the public school.

Despite some rearguard sloganeering by some, the fight for state aid was won 40 years ago. The issue is the method of its distribution. We need a model that supports private schools that are inclusive, as I proposed in my submission tothe Gonski review. I can no longer refer readers to that submission because the Abbott government has “disappeared” all Gonski submissions form the departmental website.
Posted by Chris C, Friday, 31 January 2014 8:16:56 AM
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Dear Chris C,

Agreed.

And I think it is pretty obvious that our slide in the world rankings has gone hand in hand with the increase in the proportion of private over public school enrolments. The system is certainly benefiting some school age children but the damage it is doing to the achievements of the group as a whole is evident.
Posted by SteeleRedux, Friday, 31 January 2014 10:22:47 AM
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Why is it "unfortunate" that this topic is being raised again?

After all there are mega-bucks involved and the new government is supposedly committed to trimming back government expenditures especially to those who dont really need it, thus encouraging them via the "discipline of the market" to stand on their own two feet.

Doesnt the usual conservative definition of independent mean not being dependent on the government for financial support.
Posted by Daffy Duck, Friday, 31 January 2014 10:39:12 AM
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There is one purpose that the independent school system does not serve. The public school system accepts all students regardless of class, religion, ethnicity or income. Thus students meet other students of different backgrounds. They learn together, grow together and as adults are prepared to mix with others from different backgrounds.

The independent school segregates students generally according to religion and indoctrinates them with the religious mumbojumbo of their backers. Parents have a right to segregate their children from the general population. However, that right should not be subsidised by the taxpayer.

Elimination of the subsidies to independent schools would probably mean a flow of children into the public schools. This might occasion more taxes to pay for better public schools as parents would pressure government to do more. Better public schools would benefit Australia by producing more well-educated Australians in a world where a country's economy to a large extent depends on the educational level of the general population.
Posted by david f, Friday, 31 January 2014 12:09:43 PM
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Davidf

The independent school system accepts all students regardless of class, religion, or ethnicity, and provide scholarships for some of those that cannot afford the fees. Students meet other students of different backgrounds. They learn together, grow together and as adults are prepared to mix with others from different backgrounds. Less than 50% of the students are of Anglo back ground, and whilst being a church school limits the religious content to a single fortnightly religion and ethics class, and a bi annual service.

To top it off independent students cost the government about 60% of what public school students do, and get far better results.

The growing strength of the private schools is going a long way towards compensating for the failures of the Teachers' Union dominated public sector.
Posted by Shadow Minister, Saturday, 1 February 2014 11:57:25 AM
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