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Not signing up to Gonski amounts to nothing short of abuse Not signing up to Gonski amounts to nothing short of abuse
(4 months later)
What is it with public funding of schools in this country? Whatever the scheme, it often appears as if it’s heads: the private schools win, or tails: the public schools lose.What is it with public funding of schools in this country? Whatever the scheme, it often appears as if it’s heads: the private schools win, or tails: the public schools lose.
Given the frankly irrational behaviour of the premiers of Victoria, Queensland and West Australia in the face of the proposed Gonski school funding reforms, it is now possible that the only schools in those states that may get extra funding are private schools. If this weren’t so devastating to equality of educational opportunity, it’d be almost laughable.Given the frankly irrational behaviour of the premiers of Victoria, Queensland and West Australia in the face of the proposed Gonski school funding reforms, it is now possible that the only schools in those states that may get extra funding are private schools. If this weren’t so devastating to equality of educational opportunity, it’d be almost laughable.
The whole thrust of the very thorough Gonski review was that our current funding system is failing to meet the needs of our most disadvantaged kids, the vast majority of whom attend public schools. The sensible and transparent resources standard topped up by loadings for evidence-based disadvantage that the Gonski panel recommended was designed to help close the gap between our most resourced students (most of whom attend fee-charging schools) and our least resourced.The whole thrust of the very thorough Gonski review was that our current funding system is failing to meet the needs of our most disadvantaged kids, the vast majority of whom attend public schools. The sensible and transparent resources standard topped up by loadings for evidence-based disadvantage that the Gonski panel recommended was designed to help close the gap between our most resourced students (most of whom attend fee-charging schools) and our least resourced.
Almost unbelievably, three men and the governments they lead may actually distort that formula so that, in their states, it could do precisely the opposite. While only NSW and the ACT have so far signed their state schools up, the private school authorities can choose to sign up for the funding regardless of which state they are in.Almost unbelievably, three men and the governments they lead may actually distort that formula so that, in their states, it could do precisely the opposite. While only NSW and the ACT have so far signed their state schools up, the private school authorities can choose to sign up for the funding regardless of which state they are in.
Remaining state governments have several weeks to decide whether they are going to put the emphasis where it should be, on the educational interests of our young people. Or not.Remaining state governments have several weeks to decide whether they are going to put the emphasis where it should be, on the educational interests of our young people. Or not.
The experience of having worked closely for some years with school principals tells us what they will be thinking about the reform of schools funding. They will be hoping, for example, for extra resources to give support to their beginning teachers – who are replacing colleagues now reaching retiring age in significant numbers. They will be hoping that these incoming teachers have the intellect and the initial preparation necessary to start getting down to work with their students. The quicker new teachers begin to see their students progress and experience the very real rewards of teaching, the less likely they are to throw in the towel in the first few years.The experience of having worked closely for some years with school principals tells us what they will be thinking about the reform of schools funding. They will be hoping, for example, for extra resources to give support to their beginning teachers – who are replacing colleagues now reaching retiring age in significant numbers. They will be hoping that these incoming teachers have the intellect and the initial preparation necessary to start getting down to work with their students. The quicker new teachers begin to see their students progress and experience the very real rewards of teaching, the less likely they are to throw in the towel in the first few years.
Some principals will be hoping for an end to the strategies they currently use to "hide" what are really teacher shortages, asking teachers to teach outside their field of expertise, or skimping on some areas of the curriculum.Some principals will be hoping for an end to the strategies they currently use to "hide" what are really teacher shortages, asking teachers to teach outside their field of expertise, or skimping on some areas of the curriculum.
Others will be hoping for extra staffing to deal with the pressures of educating students from households under stress, and with few other sources of support. These are the schools where extra resources are needed for managing a raft of problems students bring with them daily, so that teachers can spend more time on teaching. Without the resources they need, teachers and their students in these schools are fighting a dispiriting and losing battle.Others will be hoping for extra staffing to deal with the pressures of educating students from households under stress, and with few other sources of support. These are the schools where extra resources are needed for managing a raft of problems students bring with them daily, so that teachers can spend more time on teaching. Without the resources they need, teachers and their students in these schools are fighting a dispiriting and losing battle.
The opportunity to reform schools funding is rare. The need for such reform is widely recognised. The Gonski review has attracted a high degree of consensus in an area that has long been a political minefield.The opportunity to reform schools funding is rare. The need for such reform is widely recognised. The Gonski review has attracted a high degree of consensus in an area that has long been a political minefield.
It charted a way through the Scylla and Charybdis of schools funding. It dealt on one side with the rocky politics of state aid in a hybrid system of public and private schools and on the other, with the whirlpool that characterises intergovernmental relations in Australia.It charted a way through the Scylla and Charybdis of schools funding. It dealt on one side with the rocky politics of state aid in a hybrid system of public and private schools and on the other, with the whirlpool that characterises intergovernmental relations in Australia.
The real challenge of implementing the Gonski reforms always lay in the difficulty of securing agreement between the Commonwealth, states and territories.The real challenge of implementing the Gonski reforms always lay in the difficulty of securing agreement between the Commonwealth, states and territories.
It can be argued that this Commonwealth government has not helped matters. It has allowed the finalisation of complex funding formulae to drag on into an election year. And the funding announced in its recent budget represents what can only be called a very slow transition towards the resource standards recommended by the Gonski review.It can be argued that this Commonwealth government has not helped matters. It has allowed the finalisation of complex funding formulae to drag on into an election year. And the funding announced in its recent budget represents what can only be called a very slow transition towards the resource standards recommended by the Gonski review.
Worse, there are those who are trying to frustrate this progress. To gain their own crass political ends, some have tried to bully the O’Farrell government for signing up to the Gonski deal in good faith. Others are using the technical complexities of funding and indexation formulae to hijack public discourse and divert attention from the students who stand to gain from increased and more fairly allocated resources.Worse, there are those who are trying to frustrate this progress. To gain their own crass political ends, some have tried to bully the O’Farrell government for signing up to the Gonski deal in good faith. Others are using the technical complexities of funding and indexation formulae to hijack public discourse and divert attention from the students who stand to gain from increased and more fairly allocated resources.
Children’s years for learning fly by, and resources delayed are opportunities denied. Is that what we want for our children? Do we want to be responsible for new teachers leaving because of stress that was readily avoidable? Do we want children to suffer the misery of failing to gain foundations in literacy and numeracy merely because they have been unlucky in the lottery of birth?Children’s years for learning fly by, and resources delayed are opportunities denied. Is that what we want for our children? Do we want to be responsible for new teachers leaving because of stress that was readily avoidable? Do we want children to suffer the misery of failing to gain foundations in literacy and numeracy merely because they have been unlucky in the lottery of birth?
It is time to put education back into schools funding. To turn our backs on this rare moment to achieve fairer funding arrangements can only breed division and cynicism. From the standpoint of those children most in need of greater support, it amounts to nothing short of abuse.It is time to put education back into schools funding. To turn our backs on this rare moment to achieve fairer funding arrangements can only breed division and cynicism. From the standpoint of those children most in need of greater support, it amounts to nothing short of abuse.
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