TO THE BACK OF THE CLASS, MR PREMIER
My daughter started school this year.
After her first day, she told me that her teacher was bossy, there was too much lining up, sitting on the mat was boring and that the bell was irritating… I thought, welcome to the world, my darling girl.
She also declared she wouldn’t be returning to school again.
Image via news.com.au.
Geez, I thought, at just the end of day one, this is going to be a long year! And it has been, the struggle to get my oldest, sensitive daughter to school each day has been a challenge. Some days are easier than others – and I’ve discovered a little bribery, otherwise known as ‘positive reinforcement’ might get her out the door. Or it might be simply that it’s the tuck shop day or gym day that will be enough to get her to class without an argument, negotiation or tears.
What has also helped to get my daughter to let go of my hand and head into her classroom is the small, nurturing and gentle school where Allegra is enrolled. There is only one class per year, extra teachers aides and a very involved and caring school community.
We’re lucky that as parents we have the economic freedom to be able to pay and pick the right school for our children.
Not everybody has that same freedom, so choice doesn’t come into it. There are two terrific public schools in our area, but we felt the large number of classes they have in each year would be too overwhelming for our five year old. We had an option and have been able to choose the best school for our daughter.
However, such options are going to be harder for many families with the O’Farrell government’s ridiculous decision to rip $1.7 billion out of the New South Wales education budget.
Figures have never been my strong point, but surely it is dumb to take money out of a system that is responsible for helping to shape, support and educate our greatest resource… our children?!
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18 Responses to this article
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Noogi September 13, 2012
“Figures have never been my strong point- but surely it is dumb to take money out of a system that is responsible for helping to shape, support and educate our greatest resource – our children?!”
Not necessarily. Money has no intrinsic value of its own (you can’t eat it, it doesn’t make for a good clothing material and you’re not even allowed to burn it for warmth). The only value it has in when you decide to exchange it for something else. In other words: It’s what you spend the money on that counts.
The question therefore is: What are we currently spending $1.7 Billion on that we will no longer be getting? And what impact will it have when that product or service is no longer available?
There’s an assumption that taking money out of anything “is bad” but again, it depends on how it’s being spent. You could spend $10,000 on a lounge suite for example… and have a luxury leather lounge suite made by a renowned designer – and then panic everytime the kids are left alone near it – or you could spend $1,000 for something that the kids are allowed to spill their chocolate milk on without Mum going into a frenzy.
Right now, we seem to be spending an awful lot on education but we’re getting very little for it in return. In fact it’s hard to see why Education standards are declining given we are throwing so much money at the problem.
Clearly, something, somewhere, isn’t being spent on something useful.
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MadamBipolar September 13, 2012
These cuts are disgusting. As you said, why make cuts when they concern our children? Experts keep talking about our declining productivity and education is one way to boost that but all Barry cares about is that North West rail link. Disgusting.
I can remember Terry Metherell and that got ugly. The same could happen here. -
anne September 13, 2012
I can’t help thinking that the state governments that can, are downsizing their commitment towards education because they know that the slack will be picked up when the federal government implements the Gonski recommendations. They are truly opportunistic, and it is very sad to see.
My daughter goes to a private school because the public school system, in the area where I live is deficient. My family makes enormous sacrifices to enable her education.
My two sons were pushed into the public system and both have got no where near their potential. They received inadequate supervision and support at school. One of my sons actually attended school for less than a complete term during his four years in high school. The education department reacted to his truancy (which they had no real picture of) by harassing me, even though I was attempting all sorts of avenues to get the problem fixed.
That is just my family. There are so many more who are going through the same ordeal. No wonder youth suicide and mental illness are so rampant.
Barry O’F and his mates should take a close look into their communities.
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Steve Riethoff September 13, 2012
I don’t understand how any politician can be ok with cutting education while having no problem caving in on the poker tax. How can they justify the cuts which will further impact our declining education standards while not acting on something which 1) will raise revenue in the short term while 2) hopefully improving a social issue
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Ella September 28, 2012
The polies who make these cuts dont care about Public Schools because they wouldnt dream of sending their children to them.
We need to vote for people who are not so out of touch with the reality of the majority.
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Julie Chisholm September 13, 2012
Well said, sister. How crazy is this straight after the Gonski report?
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Cake and eat it September 13, 2012
By opting out of the public system the writer of this article has sent Barry a strong message. If more parents insisted on the Department bringing their local public school to scratch the government might pay attention. If we just say how important public education is but then hand money over for our children to attend a private school, we get the result we have now.
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anne September 13, 2012
Can you suggest how one might insist? Haven’t been able to get my insistence noted in the 17 years since my children have been exposed to the education system in NSW?
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Martine September 13, 2012
50% of high school students currently attend non-government schools. According to the NSW Parents Council any child starting at a non-government school in NSW in 2013/14 will receive zero state government funding. Can the public system cope with a 50% influx of children? That is the implication of the proposed NSW school funding policy as the majority of parents won’t be left with a choice.
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Rose September 13, 2012
It’s a very depressing time up here in Queensland. It seems that daily we are given another list of a thousand cuts. Here’s some of the ‘savings’ that were announced by the Education Dept. yesterday (this one’s for you Noogi!) Pyjama Foundation loses $100k this is one of the most wonderful & cost efficient supports to children in care with volunteers helping them weekly with literacy & numeracy. Triple P Parenting loses $291k – a ‘best practice’/ made in QLD parenting program that has helped a phenomenal amount of parents & kids. Vision Australia loses $200k – these are therapists who provide incredible support for kids in schools with low or no vision. These are just a few from a list of 43 ‘savings’.
Now, why should I be so upset? I’m a foster carer. I care for the children whose parents need to be learning about parenting from Triple P. One of my kids has autism & a visual disability – so yes, a child whose needs by law, should be paramount in all decision making, will have less and less support available to him.
Meanwhile of course the child protection system is under unbelievable pressure with workers losing their jobs or not being replaced. Only one in ten matters brought to the attention of the department are investigated because there is not enough staff and resourcing.
I am furious and nobody in our government has the spine to speak out or to do the right thing. Don’t get me started on the NDIS! It’s shameful and a vile political game where the kids and the vulnerable lose.-
Rosie September 14, 2012
Rose – “shameful and a vile political game” – you said it all right there. Seems it is all about winning Government and the power trip. My thoughts are with Queenslanders every day – the cuts are obscene – health and education being the major recipients. Hang in there girl.
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Carole September 13, 2012
You all have a vote.
At the next election , both Federal or State
vote for the party that will spend your tax dollars
on Education and Health, It’s your choice.Julia Gillard has a vision and policies which will,
for the first time in this country , attempt to provide a FAIR education for all children, Rich, Poor, with Disabilities and Special needs.If that’s what you want …….. Use your Vote.
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Glenis September 13, 2012
I am a high school learning support teacher, just cannot believe the news yesterday about cuts and how politicians can justify doing this.
I soppose I will be seen as an extra and maybe not necessary never mind that I help students do homework as not all parents can help at home. I break down assessment tasks for those students who cannot understand what they have to do. I find relevant research material at a level that often the not so capable student can understand. I make students feel good about themselves, what they are doing and how they are achieving no matter what level they are at. I talk to students….not important I guess.
Again…..I cannot begin to understand the cuts. By the way didn’t the Gonski report state that we needed more $$$$ in education!
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Keryn September 13, 2012
Education is so topical on The Hoopla right now! I work in the Catholic System in NSW and we are being cut to the tune of 24.1 million. I have a girl in my class who is one of 8 children. If these proposed cuts go ahead I know that her family will not be able to afford the extra fees for each child each year. She will not be the only one, and these children will then be sent to the govt system, placing further burden there. Our LSA’s will be cut and my two students on the autism spectrum will need to be fully aided by me, thus taking away from the other 25 in my class. I currently spend at least $500 of my own money each year on resources and extra bits and pieces that my class need to be able to enjoy the variety of things we do in creative and visual arts/science. And I know I am not alone there. My class currently receive $10 per term per child for stores, which comes out of their fees. this covers books, pencils, paper and other items. I am sure you all know that $260 per term for these things does not go a long way. We are not allowed to ask parents to chip in extra as this is why they pay their fees and we are not in an affluent area. To stay current our school needs to keep IT resources updated, iPads being all the rage at the moment and they are also especially helpful for those with hearing impairments, dyspraxia and other communication disorders. I absolutely love my job, I love my class and the parents are fantastic. These cuts will place a burden on all of us and I am going to lose some of these gorgeous families as a result.
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debbiep September 14, 2012
I would like to know what is happening to all these kids paying high uni fees for jobs in fields like teaching, health, public service that have much less hope now of jobs in the future due to all these cuts.
And what about the kids coming through high school in year 10 12, planning on careers in important areas being shrunk under Liberal Goverance.
Years of hard slogging and crying for services for communites GONE over night. As well as careers once thought highly off and were good paying jobs. Where is the securty for our kids and their future and what direction do they study for as job careers now? -
CorruptNSW September 14, 2012
Clearly the Premier rather refurbish the Randwick Racecourse at the tune of $80 million instead of considering our children and their future .
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Sue September 14, 2012
And federal funding is linked to state funding, so when the states cut funding the federal amount also declines. This sytsem of funding was introduced by Howard and Abbott/ Pyne have declared to keep it rather than Gonski.
