AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF GOVERNMENT
SCHOOLS
AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF GOVERNMENT
SCHOOLS
PRESS RELEASE 432
JUNE 9, 2011
PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENTS
OUTRAGED AT
DIXON’S HOLLOW RHETORIC AND FUNDING POLICIES
9 June 2011
The following excerpts from a letter from the Seaford Park Primary
School indicates the outrage of public school parents at Martin Dixon’s recent
topping up of private school funding at the expense of basic funding for public
education. The Council writes:
Mr. Martin Dixon,
Re: Victorian Government School Funding
Seaford park Primary School is a small school
of 154 students in the suburb of Seaford on the outskirts of Melbourne. We, the
members of the School Council write to you regarding our concerns over the
current state of funding provided to Victoria’s government schools. We also
wish to raise concerns relating to our school’s facilities,
In February 2011 parents of Prep children
attending state schools received a letter from you. In that letter you stated:
‘I am pleased you have selected one of
Victoria’s strong and vibrant government schools.’
If the government is so pleased that parents
are choosing government schools why are you directing an extra $240 million
towards non-government schools over the next four years?
In the Coalition Plan for Education it is
stated that: A Liberal Nationals
Coalition Government will ‘Support government school parents and free up
principals and teachers to make our government schools the best in Australia.’
If the aim of the government is to make our government schools the best in
Australia, why are you planning on cutting $338 million from the Education
Department budget?
Whilst the wording in the above documents may
show support for the state school system, the government’s policies tell a
different story. How will our government schools become strong and vibrant and
the best in Australia when your government is cutting funding and redirecting
money to the private system? This money will continue to exacerbate the divide
between the public and private system and do nothing to assist in your
fulfilling your intentions referred to above. It will only entrench the current
system of poorly funded, resourced and maintained public schools having to
compete with well-resourced private schools funded by public money , public
money which drains the public system of resources.
In 1872 with the enactment of the Victorian
Education Act, Victoria became the first Australian colony to set up a central
public school system based on the principles of free, secular, and compulsory education. Poor funding and poorer
policy both of the current and former state governments has caused an erosion
of these principles. Many public schools, ours included, continue to struggle
with inadequate fluctuating or decreasing funds and outdated facilities….
In the letter to Minister Garrett I included a
quote from Canadian Commentator Heather-Jane Robertson, which I believe is
relevant here. ‘Public Education is the zenith of democracy’. A well-resourced
public system serves the public interest, not just those directly connected to
the system, but the entire nation. ..
We, the councilors of Seaford Park Primary
School implore you and your government to reassess your education priorities.
The State Government’s top priority should be the schools it is directly
responsible for. Abandon any plans for public education funding cutbacks.
Abandon the increase in funding to private schools and insert that money into
the only system obliged to cater for all within our communities. Make
government schools the government’s top priority for educating our state’s
future, its children.
And
Listen to the DOGS program
3CR, 855 on
the A.M. dial
12 Noon
Saturdays
And
Listen to the DOGS program
3CR, 855 on
the A.M. dial
12 Noon
Saturdays