AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF
GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
Press Release 1027
EDUCATION IS A RIGHT:
IT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DEPEND UPON CHARITY.
In recent years, the issue of inequitable school funding has been highlighted by surveys showing a staggering 88% of public school principals and teachers are spending their own money to supply their classrooms with basic classroom items.
In August, researchers from Deakin University published a study examining the role of philanthropic funding, including from organizations like Australian Schools Plus, and its impact on schools and principals.
Also in August, researchers from Deakin University published a study examining the role of philanthropic funding, including from organizations like Australian Schools Plus, and its impact on schools and principals.
The study, titled: ‘Grant chaser and revenue raiser: public school principals and the limitations of philanthropic funding’, found that while these grants offer additional resources, some school leaders find the grant application process time-intensive, potentially shifting their focus from educational leadership to administrative tasks.
“The process of applying for these grants is time-intensive and detracts from the core duties of school leaders,” Lead researcher, Dr Emma Rowe, said.
Meanwhile Australian private school fees are among highest globally. And Australian University students HECS debts are crippling their chances of entry into the housing market in later life. Australia is forcing the next generation into a class ridden, plutocratic society.
All this means that Australian educational opportunities depend more and more upon their parental income.
DOGS, following the battles fought by the men of the Enlightenment, believe that education is a right and should be freely available, paid for by the taxpayer, but open to all in public schools open to all and offensive to none.
For this reason DOGS defend and promote public education which is public in purpose and outcome; public in access; public in ownership and control; and public in funding . And, because the public system of education is the only one that can be and is public in accountability through an elected Minister rather than a myriad of archbishops, ministers of religion, rabbis and imans DOGS believe that public schools should be the only schools that receive public funding. Private is private is private and if private schools want to charge extortionate fees and parents are foolish enough to pay them, that is their problem. It should not be a problem for the citizen taxpayer.
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