Public Education- Public Interest

Public education in Australian society

Public education is a defining institution in Australian Society. The education of all citizens, regardless of cultural, religious, racial and economic background, geographical location or disability, has directly contributed to Australia being among the most tolerant, socially cohesive and non-violent multi-cultural societies in the world.

Public education embodies the spirit of egalitarianism, and its success has been a cornerstone of Australian democracy. Public education systems are publicly accountable for their funding, teacher standards and educational outcomes. Public schools are staffed by usually permanent government employees with the full scrutiny of public administrative systems. This guarantees that the community can have the greatest level of confidence in the public system to protect students and provide the most professional standards possible.

As the cohesion of Australia is strained by the pressures of unemployment, increasing levels of child poverty and the breakdown of community support, public education assumes even greater importance as a means of lessening the gap between the haves and the have nots.

Public education is the foundation of the future. Its continuing role in the promotion of tolerance, reconciliation and multiculturalism cannot be under estimated.

Public education must be valued and enhanced, not downgraded or marginalised.

Public education first

Public education is quality education It can be even better with lower class sizes, the latest technology, the best maintained schools and colleges and proper support for students with special needs. Teachers need the best professional development, sufficient time to fulfil their tasks, and the best salaries to attract and retain the brightest teachers. The increasing size of the handouts to private education makes this more difficult.

Public education must be funded first. Public money should not be used to fund the "choice" of a few while the "choice" of the majority is under-funded. It is unfair to cut back funding to public schools, and at the same time increase the handouts to those already privileged.

Public education should be free. More parents are paying higher fees in supposedly free public schools. TAFE colleges charge fees. As governments withdraw funds, public education is forced to rely on other sources, primarily placing more financial pressure on parents and students.
 

Public education under threat

As NSW celebrates the 150th anniversary of public education its future is less than secure. Last century Australian governments established public education systems to avoid the divisiveness of sectarianism and class distinctions and to avoid a wasteful duplication of public funds. Public education was revered as the nation builder by bringing people together from diverse backgrounds.

Governments around Australia are discarding a century of traditional beliefs that public education has contributed to the strength of Australian democracy. A sense of civic purpose and regard for the common good has been lost in the pursuit of "choice", "efficiency" and "competition" - words which come from business rather than education. Education is now in fact being treated as a business - to be run by the lowest bidder.

Public education will continue to provide opportunities for all, whilst private education hides from public scrutiny and private education providers can hide behind commercial confidentiality provisions.

Competition, choice and profit have replaced co-operation and community participation as guiding principles.
 

The responsibilities of governments

Governments must act on the recommendations of the Senate Inquiry into the Status of the Teaching Profession. This means that governments must fund substantial salary increases for teachers in public education and ensure resource levels reflect expectations.

Governments must:

o Celebrate the contribution of public
education to a cohesive and democratic Australian society.

o Support education programs promoting reconciliation with indigenous people and multiculturalism.

o Embody in policy the prime responsibility of Government to provide quality public education in public schools, TAFE colleges, AMES, correctional institutions and universities. In short, the educational providers for the vast bulk of Australians. Politicians must affirm their commitment to public education ahead of any consideration for private alternatives.

o Guarantee a firm, long term funding base for public education including specific programs for the disadvantaged and professional development for teachers.

o Provide quality training and development in work time, throughout a teachers career.

o Reject the privatisation and "user pays" practices of public education at all levels.

o Defend public education from attack.

o Ensure the voice of teachers in public education is heard through teacher union representation.
 

NSW Teachers Federation document
Decision of the 1998 NSW Teachers Federation Annual Conference