Great comments.

Having been educated in the Catholic system (over 20 years ago) and worked in the Catholic, public and independent systems over the past 10 I have a few comments.

Society in general is changing and this is reflected in in our schools.

From my experience you could say that Catholic / independent students (read parents) are very much ‘middle class’, with middle class values. Due to state schools taking all comers, this ‘true representation of society’ reflects in the work performance of the schools. A few thoughts ‘Its hard to soar like an eagle, when you are surrounded by turkeys’ and ‘to survive in schoolyou need freinds – ones that don’t stick out’. Just like a prison!

Also – Catholic schools are not all that much better, they just ahve better PR machines and everything that happens is keep ‘in house’ (as a good Catholic should!) These ‘in house’ attitude is also supported by Australian research (2005) from the Jesuit Social Services http://info.jesuit.org.au/info/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=288 also suports this.

I would say the independents to this as well. The things that go on in Catholic schools that I could tell you about would make your hair curl.

Interesting though, is the fact that although Catholic / Independent students find it easier to get into university in Australia, they fail to survive more often than the state students. I would suggest that this may be because of two reasons. 1. They are insulated from the real world for 13 years of there life 2. They have had some onehelp them succeed (mum & dad or even peer pressure) This generally doesn’t happen whey they get to uni. sink or swim. I also think many Catholic students have ‘ego’ problems. That is they think they are shit hot. Again to do with this insulated life.

I hope this makes sense.

PS. Most for my private reading is related to education in Australia, most research and senate inquiry findings. A bit sad I know, but….

Damian

My question’s then this: why is the learning culture so different between public and private schools?

Ben: Totally! I even asked out local MP, Kerry Bartlett to respond with info from his perspective, which h(is offic)e did via email with lots of interesting stats, but again no source for the stats. I’ve written back asking if they could provide the source but no response yet.

Feeling a bit ripped off right now. On the way home I heard on the radio that A Current Affair was running a story of the cost of public/private education tonight, so I recorded it.

It’s been a while since I’ve watched the commercial stations, but I was pretty blown away by this one. The story just seemed to show how expensive education is either way, and kept referring to the Australian Scholarships Group throughout with some really interesting statistics (I thought they must have been a research group). At the end of the story they mentioned that there’s more info online on the ACA site.

So I go there, and hmmm… no stats there… but they’ve conveniently provided one web link for this story to the Australian Scholarships Group. Great, I think, I’ll be able to look at all those statistics and research that they mentioned, but no… nada. The ASG is simply convincing you to start investing (with them) in your childs future – you provide the scholarship for your children by contributing to one of their funds now.

So, ACA story is semi-interesting but doesn’t really come to a point other than “Most people don’t realise how expensive education is – public or private”, while mentioning the ASG throughout as the source of research and statistics, then linking to them (and only them) on their site. Surely there’s a better weblink for that story…I mean, looking at the ASG site, there is no reason the story should link to ASG other than to get people to sign up with an account.

Sorry for the rant, but is it just me or do others think this is strange? I guess I can’t get over how “commercial” commercial tv really is…

Public schools seem to have an air of ‘learning is for geeks’ about them, where teens (espescially boys) will actively NOT learn, because it is uncool.

Pretty well education is the States’ responsibilities, although the federal government wants to start to control the whole lot (including vet sector). Nelson has done this through funding. ie Nelson says “if you don’t do this….. I won’t give you the money.” As you well know all systems need the money.

Generally befor the 1960’s all Catholic indepenent schools were self funded 100%. By the 1960’s these school (that were run and staffed by various religious orders slowly need to take on lay (non- religious) teaching staff). This meant the schools cost more to run etc. In the 1960’s #%*@ hit the fan as the various systems asked the states for money to fund their schools. The States’ said GO #@*# yourself! I think then the Arch Bishop of Canberra said %#&@ you back and closed all the catholic schools in Canberra (mid 1960’s). He sent his students to the local state schools. 30% enrolment overnight meant holyshit! Thus funding for private / catholic schools was born.

The reality is that the Australian tax payer could not afford to educate all its children. Therefore private / catholic systems are here to stay as they save the state / federal system about 30% on a fully state school system.

PS my mum told me this.

:) Damian

Just trying to summarise a bit, i think we’ve established that it’s misleading to look at funding just from the federal government, and that we need to look at the total funding (state plus Federal) to get a real picture (thanks Benny).

But that has lead me to the following question: Which of the following statements is most true?

1) Public education is the State Govs’ responsibility, whereas Private Education is the Federal Govs responsibility.

2) Public education is our governments’ responsibility (State plus Federal), whereas private education is the responsibility of private entities (although gov funding maybe appropriate in lots of circumstances).

3) Education (public plus private) is the State Govs’ responsibility, and I’m not sure why the Federal gov is not putting it’s extra funding through the State Govs.

4) Education (public plus private) is our total governments’ responsibility (State Federal), and I’m not sure why there isn’t one consistant Education portfolio.