Double Dip and Sacrifice

Double Dip and Sacrifice

The Cost of a Baseless Education System Philosophy


Between them, my two girls have attended 10 schools. Some moves have been because of my vocation and living overseas; others have been due to other circumstances. My younger daughter also spent a short period of time in home schooling when she was between schools.

When she was in the first grade she was invited to try out for an international gymnas- tics squad. She was successful. It was extremely exciting for her but came with many challenges. Family life changed overnight.

Chauffeuring her between the gymnastics club, school and home meant there were changes in family income, a stretched budget, fewer family holidays and less time spent with my older daughter.

The greatest challenge was balancing this new life with school education for my youngest.

Her gymnastics career lasted 7 years and spanned three of the six schools she attended.

One was a non-government secondary school. Enrolment included compulsory Saturday morning sport but, as she was already juggling gymnastics with school demands, compulsory sport wasn’t possible for her.

Despite that, Saturday sport came with the cost of non-government school fees, as did access to the rowing club, state of the art theatre and more. These facilities were all very impressive but they were of no benefit or interest to my daughter while she was doing gymnastics elsewhere.

If there was a ‘user pays’ opportunity, the cost of extras could have been deducted from the school fees.

That wasn’t to be.

It was a case of double dip and sacrifice for a number of years.

School Funding

We’ve fallen into the belief that ‘free, compulsory and secular education’ means the following:

Free of charge: No cost to families.

Compulsory: Every child of school age must attend.

Secular: No religious influence.

Maybe it’s time to rethink these assumptions. Could this perspective be at the root of the division and lack of accountability in our education system?

Consider this alternative:

Parents are free to choose a school that offers a specified curriculum regardless of religious, financial, academic, residential or social status.

That’s a more accurate descriptor, isn’t it?

It’s certainly a good conversation starter: ‘What is free, compulsory and secular education?’

Do your homework

Dig deeper and you’ll find:

School has never been free. Families have always paid - just now, payments are made indirectly through taxes.

The concept of ‘compulsory education’ has shifted. It’s no longer about a specified, non-negotiable, measurable curriculum. That’s gone. It’s not even about bums on seats. It’s about ‘enrolment’ for the distribution of funds. The concept of ‘compulsory education’ has been eroded by statutory law.

Just look at the phonics debate. If phonics instruction were non-negotiable, we wouldn’t be arging about it.

Secular education used to mean that the schooling was underpinned by Christian values. Those values are no longer the foundation of Australia’s education system.

Catholic schools enrol non-catholic students, government schools admit students of all faiths and some denominational schools including Islamic schools incorporate a specified curriculum in their offerings.

Needs and Wants

Everyone shares the same basic needs, but we have different interests and abilities. A balance between needs and wants in education and funding is essential.

Relying blindly on the idea that everyone will make the right choices for our children isn’t enough. We need a system rooted in agreed-upon, guaranteed needs - while also being clear about what the wants are and where schools fit into supplying them.

While we need a system, our wants must be sit firmly in the knowledge that we agree on and guarantee provision of the same fundamental needs.

If we don’t truly understand the foundation of ‘free, compulsory and secular education’ we’ll never be able to fix what’s broken.

We’ll remain forever trapped in the cycle of the ‘double dip and sacrifice’ impasse.

Clearly, there's a lot more to explain regarding 'Free, compulsory and secular education.'

Reach out, have a chat, ask questions and stay tuned for more…

Copyright ? Cheryl Lacey 2024

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