A comprehensive future

Australia needs public debate about how we educate children and fund schools, recognising that public education has the potential to build social cohesion, writes MAREE O'HALLORAN.

An opportunity exists, following the riots at Cronulla Beach on December 11, 2005 and their aftermath, to trigger a public debate about the role of the school in the community. Not because public schools should bear the burden of the mob violence, racism and revenge attacks, but because the event should be a catalyst for Australians to reflect on the state of the body politic and the community. Premier Morris Iemma's "Respect and Responsibility" plan will not make a difference. Not only did the Premier, perhaps unintentionally, insult and criticise the work already done in public schools to instil values, discipline and civic responsibility, but the plan fails to come to grips with the social division, ethnic tension and racism exposed by the riots.

Australia needs public debate about how we educate children and fund schools, recognising that public education is open to all, builds bridges between people and has the potential to build social cohesion. The debate we need to create is not "Which school for my child?" but "A good local public school for every child and every community".

Speaking in response to the UK Government's White Paper Higher Standards -- Better Schools for all, the General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Steve Sinnott said: "An effective school in a tough community is a remarkable force for good. It can help stabilise the community. It can provide a base for other vital services. It can even be a vital lynchpin in securing economic and social regeneration."

The positive role of an effective local, public school is known by governments and their departments. The difficulty is not teachers and their commitment, it is that the funding requirements for a comprehensive future for all children are greater than governments have invested.

Thus the UK's White Paper offers pessimistic structural proposals about choice and marketisation because chronic under funding means parents can't be guaranteed a good local school. In the lead up to the state and federal elections in 2007, we can expect in Australia to be presented with another "reform" agenda about school choice, autonomy and privatisation. The call for performance pay, school autonomy and local selection permeates the media, is promulgated by the Federal Government and has strong support from within the NSW Department of Education and Training. The ideas behind the marketisation of education are pessimistic. They give much to those with power, influence and affluence and little to those who cannot work the system.

Public schools and the work they do are a cause for celebration. That is why the Vinson Inquiry sought with its recommendations to build on the system and put forward an optimistic future for public education.

In 2006 Federation will renew the public education campaign focusing on the value of public education, maintaining high quality and increased funding for targeted areas. The school areas are:

• more pre-schools attached to public schools
• years 7 and 8
• maintenance
• time for teachers to support students (increased release time)
• more support for special needs students
• Aboriginal education.

Federation will conduct a coordinated central campaign, including paid advertising throughout the year and the release of academic papers to generate debate, particularly about the key areas outlined above. Federation, working in cooperation with the Public Education Alliance, (Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations of NSW, Federation and principal organisations) has commissioned the Chair of the State Government's Public Education Council (now disestablished) Lyndsay Connors and Professor Tony Vinson to oversee the research. The central campaign will include as a highlight the Public Education Conference on September 22 and 23 to be addressed by Canadian philosopher John Ralston Saul. Ralston Saul's texts, including Voltaire's Bastards and The Unconscious Civilisation amongst others, have had an impact on political thoughts in many countries.

Supported by this central campaign, Federation Organisers will be organising local events. In 2006 we must continue to have a strong and concerted response to orchestrated attacks on public education by the Federal Government and elements of the media.

Major legislative change was bludgeoned through the Senate in the last weeks of Parliamentary sittings in 2005. That legislation will change the social and political landscape of Australia.

If WorkChoices is not repealed or struck down by the High Court, then over the next few years its intent will be felt by many workers. As collective agreements expire, when a new job or even a promotion is sought, employers will have even greater bargaining power.

The NSW Government and Unions NSW have filed their High Court challenges to the WorkChoices legislation. The challenges, of course, are but one aspect of the ongoing political, legal and industrial campaign against WorkChoices. Within the confines of the High Court, the political fight over industrial relations will become a technical battle between the Commonwealth and the states over the reach of Canberra's corporations power.

According to constitutional lawyer Greg Craven, the High Court, now usually cooperative with Canberra, has "always nursed a certain nervousness" about the corporations power (Sydney Morning Herald, January 4). Craven believes this case will be the Melbourne Cup of constitutional law. For unions and the workers they represent, it will provide continued opportunity to highlight the damaging intent of WorkChoices. Winning, of course, would be a great bonus.

After intensive lobbying by Federation, TAFE members and Unions NSW, the State Government has agreed to provide legislative protection for TAFE members. This means that, like their school teacher colleagues, TAFE teachers will not immediately be affected by the WorkChoices regime. Federation congratulates the State Government for moving to protect employees where possible.

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February 2006 contents