Who gives a Gonski? (162)

The problem is that Govts do have some "good ideas" but they do not think them through before enacting them. Abbott has said he will commit the same $s to education. If a few States don't agree to uniromity of education, why should the Govt go the same way.

It is much like Qld having free medical services until Whitlam introduced Medicare. Free to all, but only if Qld agreed that people should pay some of the costs.

It is bit like a lot of societies who have offered low or no interest loans for families to build their homes, conditional on them helping someone else along the line in building their home.

Should a Federal Govt give a handout to a State with no conditions when that State that does not want to go along with a unified idea of education?

That is more inline with workers saying "We want more pay but we don't agree that we should have to produce any extra to get that money. We just want more to do it the way we always have."

There are strings attached to money but that doesn’t mean the money isn’t needed. Public education has always had strings attached. Now more than ever with the Schools online website publishing NAPLAN results schools are held accountable by the community. Unfortunately not all variables are taken into account when comparing schools in this way. Nevertheless humans make decisions based on data and I do agree those who educate should be held accountable like every other occupation.
Schools, and in particular a state managed education system takes large amounts of money to operate. There are buildings to maintain, grounds to keep, services to be paid for, staff wages, technology and resources, as you can image. Increased technology is now required in schools which becomes superseded at an alarming rate. Parents expect their children to have access to the latest technologies to prepare them for the modern world but still expect the public education to be free. Everyone’s taxes contribute to education, both private and public, but private schools have the advantage of also gaining extra income from parent contributions as well as the luxury of refusing to educate those they deem not suitable for their environment. Where does that leave public schools? At a disadvantage financially and with a higher percentage of students with special needs, be that academically, emotionally or behaviourally.
At least the Gonski model seeks to distribute money on a needs basis thereby evening up the current discrepancies between well funded schools and those in dire straits
Yes there is wastage of resources and I agree, things could be cleaned up in this regard. I suppose the notion that Principals be given greater control over their finances etc is an attempt to fix this problem. But with control there is always the danger of corruption.

Yes halv0, money IS NOT the answer to education poor performance, but money can provide catered programs and smaller class sizes to cater for those growing number of children who seem unable to function effectively in a general classroom. Society has moved on from caning and what was once acceptable teacher bullying to keep kids in line and that’s come from societies changing values. Schools merely mirror the wider communities where disfunctionality, disrespect of authority and family breakdowns are on the increase.
Children are not born with behaviour problems, they develop them based on their environment and the adults who shape their perception of the world. School is the only place where some children get exposed to societies morals and ethics, where they can see a positive future and a way out what is a hopeless existence. Education is the only way to freedom and independence. Do schools have all the answers, NO WAY. Do they always succeed, NO. Are there those within it’s system who seek to fulfil their own interests, YES.
However, we can not look back to the past but must move forward to the future in line with societies expectations that kids are catered for on a needs basis, positive role modelling has superseded corporal punishment and adequate funds must be provided where it is needed.
The Gonski model of funding is a step in the right direction.

PS. Unfortunately Rob their constant babbling and mind changing has huge effects for those who their decisions directly affect.

There is a big divide with what kids know..

Some like to learn and others don't... which is good... some need to be labourers, and some need to be rocket science..

Keep money outta the equation... Let parents discern if they truthfully can... is my child a nerdy type or not.. and if they discern that their child merits a good education... let the parents pay for it...they will...

the end.

I'm a bit confused by this statement Merri, you say keep money out of it but then say parents should pay for a good education.

I can understand if you are someone who has paid a good deal of money to educate your children, you might feel that so should everyone else. That's a fair comment.

But the consumer pays idea would lead to only those financially well off being able to afford an education for their children.

There are hard working labourers and hard working rocket scientists and these occupations and all in between are needed equally for our society in order for it to function. Some might argue a labourer is needed far more than a rocket scientist.

Imagine a country where the little girl whos mother dies of cancer and her dad has three other children to provide for, is denied a quality education through no fault of her own or:

- the newly arrived migrants son who have just arrived in the country with nothing

- the girl whos parents were drug addicts and she was placed in foster care

- the gifted boy whos parent work 7 days a week at the abattoirs just to make ends meet and raise their 5 kids

- and many other senarios

These kids are already disadvantaged, lets not perpetuate the divide

Our education and health systems are held up as models for many other countries in the world. Let's continue to educate children on as even playing field as possible based on their work ethic and ability not based on the financial well being of their parents.

Hi Lilee..

Abbot is at a loss to work out how to fix the blatant spending of the labor govt...

He was trying to save money... its not that he is not for education...



Public education is fine... but if you want your child to go private... (for all the good it does for some) the option is still open

I agree with you on the point. We must not loose the choice. I believe the Gonski funding model (if the Government does not manipulate it to suit themselves) is a fairer model funding schools based on student needs without preference to private or public systems. That's a win/win for students and education.