It seems that lately, the public education system in Australia is being
treated like an altar boy in a catholic church. Across the States and
Territories and also Federally, it seems that public education is
something the governments want to get off their books. They are
treating public education as if it is a blight on our country, on their
ability to balance their books and as if it something best handled by
the churches and corporations.
This is a very, very disturbing trend.
Late last year we held a Humanist Society of Queensland conference on
the infiltration of the public education system in Queensland by
religious agendas and some of the information delivered at this
conference was quite disturbing. What we've seen recently from our
governments at all levels does nothing to help quash these feelings of
unease.
In September, 2012, John-Paul Langbroek, the Queensland Education
Minister, announced Queensland's first independent State Schools: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-18/langbroek-announces-qlds-first-independent-state-schools/4267388. In January 2013 the Qld Government actually announced this officially: http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2013/1/23/independent-public-schools-making-history.
The concern here is that these "State Schools" will be taken over by
religious agendas or corporate agendas - both of which are quite
distasteful. We need to ensure our public school system is free from
the taints of both religion and corporate influence.
Two recent articles, the first published in The Hoopla (http://thehoopla.com.au/class-public-school-love/?cpg=2) by Wendy Harmer and the second in the ABC's "The Drum" (http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4487550.html)
by Jane Caro - both well known promoters of public sanity and
secularism - bring this issue of the treatment of our public school
system into the light. We need to make sure we get behind this issue as
public education - secular public education - should never be the
lowest common denominator and should never be what's left at the bottom
of the barrel for those families without the financial resources to
afford a "quality private education" for their children.
These two articles follow on from former High Court Judge Michael Kirby's article in the Sydney Morning Herald in December 2012 (http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/we-need-look-only-to-australias-past-to-give-public-education-a-future-20121203-2ar56.html) asking people to take a serious look at the benefits of a functional and effective public education system here in Australia.
One thing we, as a public who cares about the future of public education in this country, can do is to attend local Parents and Citizens' Associations
meetings. You don't need to be a parent of a child in that school to
attend a P&C meeting - you don't even need to be a parent of a child
to be included under the "Citizens" part of that banner. What you need
to be is a parent and/or citizen who is concerned about the direction
that public education is taking in this country and who is willing to
stand up and be counted when necessary.
The Secular Party of Australia
supports a properly funded, well respected public education system and
strongly encourages our Government to implement the Gonski Review
recommendations with a few amendments that can be found here.
If you value the secular education of Australian children, please be
sure to read the articles referenced earlier, investigate what's
happening at your local public school(s), take an active role by joining
a local P&C meeting and make sure your vote in future elections
helps to tell our Governments how important this issue is to you - not
to mention to the future of Australia.
Edit: I forgot to mention the great article that Chrys Stevenson wrote for ABC's Religion and Ethics on the Humanist Society of Queensland's Separation Of Church And State Schools conference held in 2012.
Regards,
The Outspoken Wookie
