AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS

PRESS RELEASE 310

9 September 2009

THE AGE WAKES UP TO THE RUDD GOVERNMENT’S

EDUCATIONAL GREEDS POLICY

TWO WEEKS AFTER THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

Farrah Tomazin in the Age of September 9 followed the Sydney Morning Herald of 24 August 2009 (See Press Release 307 at www.adogs.info/pr307.htm ) in exposing the “Needs” policy as the ‘Greeds’ policy. But what politicians, media commentators or academics are reluctant to admit is that the ‘Needs’ policy not only is, but always was a sham. It was a sham from the very beginning – in 1973. It was always fraught with ‘bottom of the schoolyard schemes’ which were exploited in the 1970s and 1980s by the main religious system to siphon money from the poor parish schools and expand their sectarian school system. Eventually other religious groups followed suit.

The history of taxpayer’s subsidization to religious schools has never been about genuine ‘needs’. The history of State Aid to religious schools has been about undermining the public systems and the creation in Australia of religious and social divisions. Thirty six years of ‘Needs’ policies later, we discover that the poor and disadvantaged children are still with us. It is just that there are more of them and they the vast majority are in the public system.

The consequences of State Aid to private religious schools was predicted by DOGS in the 1960s. Why should anyone be surprised when the wealthy religious schools have to be satisfied before crumbs fall into the public school coffers? Why should anyone be surprised when they have access to the public Treasury with minimal accountability and even less transparency?

Nevertheless, Farrah Tomazin of The Age should be congratulated for exposing the latest largesse to wealthy religious schools. She writes:

VICTORIA'S wealthiest private schools are set to receive massive increases in federal funding, with some to get more than 20 per cent extra over four years despite enrolments rising only marginally by comparison.

Haileybury College will be among the big winners, with more than $52 million to be delivered over four years, including $14.64 million in 2012 - an increase of more than 24 per cent since 2008.Penleigh and Essendon Grammar will get more than $39 million over four years (up 29 per cent); Carey Baptist Grammar School $20 million (up 18 per cent) and Scotch College $16 million (up 25 per cent).

The figures have sparked renewed calls to the Rudd Government for a ''root and branch overhaul'' of private schools funding when the system is reviewed next year, with critics saying the Government should not be using this much taxpayers' money to prop up some of the nation's wealthiest schools. But private schools argue the funding model is fair, and point out that public schools get more money when state funding is taken into account.

While the Government often says increased funding to non-government schools partly reflects enrolment growth, the latest figures from the federal Education Department show private school funding will far outstrip enrolment growth over the same period, which is only about 5 per cent for most of the schools. For example:

· Methodist Ladies College is projected to receive almost $20 million in federal funds over four years. Its 2012 allocation of $5.4 million represents an increase of 18 per cent since 2008 - despite enrolments rising by around 4.7 per cent.

· Ivanhoe Grammar will get $25.5 million, up 28 per cent, while enrolments will grow by just 5 per cent.

· Wesley College will receive $31.3 million, or an extra 26 per cent, while enrolments are forecast to rise 4.9 per cent.

The President of the Australian Education Union, Angelo Gavrielatos said that:

''The opportunity now exists for the Rudd Government to do two things: to rid itself of this discredited funding model, and also meet its primary obligation to adequately fund government schools,''

But, Bill Daniels, executive director of the Independent Schools Council, was unabashed by the revelations of Farrah Tomazin. He said the funding model might not be perfect, but it was fair. He warned against any changes that would result in schools losing out on money when the Government finishes its review in 2012. He said:

''It's naive to think a change to a funding model will result in a perfect model - there's always compromises.''

DOGS have learned to expect compromises from religious men who believe that education for Australian children is a charity, not a right; a saleable commodity providing the first class ticket to heaven and the good job. After all, representatives of the religious school interest spent 26 days in the High Court of Australia in 1979 arguing that their schools were no more religious than public schools. (For this story see ‘Contempt of Court’ on this website.)

DEFEND PUBLIC EDUCATION AND STOP STATE AID TO PRIVATE RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS.

Listen to the DOGS program

3CR, 855 on the A.M. dial

12 Noon Saturdays