The public vs private school debate has been regularly talked about within the political sphere and the private lives of parents deciding on where to send their children. What I am trying to say here is that the private vs public debate is not new news.
Even popular culture has picked up on this idea and is using it as a form of entertainment... the title of this blog comes from the popular mock-umentary by Chris Lilley called Summer heights high....
A exchange student moving into a public school from a private school gives a speech at assembly:
A exchange student moving into a public school from a private school gives a speech at assembly:
“People always go ‘private schools create better citizens’ but I would
say they create better quality citizens. Studies have shown that
students from
private schools are more likely to get into uni and end up making a lot
more money, while wife-beaters and rapists are nearly all public school
educated. Sorry,
no offense, but it’s true.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMeyCrZZUA8
The above link is a small clip of the show, very funny!. comedy seems to be used allot to convey offensive opinions.
This is obviously a joke but the idea behind it, private schools are better than public schools is a very real idea, determining school choice for many Australian parents.
Last year the lowest proportion of students enrolled into public school since federation, only 65.7% according to this article. twice as many students in public schools come from low income families.
The number of private schools in New south wales has grown 11 per cent since 2001.
The Gonski recommendations will see improvements in the enrollments into public schools, extra funding will flow into the public school system will help achieve this. But funding seems to be only a part of the picture, there seems to be a cultural dimension within the public vs private choice.
according to the article, educated parents are interested in giving their children the educational advantage in enrolling their children into a private school. there seems to be a overall discourse that private schooling will provide better education.
I believe that in order to even out the private vs public school choice, the government not only needs to look at funding but the culture and identity politics involved in the decision making process of parents. As Arnot and Dillbough outline there is a link between the 'self' and the society, parents want to convey a certain image, and the school they choose is pretty much a fashion accessory to convey prestige.
The number of private schools in New south wales has grown 11 per cent since 2001.
The Gonski recommendations will see improvements in the enrollments into public schools, extra funding will flow into the public school system will help achieve this. But funding seems to be only a part of the picture, there seems to be a cultural dimension within the public vs private choice.
according to the article, educated parents are interested in giving their children the educational advantage in enrolling their children into a private school. there seems to be a overall discourse that private schooling will provide better education.
I believe that in order to even out the private vs public school choice, the government not only needs to look at funding but the culture and identity politics involved in the decision making process of parents. As Arnot and Dillbough outline there is a link between the 'self' and the society, parents want to convey a certain image, and the school they choose is pretty much a fashion accessory to convey prestige.
References:
- http://www.dailylife.com.au/news-and-views/public-v-private-20130824-2si2o.html
- Arnot, M., & Dillabough, J. (1999). Feminist politics and democratic values in
education. Curriculum Inquiry, 29(2),
Well done on an interesting piece! I thought the inclusion of a contemporary mockumentary such as Summer Heights High was a clever interpretation on a media story and demonstrated a strong link between educational theory and modern cultural influences. In terms of the content, it is sad to see that so many of us through our research have found the private v. public debate to be such a prevalent one. Really, what it all should bottle down to is simple - which school is best for your child? Schools should not simply be chosen, nor categorised, based on whether they are public or private, but rather should be assessed based on their individual merits and benefits for the individual child.
ReplyDeleteIt is not only private schools that offer specific facilities that should appeal to parents - I find this important to mention considering so many of the public v. private debates essentially come back to the argument of better resources and amenities. However, it is important to note that some public schools, who specialise in particular fields, for example Newtown Performing Arts School or Westfields Sports High School, have extra facilities to suit the interests and talents of their students, for example, Newtown has three dance studios, four drama rooms, ten individual music rooms, etc
Personally I went to a private school and loved my experience there. I do believe that I was given certain advantages because of the school I attended and realise I was incredibly lucky to go to such a school. However, I do not believe that private schooling is necessarily what would suit all students best. I am also a strong believer in parents doing what they believe is best for their children and what is responsible considering their circumstances. In saying this, I mean that I do not think that sending your child to a private school should come above and beyond everything else and think it is great when parents really consider the financial burdens of private education and do not push themselves to meet demands that are unattainable to them unless other help can be provided, perhaps by the school itself.
Are public schools "so random" - no. Are public school kids likely only to become wife-beaters and rapists - no. Are public school kids less quality citizens - no. But in saying this, are private schools, and those attend them bad - definitely not.