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These are the notes used for our on-air analysis on Wednesday 19th April.
General Comments:
- The support for the public system has declined even more on the
last survey, even though the survey was chock a block with Labor
voters and teachers. Agree/Strongly Agree headed in right direction
down from 42% to 28% in 12 months.
- Support for public v private schools for your own kids still
looks around 50/50, after adjustment for Labor/Green bias in the sample
(I think Graham is doing a check here), with two thirds of left wing
voters supporting the public system and two thirds of coalition voters
supporting the private system.
- Teachers loved the questionnaire, especially teachers in
Government schools. The overall numbers were up more than ten-fold on
the last survey.
- These teachers tended to support the public system, in principal,
but, in practice, thought it had had it, with insufficient funding, run
down buildings, excessive class sizes, trendy syllabuses and not enough
of the basics, lack of male teachers, as some of the problems
mentioned.
- Many respondents seem to think the Federal Government is to blame
for problems with the state education system … it seems the blame
shifting we are seeing in health is having some benefits in education,
for the Beattie Government. Which leads to the last point, due to
Federal Funding of Private School education …
- There is perception, mixed into this framework, that the state
Government has started to delay building public schools in fast growing
areas, leaving the cost burden increasingly to the Federal Government
and the private school system … a comment we have heard from other
states. This is good news for the private school system, but makes for
a pretty dismal report card for the State Labor Government, if it is
correct.
Right Direction?
The majority of those who strongly agree the education system is headed in the right direction also would send their kids to a public school – 31 out of a total of 42. But a very large proportion of these respondents has major concerns about the public system and simply rejects the non-public system in principle…
"Schools are asked to do more and more in an environment where proper parenting has been falling away for many years. This comment from a Labor voting Teacher in the public system, who would send his children to a public school, but who went on to discuss the biggest issues facing primary and secondary schools as … literacy and numeracy, along with a lack of proper science education by qualified science teachers."
This is from a rock solid Labor voting teacher in the public system! Half of those who strongly agree the system is headed in the right direction, also think it is under funded and that this under funding is reflected run down buildings, and oversized classes. Many also think there aren’t enough male teachers and that this is not appropriate for public schools, as many public school children are living with their mothers and have no male role models…
"Education has been feminised too much (the pendulum thing) and boys are missing out. Outcome based education is a complete waste of time, accountability gone mad, and once again teachers are stressed and the students miss out. This is from a male teacher. This is from a solid Labor voting male teacher, who sends his kids to a private school … because I teach in a state school and the amount of time spent on a minority of kids who do not value education , for one reason or another, is ludicrous. powers to discipline have been taken away. students know they don't have to show respect, so some don't. what are you going to do about it? Nothing."
Some who strongly agree the system is headed in the right direction (9 out of 42) think the public system has had it, and regard the Catholic or Private system as successful, by comparison. So, the system they are talking about is no longer the Government or public system. That’s how bad it is, for Government. For example …
"I am a teacher in the catholic system and feel we haven't hit the golden secret yet but are well on our way. Children are valued as individuals, taught in a more positive, individual based manner and assessed against set outcomes. They are not judged as failures. There has been a return to some of the basics and this can only be good when included with some of the more wholistic educational practises." (This teacher, unfortunately, couldn’t spell holistic - Private system support, Liberal to Independent).
Most of those who think the education system is headed in the wrong direction, support the private school education system, but many don’t…
"Public education is being left behind under this (Howard) government. They say the extra funding is about providing choice to parents but one look at the fees rising consistently shows that is not the case. Meanwhile, those already disadvantaged will now fall further behind as the standard of public education falls due to poor funding arrangements. If we want to create a two-tier society then we're heading in the right direction. I do not share this (Howard) government's goals hence I strongly disagree that we are heading in the right direction." – State system supporter, Democrat to Labor
This is a typical view of those who think the public system is headed in the wrong direction…
"I am a secondary school teacher who has also taught at TAFE and Uni and am deeply concerned about numeracy and literacy levels, behaviour problems and a lack of focus and concentration in the majority of high school students.- Private School Supporter, Green to Green, who also said on the Private school question: My experience of teaching in public schools would not encourage me to have my children attend one."
"As an after school tutor from ages 8 - 15 both in English and Maths, I am still astounded, but not completely surprised, how many children have neither the basic skills to do simple arithmetic or have sufficient grasp of basic grammar and spelling. Green to Undecided, private school supporter."
"The Queensland State Government is relying on the private/church schools in meeting the needs of communities in rapidly expanding areas such as Hervey Bay. The State schools at both primary and secondary level are absolutely full to the brim, with class sizes ever increasing, but staff, both teachers and support, and resources allocated decreasing. Other to National, private school supporter. "
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