Comments on Julian Savulescu and William Isdale "An ethical education: why Gonski is a moral issue", 11/04/2013, https://theconversation.com/an-ethical-education-why-gonski-is-a-moral-issue-12849
While I totally agree with the importance of education and the importance of increasing equity in education, I was less than fully satisfied by the article due to its lack of comparative analysis of the cost and benefit of the investment in education between Australia and other countries which the author mentioned in the article.
More specifically, the article unquestionably endorsement of the Gonski recommendation of amount of increased funding by governments is questionable without those comparatives.
The question is: some other countries achieved better results, are they all the results of greater investment per student than Australia's or not? Such information would be helpful to proper judgement or analysis/evaluation of the increased amount recommended by Gonski.
Another question is the relative decline in performance of Australia's education compared with some others. What are the reasons? It is not the right approach if it is based on the model that there is a problem then there must be more investment.
Showing posts with label public education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label public education. Show all posts
2013-04-11
2012-12-19
Adverse selection in choosing schools
Comments on KEVIN DONNELLY “Schools forced to dance to Canberra's centralist tune”, 19/12/2012, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/schools-forced-to-dance-to-canberras-centralist-tune/story-e6frgd0x-1226539986534
Let's accept the argument that Australia's Catholic and private schools have performed well internationally and this is not the case for government schools.
Apart from differences in freedom in areas of decision making by schools mentioned in the article, another possible reason could be the so called adverse selection problem, in which wealth and family backgrounds may play a role in selecting going to government or non-government schools.
This should only need to be interpreted as on average, rather than a rule applies to all individual cases.
Let's accept the argument that Australia's Catholic and private schools have performed well internationally and this is not the case for government schools.
Apart from differences in freedom in areas of decision making by schools mentioned in the article, another possible reason could be the so called adverse selection problem, in which wealth and family backgrounds may play a role in selecting going to government or non-government schools.
This should only need to be interpreted as on average, rather than a rule applies to all individual cases.
2010-05-01
Schools and government funding
Comments on Justine Ferrari “National survey ranks our best classrooms”, 1/05/2010, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/national-survey-ranks-our-best-classrooms/story-e6frg6nf-1225860838693
This calls the wisdom of the government's spending indiscriminately on both public and private schools into question.
People have choices and are not forced into private schools. Then why do the federal government need to spend on elite private schools, which runs clearly against the ALP government's argument on means testing private health insurance where people are forced to having private health insurance?
It shows a government that is totally illogical, inconsistent and contradictory.
That is how the government has got so many things wrong and wasted so much taxpayers’ money, like the home insulation program, the BER programs, and etc.
It is inexplicable of an incompetent government run by hopeless and incompetent people.
This calls the wisdom of the government's spending indiscriminately on both public and private schools into question.
People have choices and are not forced into private schools. Then why do the federal government need to spend on elite private schools, which runs clearly against the ALP government's argument on means testing private health insurance where people are forced to having private health insurance?
It shows a government that is totally illogical, inconsistent and contradictory.
That is how the government has got so many things wrong and wasted so much taxpayers’ money, like the home insulation program, the BER programs, and etc.
It is inexplicable of an incompetent government run by hopeless and incompetent people.
2010-02-26
MySchool website and closing gaps
Comments on Andrew Penfold “Gillard's schools site should be used to help close the gap”, 26/02/2010, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/gillards-schools-site-should-be-used-to-help-close-the-gap/story-e6frg6zo-1225834524594
It is not an issue as clear cut as Penfold thinks it is.
It is a dilemma: should the government put more resources for places you have better strengths or the areas where it has been revealed that you don't do well?
If you are a private operator with the overall outcome in mind, what would you do?
What Penfold’s logic is no different to throwing good money onto bad.
It is an issue that many people easily fall over into a trap.
But it is an difficult issue: how to treat public schools where there are significant gaps in performance? A closed related issue is: how to close the gap between Indigenous and non Ingineous students? It that just a funding issue?
It is not an issue as clear cut as Penfold thinks it is.
It is a dilemma: should the government put more resources for places you have better strengths or the areas where it has been revealed that you don't do well?
If you are a private operator with the overall outcome in mind, what would you do?
What Penfold’s logic is no different to throwing good money onto bad.
It is an issue that many people easily fall over into a trap.
But it is an difficult issue: how to treat public schools where there are significant gaps in performance? A closed related issue is: how to close the gap between Indigenous and non Ingineous students? It that just a funding issue?
2009-09-21
On Gilalrd's "left" approach to education
Comments on Julia Gillard “Driven by indignation at injustice”, 21/09/2009, http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26100893-7583,00.html
With all respect, I am afraid that it seems that the problems with education in Australia has been overstated. This creates an excuse for government to do too much or too inefficiently in the education field.
Yes, if there is a problem that is beyond the capacity of individuals, then there is a case for government to step in.
But what is the case in Australia's education?
There is free and compulsory education to 15 year old. There is also free education for the rest of secondary education. For tertiary education, there are HECS or HECS like scheme, there are youth allowances.
So what is lack in terms of equal opportunities to education in Australia, apart from personal and family aspirations?
The recent government spending on building school revolution just shows how taxpayers' money can be wasted by government. The same money could achieve much more if spent efficiently and more effectively.
That is a lesson that everyone including left politicians need to pay attention to.
With all respect, I am afraid that it seems that the problems with education in Australia has been overstated. This creates an excuse for government to do too much or too inefficiently in the education field.
Yes, if there is a problem that is beyond the capacity of individuals, then there is a case for government to step in.
But what is the case in Australia's education?
There is free and compulsory education to 15 year old. There is also free education for the rest of secondary education. For tertiary education, there are HECS or HECS like scheme, there are youth allowances.
So what is lack in terms of equal opportunities to education in Australia, apart from personal and family aspirations?
The recent government spending on building school revolution just shows how taxpayers' money can be wasted by government. The same money could achieve much more if spent efficiently and more effectively.
That is a lesson that everyone including left politicians need to pay attention to.
2009-07-03
Funding school education
Comments on ABC Unleashed program “Public funding for private education?”, 2/07/2009, http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2611162.htm
Although there could be arguments for both for and against public funding to private schools, the balance should be on against it. Government has the responsibility to fund education for all with equal opportunities.
Given that public schools are available to all school aged children including those who or their parents choose to private schools, public funding available for public schools and quasi public schools are the most appropriate course of policy. Those who choose to go to private schools are free to choose and are not excluded from potential public funding of public school.
It is, however, a different issue when it comes to funding to schools that are partially private, like those catholic schools. The government should provide partial funding to those schools to make up the funding shortfalls.
Although there could be arguments for both for and against public funding to private schools, the balance should be on against it. Government has the responsibility to fund education for all with equal opportunities.
Given that public schools are available to all school aged children including those who or their parents choose to private schools, public funding available for public schools and quasi public schools are the most appropriate course of policy. Those who choose to go to private schools are free to choose and are not excluded from potential public funding of public school.
It is, however, a different issue when it comes to funding to schools that are partially private, like those catholic schools. The government should provide partial funding to those schools to make up the funding shortfalls.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
