The long-awaited Review of Funding for Schooling has become completed along with the Report with the panel of eminent Australians chaired by David Gonski AC continues to be released.

In this Submission, I have only focused on Chapter 3 to equity and disadvantage but also have comments in terms of disabled children.

I have also targeting western suburban schools in Sydney as I reside in that area and my kids attended western suburbs catholic school before moving with an independent school.

The panel has to be congratulated since the Report is both comprehensive and well researched and produces several recommendations that, if implemented may, to some degree, enhance the educational outcomes of some Australian children.

The ‘Pink Elephant’ In the Gonski Report

I believe, however, how the Report, (for whatever reason) doesn’t acknowledge ‘the pink elephant’ inside the classroom and that’s that parents are the first educators of the children. This is the foundation premise of numerous independent schools in Australia, such as PARED (Parents For Education) schools, which excel academically year in and year out, although they are not selective and provide no scholarships to secure bright children which will boost the overall marks with the school.

Schools that acknowledge parents since the first educators with the child are employed in partnership with all the parents so that the child receives the same message and expectations in the home and school. This applies not only to academic expectations but additionally to behavior.

When the parents bring the child up with the end in sight (ie. adulthood) not simply the existing moment, they target having a strong character in the child by modeling this themselves and expecting the child to show human virtues like sincerity, cheerfulness, generosity, perseverance, gratitude, respect, honesty and service to others. This means that it’s only … Continue reading >>>