Education: Spreading social capital and lifting achievement

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This was published 7 years ago

Education: Spreading social capital and lifting achievement

A difference of one place in the rankings in international tests (Comment, 16/1) is probably meaningless, but a difference of 10 is not. Many of those who bewail our falling standards ignore the fact that they have followed a growing privatisation and decentralisation of education. These critics then demand we go further down the road that has failed us. Countries through the OECD routinely fund non-government schools but on much stricter conditions. Australia needs to ditch the Gonski socio-economic status funding model because it funds schools according to how well off the neighbours of the students are, divides schools by class, concentrates cultural capital in some at the expense of others and, thereby, lowers overall educational achievement. We should fund all schools that cap their fees and admit disadvantaged students. This would reduce social stratification, spread cultural capital and lift achievement.

Chris Curtis, Hurstbridge

Alan Moir

Alan Moir

Students need quiet time for reflection

In my experience as an English teacher, some good, old fashioned principles – such as reading, writing on paper and sitting in rows – is really appreciated by students who are often overwhelmed by information overload and screens. "Looking out the window," as Emily Hehir (Comment, 11/1) points out, is an opportunity for reflection and perhaps introspection. We need to have an open forum on how to best educate our children. One solution and a "one size fits all" approach does not work.

Emma Willis, Horsham

Maintain the professionalisation of childcare

At my children's childcare centre, educators almost exclusively have full diploma qualifications. It also maintains higher educator-to-child ratios than legally required. This has required significant dialogues with stakeholders to convince them that the high costs we incur are worthwhile. Senator Pauline Hanson's comments regarding childcare qualifications reflect ignorance. Parents who experienced childcare prior to the National Quality Framework could scarcely conceive of the complex system today.

Senator David Leyonhjelm's comments were an attempt to put the brakes on the professionalisation of childcare. This is most likely to succeed on the basis of a cost argument. I urge childcare leaders to do everything they can to ensure governments resource the sector's trajectory and the public understands what this direction is. The current path sees parents' costs increasing until the political heat they generate drives benefits/rebates to catch up – but never quite make it. Unless the public and politicians understand where our children are heading, they will be unable (or unwilling) to properly help them on that journey.

Michael Batten, Brunswick

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Forward thinking and long-term policies

Australia needs to take visionary – not remedial (The Age, 9/1) – action to transform its education system. We need long-term policies that invest in a high quality teaching workforce, and implement teaching and assessment practices that provide real learning which inspires students. Singapore's model has merits worth exploring, such as building the expertise and skills of teachers and principals, and allowing them to contribute to education policy. But despite its outstanding PISA results, Singapore has identified that its system may not be adequately preparing students for the demands of the knowledge economy. An overhaul of our system is needed, but placing the blame on teachers and students shows a lack of understanding of the complexities of education in the era of high-stakes testing.

Rebecca Wells, Mitcham

THE FORUM

Look to your own party

Amanda Vanstone blames Labor for the Centrelink debt debacle (Comment, 16/1). Although Labor introduced the data-matching program to identify possible overpayments, it was the Liberal Party that removed manual oversight of the program, automatically generating debt notices after 21 days and refusing to allow staff to intervene. People are forced to pay debts they dispute while these are being reviewed.

The system has generated notices for debts of 2cents and other sums under $100 – it costs more to collect than the debt's face value. Exceedingly large debt notices are also being generated. These should be manually checked before posting.

Everyone who has accessed Centrelink payments in the same financial year that they had a job is anxious. The best advice appears to be to engage the media and your MP, and seek a Centrelink review and electronic copies of all your information via FOI request. That does not sound "labour saving" at all.

Janet Munro, St Kilda East

Vanstone out of touch

First blame the Opposition, then belittle our poorest and most vulnerable, and finally ignore the problem. Amanda Vanstone typifies what is wrong with today's politics. She does not see here is something fundamentally wrong with billing a large percentage of people who do not owe anything or who have done nothing wrong. If she had debt collectors pursuing her for debts she did not owe – because of poor computer algorithms and lack of effective processes to fix the problem – she would be outraged.

Peter Dean, Glen Iris

Assumption of guilt

Demanding money from vulnerable, low-income people (through official letters and debt collectors) who do not have the resources, knowledge or emotional resilience to advocate for themselves is not "very pleasing" or an "overwhelming success". I suspect this is reflected in the "tiny complaint rate" that Christian Porter brags about – given it is widely acknowledged more than 20 per cent of these letters should never have been sent. Either that, or people cannot get though to complain.

I do not condone social security fraud. However, having a complicated system that makes it easy for people to make innocent mistakes, makes it hard to contact a real person for advice, and demands money back (sometimes) years later is not fair on anyone. And a process that implies people are guilty until proven innocent, and simply refers distressed individuals to Lifeline, is not good enough. If a society can be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable, we should be judged very harshly.

Judith Drake, Forest Hill

Politicians' hypocrisy

No politician has the right to ask for cuts in social benefits until the corruption (coupled with arrogance) in the political and corporate establishment is addressed. The "let them eat cake" attitude does not have a place in modern democracy.The sense of entitlement coming from political or financial privilege is an insult to the population. Politicians are employed by taxpayers, so they cannot abuse their position and reduce social benefits for the disadvantaged while they shed crocodile tears about a budget emergency and "handouts".

Fethon Naoum, Portland

First cut from the top

Over the past 24 years, I have been responsible for a budget at work. When times are difficult, it is this budget that is cut first. Why don't politicians start from within their ranks and reduce expenditure immediately rather than look at those already struggling to reduce theirs? It is time for massive government reform.

Trish Roath, Healesville

A controversial dress

Julie Bishop does not attend the Portsea Polo, citing the arrival of Japan's prime minister. In that case, why did she organise to wear an outfit from Hugo Boss? She is an MP, not a rock star. Did she intend to keep the outfit or return it? When will all the perks end?

Sheridan Rodgers, Berwick

A few bad apples

It is time for rational thought and discussion about MPs' expenses rather than the current "lynch mob" debate. Over the past forty-plus years, I have met a broad range of politicians from the major parties. Without exception, these people put themselves forward in order to make a contribution to the community.

The role of an MP is demanding, with inordinate hours being worked. They are constantly required to attend community functions, events and other activities. There is also an expectation that they will make a donation, buy raffle tickets or make a personal contribution to a host of organisations within their electorate.

Should they be invited to a social or sporting event, I have no problems with them taking their partner – whom they rarely see during parliamentary sitting weeks. What is required are clear guidelines and an appropriately calculated allowance which can be used according to the MP's priorities. MPs using their cars to ferry dogs or unnecessarily hire planes or helicopters are doing a great disservice to their colleagues. They are also in a very small minority.

James Young, Mount Eliza

Work/drink guidelines

Trade Minister Steve Ciobo claims that MPs attending sporting events, such as the AFL grand final, are actually working. How can we distinguish between working and playing? Could I suggest that if drinking alcohol is involved, then probably no work is being done.

Miranda Jones, Drummond

Our small request

No doubt Sussan Ley had no time to read my recent email regarding my devastation at the government's decision to defer Kalydeco and reject Orkambi drugs for people suffering with cystic fibrosis. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee's decision to reject the financial support of the drugs was due to lack of government funds. This has caused a lot of anguish in the CF community. Ironically, my email was sent only days before the "work expenses" inquiry of the former health minister. Taxpayers have more reason than ever to question where their money is going. Hopefully Malcolm Turnbull's independent body to oversee the grey area of pollies' expenses will help restore government funds to better use – for example, giving a much better quality of life to extremely ill people by funding necessary drugs.

Clarissa Smith, Mentone

Vale Greg Harper

As the Transport Accident Commission's chairman at the time, I pay tribute to Greg Harper, the advertising genius who created the original long running TAC campaigns. The first one, featuring doctors and nurses at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, went to air in December 1989. In 12months, these campaigns contributed to a 37per cent reduction in the Victorian road toll and impacted subsequent major reductions. The powerful message of finding yourself responsible for the death or disablement of another human being underpinned all 20+plus campaigns. They forced people to think about their attitude and behaviour. It is a great pity some of the lessons learned from Greg's campaigns, and the prior groundbreaking market research, appear to be missing today.

Leon L'Huillier, Malvern

Our fine Australians

I am saddened by the ill-informed and simplistic comments about crime and ethnicity. People who have little or no knowledge about African refugees are voicing their ignorance, as has Donald Trump about Mexicans. I had the privilege of working in Egypt and Sudan for more than two years, selecting African refugees for resettlement in Australia. I granted nearly 2000 visas to people who needed a new chance in life. The children of the vast majority of these Eritreans, Ethiopians, Sudanese and Somalis are now doctors, lawyers, teachers, electricians, social workers etc. They grasped this opportunity and became productive Australians. Why are we not highlighting the great story behind Australia's refugee program instead of focusing on a minuscule minority highlighted by ignorant bigots?

Joseph Petyanszki, Torquay

Storm in a wardrobe

Oh my lord, Sarah Thomas ("Just stop with the misogyny onslaught that is #Jacketgate", 16/1). Who gives a flying fig what the Nine News women were wearing? A lighthearted comment about their similar dress could have smoothed over the issue and got on with the real business of delivering news.

Eleanor Prout, Ringwood East

Protecting the whales

With the imminent slaughter of over 330 minke whales, the pristine waters near the Antarctic are about to run red. As should the face of Malcolm Turnbull who did not protest this illegal activity with Japan's Shinzo Abe. It is shameful that the government has refused to send a patrol vessel to monitor this killing, as has been done in previous years. Congratulations to Sea Shepherd's crew for their courage and dedication.

Marita Hutchison, Mount Martha

Credit where it's due

Interviewed after Sunday's loss to Pakistan, Steve Smith spent several minutes explaining Australia had lost because the team batted badly, bowled poorly and dropped catches. As an afterthought, he added that Pakistan outplayed us. Perhaps that was the real reason.

Leo Gamble, Mentone

AND ANOTHER THING...

Politics

There may be empty VIP seats at the tennis if pollies have to pay their own travel expenses.

Kevan Porter, Alphington

Sinodinos won't remember what he claims. Problem solved.

Michael McKenna, Warragul

Could we move on from Ley and co. Even the prime minister has mobilised on that one.

Barbara Fraser, Burwood

If all ministers who rort expenses were shown the door, Malcolm would be reshuffling an invisible cabinet.

Tony Smith, Burwood

Ley has crash landed with serious bruising and an inability to continue in her highly paid job.

Harry Kowalski, Ivanhoe

Once my wife and I attended a wedding in Sydney and someone asked me, "how's business?" Can I now claim air fares and accommodation?

Les Aisen, Elsternwick

Turnbull could bring a fresh, talented woman into cabinet – or he could reinstate another white, self-entitled, patriarchal male.

Ian Bell, Fitzroy

In the original House of Cards, Francis Urquhart quipped, "Why should I care about the poor. They don't vote for me."

Matthew Kelly, Upwey

If MPs had to repay monies that don't pass the pub test, our nation might be back in the black.

Helena James, Werribee

Furthermore

Mulberry community garden in Glenroy needs Henrietta Cook (14/1) – and we have vacancies.

Vince Corbett, Glenroy

I drive my light truck in the centre lane because I find the constant merging right as the "slow" lane comes and goes (13/1) a nightmare.

Tom Danby, Coburg North

When the book of Barack Obama's achievements is writ large, it will be very small indeed.

Graeme Miller, Bentleigh East

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