Rich Schools, Poor Schools


I am a strong advocate for public schools and the philosophy behind quality public education. It should be a basic right of any child, in any affluent first world country, to have ready access to a good education, no matter their social economic status or culture. All public schools should be funded equitably so that, as much as possible, a child's local school can be expected to deliver teaching and learning of a high standard.

When I started teaching in 1980 the system wasn't perfect but there was little noticeable difference between schools in resourcing and professional support. We had inspectors and advisors who had a good idea of the needs of individual schools and took a fairly paternalistic approach to ensuring their support went where it was needed most. I also remember a clear career pathway where one was expected to build experience in different roles before taking on leadership positions. Beginning teachers were not employed in small rural schools, for example, because it was recognised that they needed the professional guidance provided by larger teaching communities. In two or three teacher schools, where children would have the same teacher for several years, they needed experienced professionals in those jobs.

The sense of equitability has largely left education now and we appear to have abandoned the idea that all schools should be supported in a similar way. We now have winners and losers. Private schools now capture a much greater level of public funding despite the fact they teach a small minority of our students. Private secondary schools also grab a greater share of special needs funding because low decile parents cannot afford the assessments to access the support. Small private schools are saved with public money, at great expense, while similar sized state schools are closed.

While the Government claims parents now have choice, this isn't true in reality. Despite the fact that schools can't impose fees, most high decile schools now expect large donations that are beyond struggling families and those who can't pay them can be publicly shamed. Struggling parents are having their children excluded from some schools because it is too embarrassing to be not able to pay the 'donation'. Even in the public system we have 'rich' schools and 'poor' schools and despite the decile weighting that provides greater funding for lower deciles there can be as much as $1,000 a year difference in available funds per pupil between high and low decile schools.

Into this mix we have the new Charter (or Partnership) Schools where the concept of a level playing field has again been thrown out the window. These schools are being funded at a rate well above a similar sized public schools and teachers are being grabbed from previous positions with the attraction of much higher salaries. It will be hardly fair to compare the success of the Charter Schools against the public schools when the level of public funding per student can be around $3500 greater. What is even more obscene is that the Charter schools don't even have to use the state funding for educational purposes and can filter some off for profit or other purposes.

The Government's latest plan to pay some principals and teachers much higher salaries, based partly on their National Standards results, will likely destroy what little collegiately is left in the profession. Teachers and principals will be pitted against each other for an increase in salary of up to $50,000 and the temptation to fudge results and narrow teaching to access the money will be strong. This is the experience of other education systems using similar policies.

The once level playing field for New Zealand schools is but a memory and for many school communities it is like playing up hill into a strong wind with no half time or change of sides possible (and the score difference is growing rapidly).

Comments

Keeping Stock said…
Don't believe everything that Chris Hipkins says about the funding of Partnership Schools bsprout :)

http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2014/02/lies_damn_lies_and_labours_stats.html
robertguyton said…
Don't believe anything David Farrar says about education, bsprout :)
Unknown said…
To the too people that has commented. What da hell? All he is saying is our children no matter were we from to have a awesome education. Without shame! Help the children they are our future. Of new Zealand!
Dave Kennedy said…
KS, I'm sorry but David Farrar is just repeating Hekia's answer, the truth is that most primary schools are small and the average is only around 120 pupils. These charter schools are getting substantially more funding per student and even have enough to pay teachers a lot more.

I also made no link or reference to Chris Hipkins, although he may be right but linked to a more conservative comparison that came from our NZEI President and Judith will have her facts right:

“It is becoming increasingly clear that this is not true. For instance, the Rise Up charter school in South Auckland will cost New Zealand taxpayers $9,688 per student this year while the cost of a student at an average state Year 1-6 primary school is less than $6000. That’s a difference of more than $3,500 per student.”

Another Charter school that will be managed by the Villa Education Trust will:

"have an opening roll of 90, which will rise to 120 by 2015, and have a 1:15 teacher-student ratio."

"No donations or fees will be required and the school will provide free uniforms and stationery for every student."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/manukau-courier/9185807/Charter-schools-welcome

No public school could offer such good teacher/pupil ratios, have no fees and provide free uniforms and stationery on current funding.

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