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1. A few years ago, Catholic Schools claimed they were funded at only 80% of the recurrent costs of public schools.
   Therese Temby's figures indicate that the gap is closing. But I am not sure of the point she is trying to make.
   She asks that we move beyond the "us and them'' divide, but then continues to make exactly the comparisons that fuel that distinction!
   My guess is that all educators would love to see all schools as quality schools, delivering the best results possible for each child. We all know, that for that to happen, we need a funding model that can meet those challenges.
   Who knows what the Gonski Report will finally recommend?
   Hopefully it won't be more of the same incremental tweaking of old funding formulas in response to the competing demands of "us and them".
   If there were only "us", we might indeed achieve an education revolution --- and not only in funding.

   Posted By: Garry

2. There is only one way to eliminate the us and them divide and that's by funding each child in Australia the same amount to be spent at their and their parents' school of their choice.
   It would greatly reduce bureaucracy in both the private and gov't sectors and is more in conformity with the Catholic principle of subsidiarity than what exists today.
   It would put the decision making back where it belongs, into the hands of the parents the 'first educators' of their children. That's probably why the bureaucrats hate the idea.
   I believe it is in operation in parts of the US.

   Posted By: Barry

3. I have pondered for a while, but haven't formed an opinion, about the effect of enclosing the Catholic community within a system of schools that operates very separate from the public system.
   Systemic funding I have no problem with. But systemic operations of a "Catholic system" has the potential to be unhealthy for the whole community.
   With very little interaction, what benefits are lost?
   What potential for evangelisation is cut off?
   What about the 50% of Catholics who go to public schools?
   Sure, we have SRE but a Catholic life is more than SRE. For example, are public school Catholics invited to community liturgies? Maybe but I'd suggest that kind of thing is in the too hard basket.
   I just think you can talk about funding until the cows come home but the way systemic schools operate within the education system creates a real divide in the community.

   Posted By: AD

4. Garry Everett's criticism's a fair one and based on working with Therese Tenby over many years.
   My remarks follow his and respond also to Barry's.
   Current policy includes a formula based on the average cost of educating a state-school student (the AGSR) that doesn't work, not simply because its based on a figure less than what state-schools get, but because (paraphrasing Cardinal Pell) asking for the full amount 'jeopardises independence'. This fear of government interference is nonsensical in a free-market economy.
   A policy shift to funding all schools equally, with differentials relating to SES, has advantages for both sides. Firstly, it will relieve state-schools from over-enrolling low-SES students and hold them accountable for better results.
   Secondly, it will enable Catholic schools to enrol more low-SES students, thereby giving parents more choice and improving their kids' life-chances, both in keeping with their mission as well as their record of achievement. Funding increases earned under this policy would notionally also make some Catholic schools fee-free.
   This would satisfy the criticisms of Professor Teese (in the other schools-funding article in CathNews today) who justifiably shows that state-schools educate a higher number of low-SES students, while higher-SES families have left to join the fee-paying systems.
   It would also free current funding from being based on a cost-per-student basis, which, if Barry's idea were implemented, would blow the Budget out.
   My alternative would also require some systemic adjustments. Catholic schools would need to accommodate more diverse student needs and some state-schools would have to amalgamate.

   Posted By: Dr Michael Furtado

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