Envy Funding 3
sent to AGE Friday, October 31, 2008
Shaun Carney (Opinion, 29 October 2008) supports the proposed federal law demanding public exposure of all money privately raised by non-government schools. He says the taxpayer has a right to know “they are getting value for every dollar spent on education”.
My first question in response is: why isn’t state-school fund-raising included? There are many state schools that privately raise more than many non-government schools. Mind you, I wouldn’t want to penalise any school community for their extra effort.
Don’t forget, any family using a non-state school is on reduced funding to start with. The most advantaged families qualify for only 13.5% of normal funding – unless they use a state school, in which case they get 100%.
So all we are looking at here is a proposed financial penalty for those people who wish to spend more of their own after-tax income on children’s education in a school of their choice. This is to put spending on children's education on a par with alcohol, tobacco and luxury cars!
Philip O'Carroll