Parents and families continue to be hamstrung by inefficiencies and lack of accountability in Australian schools.
Despite billions of dollars of annual spending, on everything from buildings, curriculum reviews and research to teacher wellbeing programs, additional tutors and computers, the problems parents and their children have to face either remain the same or become worse. No amount of funding, election promises, strike action or additional legislation will make a difference. In fact, the situation will only deteriorate.
Ineffective elected representatives, a swinging door approach to education portfolios and power play by unions, keep families squarely under State control via the school system.
Taking action to bring about any successful reform has been too overwhelming to contemplate.
However, despite the complexities of school education and its problems, there is one glaring omission – a missing element, which, if introduced, will be the game changer. Governance.
Currently, no government or union can represent school employees and families at the same time. To do so would be a direct conflict of interest. There must be an independent authority or Board of Education, to review and monitor school performance, and to do this there must also be the reintroduction of School Inspectorates.
Australian parents have the authority to demand this. Parents have the right and responsibility to take control of their children’s education. The truth is, parents have always had this authority; in most cases, they simply haven’t been taught how to assert it. That is, until now.
If you are a parent with children of compulsory school age, all you need to do is write a letter to your State and Federal elected representatives and to each of your State Senators, advising them of your insistence for education reform. Most importantly, you don’t have to go into detail.
Here (below) is a letter I have just sent to Senator the Honourable Jane Hume. Feel free to use this as a guide.
Senator the Honourable Jane Hume
223 Bridge Rd
Richmond
VIC 3121
Dear Senator Hume,
I know that it is my duty to keep you informed of MY WILL on anything that comes before Parliament, or that should come before Parliament.
IT IS MY WILL that you take immediate action to introduce a Board of Education, as an entity independent of government, and to reintroduce School Inspectorates.
Yours faithfully,
Cheryl Lacey
(Insert your full name, address and the date, as legal evidence that you are a constituent)
That’s all you need to do. And there’s nothing to stop you from suggesting that grandparents, friends, and workmates do the same. Just as I’m sharing with you right now.
If you receive a reply that sidesteps the issue you raise, or you receive a standard reply from a member of staff, which reiterates party political statements and empty promises, then write a reply.
Here’s mine:
Senator the Honourable Jane Hume
223 Bridge Rd
Richmond
VIC 3121
Dear Senator Hume,
I repeat that, in accordance with my lawful obligation to keep you informed of MY WILL, I again inform you that it is MY WILL that you take immediate action to introduce a Board of Education, independent of government, and reintroduce School Inspectorates.
Yours faithfully,
Cheryl Lacey
(insert your full name, address and the date, as legal evidence that you are a constituent)
That’s it. It's about the power of the pen. Use it.
Politicians aren’t used to receiving letters like these. They much prefer to have us believe they’re listening to us, via opinion polls. These letters have nothing to do with opinion. By stating your name and address clearly, and by signing your letter, you are advising your representatives of a direct request.
When politicians receive your letter, followed by letters from numerous other parents, grandparents, employers and so on, they will have no choice but to take action. They will have to take the issue of school education to parliament.
Australian parents have been hamstrung for far too long. Enough is enough.
Make a start. Put pen to paper (literally, or virtually) and have every voting adult you know do the same.
Schools provide a service. Parents raise children. Writing a letter is every Australian’s right and responsibility. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Cheryl Lacey is a Melbourne-based advocate for education and a former primary school teacher.