Saw this sign outside a local primary school
I wasn’t impressed. The idea of “free education” should not be pushed. By free they actually mean no direct cost to the public, it’s all taxpayer funded.
Saying the education is “free” followed by “quality” is really an oxymoron, those two terms just don’t go together. Whatever you get for free out there is of low quality.
Plus having a service advertised as “free” doesn’t place any value on the product. Education is the greatest thing we can attain. So have it as “free” if you must but don’t push that angle. One should gladly pay the minuscule voluntary fees charged by our public schools, especially if you expect continued “quality” education.
Free delivery
Quality education
No conditions
I wasn’t impressed. The idea of “free education” should not be pushed. By free they actually mean no direct cost to the public, it’s all taxpayer funded.
Saying the education is “free” followed by “quality” is really an oxymoron, those two terms just don’t go together. Whatever you get for free out there is of low quality.
Plus having a service advertised as “free” doesn’t place any value on the product. Education is the greatest thing we can attain. So have it as “free” if you must but don’t push that angle. One should gladly pay the minuscule voluntary fees charged by our public schools, especially if you expect continued “quality” education.
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3 comments:
You have it all wrong Tim, its the delivery that's free. Which was definitely true for me, as I walked to school each day and never charged a cent....
Yes Tim...but
Free education is a fantastic thing. It means that no matter what kind of lowlifes your parents are, you are able to go to school and get a quality education because people who can afford it are paying for you. Do you know how many children out there wouldn't go to school if it wasn't free. Having free education means that a society can continue to develop and will be a sensible educated one (at least at the core). And remember that those miniscule fees you talk about are big whopping fees to singl paretns when you have 3 kids. At my school they are $60 each. With 3 kids thats $180 a year. That is a lot of money to a mum on a single pension.Remember that quality in education is not really something that can be bought, it is something that comes from passionate teachers. I aim to give the children in my class a quality education that rivals that of any private school (in terms of taught curriculum) and it doesn't cost them anything. Maybe "free" is a bad choice of word, but the concept is one that should be embraced. Thats what I think anyway.
Sara,
You keep saying “free”. Public education is not free. It is available to all and affordable due to the generous taxation donations made by income earners. Anything that is free is unappreciated, or at least under appreciated.
I disagree that $180 are “big whopping fees”, I don’t care what the income is. $180 equates to $4.50 per week of the school year, or $3.40 per week of the entire year. Not much at all for quality education.
That being said I know that my old high school has plans in place for families experiencing hardship. Parents could come up with some arrangement with the school even if they pay in kind through working bees or reading to students. Schools usually had discounts for multiple students from the one family and have access to discounted school uniforms.
By pushing “free” we create a culture that takes the delivery of education for granted. There are many parents who can afford the fee yet still don’t pay because we proliferate this idea of “free” education. Education is a privilege not a right, and ought to be cherished.
Focus on the quality. It’s a much better way to appreciate the education opportunities we have in this country.
Of course our “passionate teachers” should be paid well and be adequately resourced. This requires money.
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