On 31 August 2011, the Review of Funding for Schooling panel released a Paper on Commissioned Research and four research reports, seeking feedback from the general public. It is important to note that these research reports do not necessarily reflect the views of the panel. Source
The Review of Funding for Schooling has published a series of reports in recent days that have led to a flurry of interesting, often polemical, articles in newspapers. However, the rise of social media gives all Australians an opportunity to discuss many issues of national importance in a way that was not possible a generation ago, when school funding arrangements were last discussed in this country.
We do not need to rely on journalists or politicians alone to explore issues publicly.
My employer, the NSW Department of Education and Communities publishes guidelines on the use of social media by its employees. It is a human, sensible policy document that allows for staff to participate in public discussion. I encourage you to read it closely. The key point:
Staff within the department have a great deal of experience across a range of education and public policy areas. These voices should be encouraged to engage in the conversations that are taking place every day in public forums made more accessible through online social media.
Hopefully, many voices will be heard in this dialogue and it is important educators across all sectors participate in the discourse. I personally want to read and listen to Australian educational leaders publicly discuss, debate and reflect on these latest reports in the way that @GregWhitby does with this post and Chris Bonnor’s article does too.
I hope you take the time to read about David Gonski and the composition of his review panel, as well as the fact sheets, FAQs, @MaralynParker‘s post and @stevensonsmh‘s article and another on fees. This article and ‘talking point’ push different perspectives and have some interesting comments at the posts.
I’d really like to see more posts, papers, tweets and links at the twitter hashtag #Gonski from teachers, politicians, parents, academics, systems leaders and all those interested in our Civil Society and the future of education in Australia. We cannot leave this too polemicists and those paid to shape opinion. We need to have a proper, open and informed dialogue.
You may also wish to follow @DEEWRspokesman on twitter
cc licensed ( BY SD ) flickr photo shared by raspberreh
Is this something that you can help with while we are waiting for Gonski?
The Eye of the Future: Waiting for Gonski (Part 2) : Darcy Moore's Blog
[…] Waiting for Gonski (Part 1) […]
Paul
Darcy,
I think this “call to arms” is absolutely essential. More so, the need to widen the scope of input to the debate. Our DEC blog gives us the opportunity of discussing a range of issues although it really needs to get outside that relatively confined silo.
In the coming days I’ll try to wade through the Gonski papers but, from my current understanding two issues stand out:
a) the need for all in the education sector (not just “leaders”) to get involved in this debate;
b) the need to strip this argument right back to its fundamental assumptions and question every single aspect. There have been so many polemical statements from both sides and what is lacking is a debate from the very first principles on the nature and purpose of education through to its social and economic goals. To take just one aspect -we can’t judge about funding equity until we can fully understand the formulae used.
My worry is that this will be found to be utopian and we’ll be left with another fudge created by those largely outside the system.
Kelli
Since you out this back on my radar I’ve been asking around in classes at uni. None of the students had any idea this was happening. ONE students had heard of it – she had been researching MySchool for an assignment in edu-sociology and turned up news artilces about “some school funding thing”.
I’m going to write my own personal response. How about you?
Reblogging Darcy Moore « Neil's Commonplace Book
[…] Schools in NSW have had funding slashed at the moment a respected panel of educators advised government to provide significantly higher levels of support for those doing ‘the […]