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Teaching private schools a lesson
Read more about: Education, Fianna Fail
Mary Hanafin has announced that new fee-paying schools will get no assistance from the government. The Indo seems to have an exclusive with this one; the Minister was reportedly answering a query from Ruairi Quinn, as if to remind Labour that Fianna Fail can be as lefty as anyone, thank you very much indeed. Existing fee-paying schools- of which there are 56 in the State- are to be left alone, but new ones will not receive funding henceforth.
This is an intelligent move by the Minister. Freezing public funding for rich kids is hard to object to openly, and by guaranteeing existing schools any middle-class outcry is stifled. Incidentally, this is also a sign that the new coalition mix is producing some policy changes. The weakened PDs are in no position to block an attack on parental choice in education- which they surely would have in days gone by- and the Greens presumably sympathise with Hanafin.
Whether private schools have a place in Irish education at all is a question that has never aroused the passions that continue to attend the grammar school issue across the water. Anthony Crossland’s famous pledge to “destroy every fucking grammar school in England” is a reflection of ideological strife that, for better or for worse, never really got in the way of civil war politics over here. Besides, in Ireland the issue is complicated by the fact, noted by the Indo, that Protestant schools continue to get a hefty dollop of funding in recognition of their minority status. Hanafin will not want to involve these establishments in a tug-of-war between pluralism and social justice- so quite apart from middle-class ire, this consideration should keep existing arrangements in place in the long run.
The English debate may prove instructive in one area, however. There is concern that private (a.k.a. “public”) schools there are not doing enough to justify their lucrative charitable status. The link is to an old article, but there have been more recent rumblings that I’ve been unable to find online. In any case, perhaps private schools here should be asked to do more, in terms of social outreach and serving the community, to justify their funding. In addition, more could be done to address the gripes that these schools avoid taking their share of special needs pupils. Unfavourable coverage of the gap in standards between State and private schools may already be forcing some boards to take stock. Gonzaga College, one of the most sought-after in the country, has already changed its admission policy so that “inability to pay should no longer be an obstacle” to gaining a place there.
But don’t look for a full-scale, Crossland-style attack on those lucky 56 any time soon. At the end of the day, a reduction in or end to funding just means that fees rise, putting them out of reach of ever more people. Minister Hanafin evidently believes it better that some get an elite education rather than only a few–or, indeed, all.
see everyone, Government spending cuts in the face of economic slowdown can be good!
Just a question - of the 56 fee-paying schools in operation in the state, how many have been set up in the last 10 years?
This whole Protestant ethos stuff is crap. If they are paid for by the state they should be solely for the state. This is just corporate welfare
I am of the opinion that the fee/non-fee issue is, while contentious and capable of generating a lot of debate, not the most important issue in access to second-level education in the state.
I say this because I deal a bit with access programmes for third-level education, where students get particular facilities and funding to attend college if they don’t have a personal situation that makes it easy for them.
What I am trying to say is that of more importance than the fee-paying schools are the people from families where schooling in all its forms is not traditionally taken as far as it might in other families.
I am trying to write this without being offensive or insensitive, but the reality is that in some families, nobody progresses past the age of 16 in their education, no matter how bright they are. In some schools, fewer than 2% of students go on to third level. Therefore, in my opinion, the pressure point that is most important right now is in the access programmes and in changing the culture of those who don’t complete their education.
That culture comment is important - bright students are reluctant to go to college if their mates will think they would be a gobshite for doing so.
The fee-paying schools, while needing attention, is not the real pressure point. The outcome could be tremendous and already is producing remarkable results with loads of students now going on to uni when nobody in their family previously had even finished the leaving. This kind of scheme will positively affect more people than changing the fee structure for posh schools.
andd in changing the culture of those who don’t complete their education.
Could not agree more.
We all spend our money as we see fit and we all pay taxes on what we earn. I know a lot of people that spend thousands every year on holidays and on cars, some of whom are on the dole, I also know some how have not had a holiday in 5/6 years and instead pay for a private school. Every child is equal yet our goverment spends far less on schooling a child in private school, whose parents pay taxes than they do a child in public. That extra money can then be spent on public schools. Why destroy a win win situation.
Every child is equal yet our goverment spends far less on schooling a child in private school, whose parents pay taxes than they do a child in public.
Not exactly true private schools get their teachers salaries paid for by the Department though I dont think they receive capiation grants (im open to correction on that). And I cant say it is a win/win situation to continue breeding elites as the system does currently.