teaching

I know most of you might already know this from FB etc, but James got an ongoing teaching position which he starts on monday. Now for the non-teachers amongst us, getting an on-goinging teaching position in VIC is ridiculously hard (esp. for graduates). And after some tears earlier on in this year because he seemed to be unsuccesful in getting a number of contract positions, he goes and lands himself a bloody ONGOING position.

Is this really happening to us? I can't help but think, what is going to go wrong? (the pessimist that I am ; ) of course). Suddenly another whole new world has opened up to us.

I read a fascinating article in the paper today and I would love to share it with you, as it deftly combines both J's and my passion in one succinct article.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/behind-the-learning-curve-20090417-aa9m.html?page=-1

J's position is at one of "these" schools in a disadvantaged area where some children face extroidinary struggles to even get to school every day. Reading this article, I had to wipe tears away as I read about a single parent who had to make a choice to either pay rent or send his child on a camp. He chose to not pay rent this week. And make no mistake, this is not a singular occurance of someone who has no money budgeting skills. This is a combination of circumstance (in being left to raise children alone) and unemployment, which means having to depend soley on the absolute meagre amount that Centrelink provides. Without even going into specifics, families like this face uphill battles as they contend with limited resources (that Centrelink provides - way under the poverty line - another post perhaps?) in schools which are as the Mel uni professor likens to "shadows of their former selves" in this above article.

I've had direct experience of this. What pushed me into sw was my previous employment in a state primary school in a very well to do area, surrounded by private schools. This school had full support from a charity, had a fridge full of food to supply lunches for children who had none and provided a breakfast club every day, so that children could start the day on a full tummy. Now this isn't a secondary school, this was a primary school with children as young as 5. It always amazed me, that within 5kms of this school - obscenely large houses were being built and sold for millions and millions of dollars - while across the road one of Melbourne's most expensive private schools did a roaring trade (I'd heard that the uniform cost $1000 dollars ;) ) and here this school was, struggling for enrolments as the aspirational middle classes turned away from it in droves as it freely took in the housing commission children when no other school in the area would. Doesn't that last sentence just make you aghast. But reflect on your own practices, would you send your child to this school? Or your teenager to Debney Park (remembering that the next closest school is University high!!)?

I'd like to say that, yes I would do it. And when I was an employee at the above primary, I once argued with one of the teachers there who told me that education was the greatest gift you could give your child (explaining why she made the decision to send her children to the private school where uniforms cost 1k) and that public schools just didn't cut it. Quite a sombre statement from a teacher.

Now I just happen to agree with that statement; Education is one of the greatest gifts you can provide to your children. What I don't agree with is that quality education should be bought. Every one of our children are entitled to this gift and the funding process needs to be critically looked so education can be inclusive and quality, no matter whether you attend Melbourne Grammar or St Albans college.

One last comment. Living on Centrelink was an incredibly tough time for us. Yet, we had skills to manage, we spoke english, we were not sick nor disabled in anyway, we had family who were supportive and we had each other. Most importantly, we saw a light glimmering off into the distance which reminded us why we had made this decision. We were very fortunate.


Another article that may interest as well;

http://www.theage.com.au/national/poor-children-less-likely-to-improve-20090417-aa9j.html?page=2