‘My children don’t attend primary school’, you might say, ‘so primary schools don’t really matter that much to me’. You could be right.
But think about this.
Does it really matter that, in 2019, primary schools will receive a minimum of $10,576 for each student enrolled? When calculating the figure for the average class size of 24 students, that’s $253,824 per classroom annually – or $6,345 weekly – from the taxpayers’ budget.
Does it really matter that taxpayers fork out $254,824 for the average primary classroom of 24 students, regardless of location, demographic, year level, teacher performance, student outcome or the school leaders that determine how the budget is spent?
Perhaps it doesn’t matter at all, and you could be forgiven for thinking so. That’s because, according to the International Labor Organisation (ILO) – an agency of the United Nations – the education sector isn’t considered an essential service. There is no need to measure return on investment, because it doesn’t matter how much or how little we spend: education services aren’t essential. They don’t really matter.
But here’s the catch. The cleaning of schools does matter. The cleaning of schools is an essential service.
After a survey conducted by the trade union group United Voice, the Department of Education Victoria introduced ministerial orders, commencing July 2018, with regard to the maintenance of a Contract Cleaners Panel for government approved cleaning contractors for schools. Principals must now be held responsible for cleaners they no longer have the authority to hire. Instead, they must rely on one of 8 mega cleaning services authorised by the Department of Education.
What might this mean for you?
What if one, or all, of the 8 mega cleaning services contracted to clean Victorian schools were to go on strike? Could school cleaning become a health and safety issue and force schools to close? And if negotiations took days, weeks, or even months, who would look after the children? What impact would this have on families, employers and workplaces, including other essential services? If other States and Territories followed Victoria’s new model, would primary schools matter to you then?
Could it be that in Victoria schools are no longer places of learning, but potential means of social control of the highest order?
If you think primary schools have little to do with you unless your children attend one, perhaps you should think again!
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If you’re looking for a presenter or speaker for your next professional learning day or event, I’d love to hear from you.
cheryl@cheryllacey.com or +61 419 518 811
Speaking gives me the opportunity to deliver insightful messages about the power of education and our need to advocate for the best possible outcomes for educators and those they serve.
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Copyright © 2018 Cheryl Lacey All rights reserved.
Parent, educationist and advocate of agitating change in Australian education. By raising the bar we can face any global challenges facing Australia and Australians.
Contact me at cheryl@cheryllacey.com to learn how we can work together.
