ABCDiamond

The way that I look at it, (and my thinking on this depends on politicians doing the right thing) is that the more children go private, the more funds the State Governments have to provide a better state education system.

Currently the combined governments spend about $10,000 on each State School child, and only about half that towards the private school child.

Currently if there were 1 million kids in school:

660,000 in state schools at $10,000 each and
330,000 in private at $5,000 each
total cost $8.25 billion

If all children were in State schools, and they still spent that $8.25 billion, then each State school child would only get $8,250 spent on them

If half went private and half went State, then the figures could be:
State $11,500 per child (up from $10k)
Private $5,000 per child

But that is just theory...

moneypenny20

I denounce god and any religion regularly and would sooner die than send my children to a school flogging the nonsense, regardless of whether it was supposedly better than another school in the area. However I would never have a child called Tarquin or Sophie either so maybe it's not the likes of me you're referring to

It's a bit like mentioning Hitler in my book. You immediately lose your argument Do we know for a fact that his holiness never employed tutors etc to come in and help his children?

Karma for the wrong order. Totally agree (well as much as encouraging people to die is vaguely wrong )

Assegai

Well without wanting to start another thread on Christianity I have great difficulty in coming to terms with the concept of God and Jesus who was born of a virgin Mary and died on a cross at Calvary to save us for our sins before rising to heaven on the third day, in other words the resurrection. However I don't think there's anything wrong with charity, love, forgiveness and family values that the bible especially the gospels promote and if church schools take on those messages and pass them on to kids I don't think that's a bad thing. The point is that there are people happy to compromise their principles of derision for Christians when it comes to choosing schools for their kids if CofE or Catholic schools have got the best results in the area. So you personally wouldn't send your kids to a church school because of your antipathy to Christianity, fine - your perrogative.

Going on to Macca, whom you compare to Hitler, I'd be surprised if he did use private tutors but I don't have a problem with people who do to supplement the teaching, or lack of, at schools. It works out cheaper than private education and could well be more effective. I wouldn't know for sure as I've never used one.

annqldau

However, you can send your kids to a Christian school and just ignore all that crap as long as it's a good school as you point out they often have a theme of good behavior and students helping each other and leadership that falls outside of religion. And, if your child has any sense he'll figure out for himself that the religion side is all mumbo jumbo.

rabsody

Hear hear.

IvanM

A Catholic education taught me more than anything else would about the dangers and idiocy of blind religious faith.

annqldau

If a kid has an exploring mind they should be able to figure it out... science and religion just don't mesh.

Geelong Gent

I dont know about that?

Has it not been scientifically proven that religion is a mesh to trap the insecure

IvanM

The other part is that if more middle class families put their children into public education there would be more political pressure on the state and federal governments to put in funding. The more public education is marginalised to the poorer and politically weaker segments of society the more money is diverted away.

IvanM

In the US where state and religion are not supposed to collide, including in public schools, the grasp of reality seem to have been lost so much they actually believe in creationism which to me is akin to still believing in Santa.

I also wonder how much the atheists here practise what they preach and deny their kids presents from Santa.

rabsody

I don't. Santa's not in the bible

IvanM

He he. My point is that Xmas is a religious festival. Even before the happy clappy brigade hijacked it was a pagan festival. Maybe we should all turn into feral pagans to carry on getting our presents if we are good.

rabsody

Hey I like the sound of that!

On a serious note, I studied World Religions this semester simply to try and get a perspective on these things given my atheism. I cannot believe some of the absolute sh*te people believe! I was seriously gobsmacked on many an occasion. It was interesting though and I'm glad I did it, however it has not changed my viewpoint at all.

debsy

Ithink putting your kids into a private school is a personal decision. People can spend their money as they please, some like to spend it on their kids education whilst others enjoy spending it on booze and having a good time. Depends on what your personal priorities and beliefs are.

On the subject of religion, live and let live, if people get comfort from their religion , good for them - whatever makes them happy. It's a free country.

rabsody

Hear, hear, everyone has a crutch of some sort. I just prefer booze