Entrenching disadvantage
The Age
Thursday October 22, 2009
CORPORATE sponsorship in public schools will only further entrench disadvantage and increase ill health. "We have to understand there are trade-offs," says John Roskam, of the Institute of Public Affairs, an institution devoted to promoting privilege. He has no issue with "a can of fizzy drink flashed in front of our kids".But is it our kids, or is it their kids, Mr Roskam? It's children in disadvantaged schools you're talking about. Their parents don't have the time, education, language skills or resources to lobby to create better public schools. Why are "trade-offs" always expected from those who are the most socially and economically disadvantaged?As a promoter of free enterprise, why not send corporate sponsors en masse into private schools? That would be a much better way to fund them than from the public purse. Lavishly resourced private schools have just received unconscionable amounts of public funding. Meanwhile, public schools struggle to meet basic needs and now have to jump into bed with corporate sponsors to deliver curriculum materials.Are you sure you want to improve the maths skills of disadvantaged kids? They might start to figure out that on every health measure €“ chronic disease, obesity-related illness, dental decay, life expectancy, early death €“ they are worse off and will continue to be.It's easy for experts in comfortable suburbs, their own children ensconced in elite schools, to promote policies that will affect disadvantaged children for the rest of their lives. What hope will public nutrition programs have of improving the health of Australians if we don't work as a team to tackle disadvantage?Jo Williams, East KewLazy approachIN A time of increasing childhood obesity, we can only be gobsmacked at the Brumby Government's proposal to allow McDonald's, and other corporations, to sponsor state education. The positioning of a company within a community institution gives automatic endorsement to the product, and the taxpayer funds this promotion by giving them space on state-owned school grounds.However, this pales beside the reality that staff and parents face an even greater battle as they strive to keep impressionable kids on track with sensible dietary habits. Who's going to risk their job criticising the sponsor because a government bent on privatisation is too lazy to do the job of providing independent education?Imagine trying to educate a class about climate change with BHP Billiton/Xtrata/Rio Tinto writing the cheques? Or the merits of public transport with CityLink staring over your shoulder?To maintain the inalienable right of an education free of corporate interference, it is imperative that teachers, parents, students and those bureaucrats with a conscience take the strongest possible stand to keep state schools independent.John Ashton, North FitzroyLifesaver for studentsTHE McDonald's online maths program is a lifesaver for many students €” anyone who has missed lessons or is not keeping up. I use it to brush up my maths. There is only the smallest mention on the opening screen of who supplies it.Philip O'Carroll, Fitzroy Community School, North FitzroyBreweries next in line?TRUE to form the Institute of Public Affairs' executive director John Roskam endorses the involvement of McDonald's in sponsoring schools. No doubt he would also give the OK to Jim Beam and Carlton and United Breweries taking part.Noel Howard, HeathmontHealthy alternativesLIKE many schools, ours has put a lot of effort into establishing a Stephanie Alexander kitchen garden program, and providing healthy organic food in our canteen, which is run by Lentil as Anything, using cutlery and crockery. Why would we have educational programs sponsored by producers of rubbish food packed in instant rubbish?Simon Thornton, school council president, Collingwood College
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