Public education is losing the PR war
DISCUSSION and debate on the public versus private school nexus has been ongoing for as long as the two options have existed. To go “public or private” is a controversy that confronts many parents and students.
That divide seems to be one that becomes especially intense for parents of students approaching their secondary education years. However, the issue is also one that impacts at primary school level.
One of the challenges confronted by NT schools is that of “quality” perception. Many parents arriving from interstate are concerned that our educational system is isolated and small. These two elements cause them to view our public schooling system with concern. Once here, this apprehension often dissipates. However, the question of which schools are the better, government or non-government, tends to remain within parental ( and student) consciousness.
There are multifaceted reasons for this thinking. While some may be perceptual, others are based upon observed fact.
*Private school leaders have more discretion about enrolment policies than their public school counterparts. If it seems that students will not enhance school image, enrolment may be declined. Behavioural standards must be strictly maintained, with nonconformist students in danger of being indefinitely suspended or expelled. This in turn reinforces behavioural expectations and controls.
*Public school principals are not able to decline enrolments with the same confidence. They have much less discretion and more limited alternatives when it comes to removal of students from schools. The maximum period of exclusion is 20 school days, with departmental exhortation being that it be applied only in the most grave cases of misconduct. With this realisation, many parents are inclined toward private schools because they see them as less disruptive to student progress.
*Private schools in the NT were given a head start because of their attitude toward school uniforms. For many years “anything went” when it came to student attire for gov- ernment school enrollees. There was a tale that Cyclone Tracy was responsible for destroying what had been a uniform wearing attitude. Over the years, the pros and cons of uniform wearing was endlessly debated. Meanwhile, private school students were identified by uniforms — which is what parents wanted. Uniforms for public school students have now become policy. Many people believe that if students look the part, this builds positive school attitudes.
*Private schools pursue marketing with budgets more able to meet advertising costs than is possible for government schools. They also seem more willing to share good news stories about student success, making it seem they are more outstanding than may be the case.
*A great deal of what happens within public education and government schools is about positive educational outcomes, but for the most part uplifting stories go unreported. There seems to be a reluctance on the part of schools and the Education Department to report good news stories. Years ago, principals of Darwin and Palmerston Government Schools were reassured by the NT News editor of the time that positive stories were welcomed. He said that good stories about education were newsworthy, but that NT News editorial staff had to know about upcoming events and outcomes. This meant notification from schools was necessary. To this day, well over 20 years later, only some public schools take the time or make the effort to have their good news stories presented.
*Aggressive marketing and visible school promotion are winners for private schools. The fact government schools think of themselves as collectives, with the concept of regional or group organisation being paramount, is admirable. However, that may mean the visibility of individual schools to prospective enrollees is reduced. I believe there is room for public schools to adopt an enhanced attitude to public relations. While websites help, they have to be “found” and are not really the advertising answer.
*The constant changes in curriculum emphasis have a more immediate effect on public than private schools. The latter are able to introduce changes in a steadier manner than their public school counterparts because they do not have to respond to new trends and directions with alacrity.
*Be it the case or not, it is strongly believed that pastoral care and empathy for students are manifest in a superior way by leaders and teachers of nongovernment schools. This adds to the quality of care being offered, helping those enrolled to build their confidence and feelings of assurance. From observation, it seems that this dimension is being offered revitalised attention in government schools but they are in a “catch up” mode when it comes to this important philosophical ingredient.
*From time to time perceived shortfalls in public education are aired by media. These may be related a particular school or comment on systemic matters. Issues raised to public awareness report stories from a biased viewpoint. There is always another side to most stories, but the Education Department generally offers no response. Silence is taken to mean that matters reported are totally correct and cannot be refuted.
*Matters of student behaviour, attitude and conduct play a part in the public versus private school debate. Behavioural dysfunction and the need for
“Aggressive marketing and visible school promotion are winners for private schools”
improvement in students manners, deportment and respect are held to be a major responsibility for schools and teachers. Prime responsibility for development of children in this area of development should be a family matter. Students in private schools are generally considered to be better behaved than their public school peers. This generalisation does little to build the reputation of public education.
The private versus public debate will continue into the foreseeable future. A recent article (To go public or private? Philanthropist says class divide in schools — NT News, Octo- ber 13, 2016) suggests the issue is one that creates real division in the thinking of people about which school situation is the better.
It has been stated ( ABC News, November 1) that the government school system lost 748 students by transfer to private schools during 2015. That movement triggered a loss in school funding for students because they were no longer enrolled. The current proposal in Palmerston to meld Palmerston Senior and Rosebery Middle schools is a response to this issue.
Government is anxious to reverse the trend in declining public school enrolments.
Public schools ARE good schools but they have some way to go in catching up with the reputation of their private school cousins.
Henry Gray is a long-term educator and a principal of Territory schools for 35 years