Ethics classes, scripture, and choice

Here is what I had to say about Ethics Classes back in 2009. Not much has changed.

Reverend Gordon Cheng (Letters, Sept 29) believes that it would be unfair if students who choose to attend scripture classes cannot also attend the ethics classes. But of course it's not unfair; it's simply a choice, a choice that would be equally available to all students. Tick one box only... scripture class or ethics class. It's like my local cafe's lunch special... you have to choose salad or chips to go with your steak, and nobody thinks this is unfair.

Good Christians like the Reverend Cheng need to realise that the world goes on turning, even when scripture class is on. If the scripture classes are so valuable, then I'm sure that those who attend will feel that they have made the right choice. Most likely the misguided souls in the ethics classes will feel that it is they who have made the right choice. This is what some people might describe as a "win-win". So please get out of the way - It is not right, nor can it ever be right, to wilfully prevent children from being educated.

Lee Borkman

29 September 2009

Private education nothing to be proud of

Like Georgia Cable, I was educated at a private school. Unlike Georgia, however, I am not proud of the fact. I recognise that my parents worked hard to send me there, and I appreciate their efforts, but I also understand that while this might have benefitted me personally, it was actually to the detriment of my community and our larger society. Of course people are free to spend their money as they see fit, but we should nevertheless exhort them to spend their money - their effort, their thought, their dedication - where it serves not only their children's immediate and narrow interests, but also helps to create a world in which their children might actually like to live. I don't wish to engage again in the private-public funding debate; let others squabble about money. Let me just say that your local public school needs your help, Georgia Cable. The children that you see about you, not just the ones in your family, but all of them out there, need your support. You might say that you already support them by paying tax, but that is a heartless response. You can build roads and battleships by paying taxes, but educating our children requires a more personal commitment. So I give thanks to my mum and dad, but am I proud of my privileged education? No, never.

Lee Borkman

14 January 2009

Gillard Misses the Point

Julia Gillard ignores a fundamental point about schools and learning. Learning does not simply take place in the classroom, but in the playground, in the school "community". By all means dispense with the divisive public/private, religious/non-religious, selective/non-selective debates, but do not ignore the wider issue. The real issue is inclusive-versus-exclusive. Schools that are segregated along economic, religious, or academic lines teach appalling lessons. Why can't all of our children just go to school together? Why do we have to corral them into educational ghettoes? We don't need diversity between schools - what good does that do for any child? Each and every school needs diversity within its walls where my child, your child, can benefit from it. Julia, you may be the minister in charge, you may even be the deputy prime minister, but you don't get to dictate what should or should not be debated. Education is about so much more than service delivery, and the Julia Gillard we put into power knows it. You have the rare opportunity to make a difference. Were we so wrong to believe in you?

I'm a Camden local too

I'm rather ambivalent about the decision to block the development of an Islamic school in my local area. The reasons cited are environmental, and seem quite reasonable. On the other hand, the comments by some parties - and the misappropriation of the Australian flag - hint at the truth. I applaud the environmental decision, but deplore the base motivations. Now I think I understand why some muslims might want to send their children to a muslim school - if nothing else, it's a place where their children are likely to feel welcome - but the real solution to all this fear and loathing surely involves the phasing out of all religion-based schools, including the several Anglican schools in the Camden area. Christians, muslims, jews, buddhists, athiests, scientologists, I want my kids to go to school with all of them. The very notion of a religious school is completely incompatible with a tolerant, happy, modern secular society. Religion is a fine thing, no doubt, but schools that compartmentalise children along religious lines are the breeding grounds of suspicion and hatred. These schools are set up with the best intentions, and I know from experience that they are staffed by wonderful people, but how can religious segregation be anything other than divisive?

Lee Borkman

29 May 2008

"What wonderful creatures teachers are!" - yet another lost letter to the editor

I was woken on Saturday morning by the answering machine. The caller had noticed a letter of mine in the Herald, and was wondering if I might be the same boy that he had taught in 5th class some thirty-five years ago. Would I be interested in having a "chat about old times"? Indeed I would. John Morris was his name. A gentleman he was back then, and a gentleman still at eighty-four.

Now I must admit that I've had some good teachers in my time, but a handful of them were truly great - John Keller who taught me piano when I was six; Peter Harwin and John Morris; Peter Seymour; David Oldroyd - they made a huge difference. My belated thanks to them all. Actors and sportsmen, governors general and country singers may all have their uses, but what wonderful creatures teachers are!

Lee Borkman

05 February 2008

"You are a committed parent" - another lost letter to the editor

You are a committed parent. You take an active interest in your child's education. You are undoubtedly a precious asset to your school and community.

When you take your child out of your local public school, when you take your commitment and interest elsewhere, your local public school suffers, your community suffers, as a direct result. If you choose to make your community suffer, please do not make things worse by asking for public funding or support.

Bring your child back, bring your commitment and your interest back, to the local public school. The local public school will flourish, your community will flourish, as a direct result of your involvement. If you choose to help your community, you will of course receive public funding and support.

If every one of you committed and interested parents brings your children back to the local public school, what a great school it will be!

Lee Borkman

15 September 2004