Not every private school kid emerges as a Ja’mie, a Danny, nor any of the other bitches and bullies portrayed in these fictions. But these fictions tell a certain truth: there’s much more to education than what’s taught in the classroom. If public schools are values-neutral, as John Howard (who attended one) famously suggested, private schools can only aspire to such neutrality.
In my own experience, the values of status and gender segregation were indoctrinated daily in a million subtle and explicit ways. Being judged for your downmarket clothes at school camp. Being ridiculed because your haircut was by mum, not a celebrity hairdresser. Turning down birthday invitations because your budget gift would insult. The humiliation of wearing your classmates’ offcasts bought from the second-hand uniform shop. Feeling too ashamed to invite eastern suburbs girls to your brick veneer in the ex-urbs. Cringing at being collected in an old Datsun amid a fleet of new Mercs and Beemers. Avoiding dancing class because you couldn’t afford the dresses, nor relate to boys. Wagging sport because your swimsuit and racquet were unfashionable no-name brands. Inventing excuses to avoid excursions you couldn’t afford. Lying about your holidays because you didn’t ski in Europe, nor have a holiday home in Portsea, nor the means to go to horse-riding camp.
– Katherine Wilson
I think these issues are common in public schools also today, not unique to the private sector. I attended a public school and although I was unconcerned at my middle class upbringing, my sister felt the differences keenly, in similar ways to the article above. Perhaps the issue concerns developing a strong self-worth and identity in our young people rather than relying on financial status to validate beliefs?
Katherine would be better off ceasing to dwell on what hurt her at the private school, doing the best she possibly can at Uni and changing the world for others. Too much dwelling on what the others had and she didn’t is not going to help anyone. No doubt the school had some fine teachers as she writes very well. Has she thanked her parents for that opportunity?
Counter arguments about bad experiences could be put in relation to other school systems for other reasons. Invoking ‘moral’ is sweeping and judgmental and sounds like a lot of life lessons still need integrating. Simplistic ideas like public school good, private school bad are unhelpful and inaccurate. Sector neutral policies like Gonski move on from this kind of right-on rockthrowing and can deliver real changes. Please move on and try to work towards positive solutions.
Katherine you dont have to thank or blame your parents. It is your parents responsibility to ensure you are educated and they chose to send you to that school. You are within your rights to complain about fellow pupils degrading you, or bullying you because of money.
I think Katherine makes a valid point about the class system that is eroding schooling in Australia, and our general society. Being affluent does not make you better than other people, likewise, being poor does not make you worse than other people, and it is important to teach this to students. All schools in Australia receive government funding, and that should be stressed more at private schools so the pupils realise. Perhaps then the students will be aware that we are all Australian and live in a lucky country that entitles all young people the right to an education.
There is probably more income disparity at my younger child’s public school (a non caped school in a fairly affluent area) than my older daughters private catholic one.
I missed something some when I came down to Sydney to a private boys school for six years from a small farm. Yes 50 years, ago with plenty of indicators of money around me, such as expensive cars, always cash in mostly the city boy’s pockets, and living a life style I knew of but had no hope of participating in and me wearing some clothes from the second hand shop. Not for me this teen years scene of moneyed aspirations and life style. Not that I didn’t and don’t use money in our Australian lives. The only failing here is that like any school for our students, now our children and perhaps our grand children, the school should be helping to get the message of individual uniqueness and value across to all students. Mine did.
this article seems very negatively biased .
Interestingly enough, it is the government schools who I am being told are more like Ja’mie than the independent school I teach at. It is unfair to tarnish all private schools with a brush. We have 43 different ethnic backgrounds within our cohort and most of our girls care more about their marks than their clothes. Parents need to do their homework before they choose a school for their children.