Today is the first day of a full school week in 2010 and both Callum and Conrad took it in their stride. Callum still has to find out about some of his classes and teachers but Conrad’s class has already been allocated a classroom as well as their teacher for the year.

Hard to believe that another school year has started and that 2010 will be Conrad’s last year at Hurstville South Public School. I so remember when Callum started Kindy there and how small the school was then. HSPS now has a large new building, many more students and new hall, which is desperately needed, is being built at the moment. It is lovely that one of the oldest schools in the area (built 1918) is still going strong and expanding.

Callum started year 8 and is happy to see some of his friends again after the long holiday break. It is funny listening to him talk about the year 7 students. Remembering what it was like to be new at the school last year and he made some interesting observations after his first day back.

Our boys are now the only two children in the extended family who are attending public schools rather than private religious schools. In two weeks Conrad will be in year 6 at Hurstville South Public School and Callum in year 8 at Blakehurst High School. Both excellent schools, despite the ethnic mix that so many seem to use as an argument against public education. And as far as behaviour goes I have seen just as many anglo-saxon looking students being rude and offensive as any other ethnic group and this does not seem to be linked to socio-economic status either, contrary to folklore that it is the ‘ethnic’ ones who are a problem.

And of course a public school might have a higher percentage of difficult students due to the mere fact that they are obliged to take anyone who resides within their area. Teachers therefore need skills in dealing with students from all backgrounds unlike many of the private religious schools who teach withing their comfort zone and often their own ethnic group.

And as for morals and ethics, if people seriously believe that the average public school does not practice the same moral and ethical behaviour as religious schools then we as parents have to make an effort to defend public education. The onus is also on us parents to set an example to our children and teach good behaviour, moral and ethical values at home. The school is an extension of this and we all hope that to whatever school we send our children will support our beliefs, be it in a public or private school. And it is high time that the message got out that religious education or religious private schools are not an assured pathway to a good moral society. Only good education, tolerance and good societal values are the key and we should fight the perpetuating  myth that religious schools (of any denomination) have better values, because it is attitudes like these create a schism without being based in fact.