The problem with flagging funding
Yes, the national symbol matters, but not as much as the other things many schools lack.
So, is this what the Prime Minister meant when he spoke about schools lacking values? In practical terms, it seems that can be boiled down to the lack of a flagpole. From next year every school will have to fly the national flag to qualify for its share of $31 billion in Commonwealth funding over the next four years. John Howard says he would also like all students to sing the national anthem, but his Government isn't about to require schools to sing for their money too. He says the policy is parent-driven, but it seems more likely it is election-driven, with the Government striving to make values in schools a campaign issue.
Education is, of course, a big issue for voters, but their prime concerns are adequate school facilities and well-supported, qualified teachers. The problem with the flag requirement is that it improperly links education funding to the Government's concept of patriotism. Even the RSL, whose members served under the flag in war, has voiced reservations about the wisdom of this form of coercive patriotism. The teaching of civic values is, in any case, a more subtle and complex matter than literally flying the flag.
The Howard Government still seems oblivious to the grim financial realities of many schools. School communities battle fund-raising fatigue to pay for everything from equipment, gardens, playground shelters and air-conditioning for stuffy classrooms (often portables that somehow became permanent), to core educational requirements such as extra library books and teaching materials. Although the Government is offering up to $1500 towards flagpole costs, public schools have more pressing needs and have not had anything like private schools' increases. By all means encourage respect for the national symbol, but do not compel cash-starved schools to accept that a flagpole is a budget priority.
Other headline features of the package also reflect the political preference for new image over contemporary reality. Most schools do have flagpoles, do have civic education programs and do require students to exercise. Expectations of the effect on childhood obesity of the two-hours-a-week requirement for physical education ought to be tempered by the knowledge that this is significantly less than the PE time mandated by the Kennett government in 1996, with less-than-dramatic results. Greater national uniformity on school starting age, testing and performance benchmarks is desirable, which is why states are already co-operating on such issues. Parents are likely to welcome better information on the performance of both schools and their children, particularly if "plain language" reports help counter the culture of euphemism and denial that can create its own forms of educational disadvantage. But, when it comes to essentials, voters want governments first to ensure all schools have the basic educational resources they need. That's what is missing in schools.