We give this ridiculous political backflip a 10/10 for stupidity.

You have had the same job for ages. Everyone at your workplace is passionate about what they do, but the pay is crap. Your desk is broken and sometimes you have to buy your own pens. But you do it because you love it and you believe in the work. You are sure that you are making a difference.

There are other places you could work. Friends and family tell you you’re crazy. “Get a new job that pays more and values what you do”, they say.  “The mob, up the road pay better, and they have this gym membership that’s part of your package”, your husband says.

But, you are not for budging; you’ve got a plan. You’re going to convince the powers that be, you can deliver more with a bit of extra funding. You see, you know you’re never going to fit into that shinny-arsed competitor outfit, up the road.

….

This is what life has been like for teachers in Australian public schools for decades. All the time they’ve been teaching your kids, while making do with broken computers and shoddy textbooks. They teach students who are eager to learn but are held back by a lack of resources and a curriculum that is outdated.

The kids they are teaching are the ones who need a good education the most. They are doctors, lawyers and accountants in the making, but their parents can’t afford to send them to private schools, or perhaps they choose not to.

Parents, teachers and students feel like there is no point trying, no one cares enough to fundraise; the job is just too darn big.  Regular fetes, sausage sizzles and chocolate drives eek out just enough money to send year 12 on camp. But nothing more.

Then one day, the Government says: “Guess what? We’re going to give you the money to fix those things you’ve been so worried about, so you can concentrate on what’s important to you”.

There are strings attached and that’s okay.

The amount, and the way it will be delivered are based on the fact that where a child is born, often affects their future prospects. Things like English as a second language, growing up in a poor or rural community, or attending a small school, have been linked to poor literacy and numeracy skills. Repeated studies have shown that students in these circumstances, require extra resources, which drain an already stretched public school system.

The former Government’s school reforms (affectionately nicknamed ‘Gonski‘ after the author of the report that recommended the changes) is a Godsend. Finally, those holding the purse strings are finding the much-needed extra money to help schools address these issues.

Cue the balloons and hand out the streamers because everyone agrees that a system that gives more money to education has got to be good. And the best thing is that all sides of politics agree. The states are on board and federally there is agreement too, even though there’s an election coming.

It’s promised and made clear that whoever wins, this extra cash is going to be delivered.

And then the new Government changes its mind. They decide to pull out of the deal. Prime Minister Tony Abbott, along with his Education Minister Christopher Pyne, start back peddling. Fast.

Why? You ask. It’s not entirely clear.

Claims about budget cuts and fiscal impacts and future savings. Yeah right.

But after working so hard to establish themselves as a credible alternative, the Abbott Government have just pulled the equivalent of performing a triple pike with a half somersault.

I’d give about a 9.5 for difficulty and a perfect 10 for stupidity.

The change of heart rolls out like this: boss man of Education, Minister, Christopher Pyne is given the unenviable task of telling the public that the Government is breaking its first promise. A bit of a hospital pass from the Prime Minister.

Out Pyne goes to face the nation’s media, full of bravado. Red raw with rage, he chooses attack over defence. It’s a bit weird because normally these types of decisions are accompanied by epic amounts of faux-politician-remorse… in the hope that we all feel sorry for him.

The centrepiece of Pyne’s brilliant strategy seems to be to blame the media.

I don’t need to tell you that this never goes well.

Pyne tells them they are too dumb to get Gonski, which is all a bit awkward for everyone really. And it kind of nixes the argument about there being a problem with our education system.

It’s also an interesting choice considering the Prime Minister is on record, on camera, during the election campaign, committing to the Gonski reforms. Promising to implement the same reforms as Labor.

Anyone remember the very successful campaign against the Carbon Tax and vitriolic calls of Ju-liar? Anyone? Yep, pot, kettle, black.

Education Minister Pyne can hide behind economic arguments and media attacks as much as he likes but the truth is his posse don’t think our schools need extra money. Incredible. In fact, the Government wants you to believe that this is an argument about choice. They are trying to convince you that you can simply pick up and move to an area with a better public school. Easy!

And if that’s not what you’re after, then you can just rock into your nearest private school, fill out an application form and voila, next stop, the uniform shop, to buy a new blazer.

But as you know, that’s not financially possible for most of us and that sets up an epic Us versus Them battle. The haves versus the have nots.

Beware that it’s a cheap trick to divert you from the main game.

Abbott and Pyne think that if you start hating on private schools, then you won’t notice what the Government is doing to the education budget.

That’s disgusting because that’s not what Gonski is about. Gonski makes sure that kids that can’t afford to go to expensive schools have a chance at a great education. That makes us all better.

How well funded is your local school? Do you think it needs more money? You can support more funding for schools by visiting www.needtosucceedalliance.com 

Kate Pasterfield formerly worked for the Rudd and Gillard Labor Governments. She is a member of the Australian Labor Party.