By DR LISA O’BRIEN
Imagine your child is passionate about a particular subject at school.
You’ve never seen them so excited about learning before. Perhaps it’s the first time they’ve shown a talent in something academic?
Now imagine having to tell your child that he or she can’t take that class because you can’t afford the extra costs that go with it.
Or worse, hearing your child say: “It’s okay Mum, I didn’t want to do it anyway” – as they try to save your feelings because they know you don’t have the money.
Tragically, thousands of Australian families experience challenges like this every day.
We live in a country where we are blessed with an excellent public school system providing free and equal access to families of all backgrounds.
But The Smith Family has been hearing increasingly from financially stretched parents that the costs of attending government schools are becoming a barrier to a comprehensive education.
We’ve heard stories of schools advising children not to choose particular subjects because of the expense.
Of parents seeking personal loans and taking out new credit cards to pay for school-related costs.
Of children having to sit out excursions because families can’t find $30.
Top Comments
My kids sadly stopped giving me notes about extra's . They knew money was scarce and just did'nt tell me about excursions and camps . It makes me very sad to think they missed out on important parts of their childhood because they decided we could not afford these things . Fee's alone were so high considering the public system is supposed to be free !!!!!!!
That's exactly what I did too. I went to a selective high school and although it was a state school, they had an assumption that because it was selective everyone must come from a professional, middle class or wealthy family. We had excursions to France, regular trips to tge theatre and orchestral performances, trips to japan... Our humidor included a blazer and hat like the local private school that was only available through the school... And heaps of regular extras that all cost money too.
My parents struggled massively when I was in high school. I spent lots of lunch times in detention for not being in the right uniform, missed all the extras and didn't take notes home for excursions unless free.
My mother recently found out how much I missed (I'm 36 now). She was so horrified she cried. I gave her a hug and said "I'm fine. Happy and well adjusted. It's all good". I'm sure your kids will be the same :)
Is there something we can do to help? As someone who is privileged enough to have a family who can afford a private education for me, I was honestly unaware of the cost of public education and it makes me so sad to think that kids are missing out on their dreams because of money.
Hi Maddi,
The Smith Family would most certainly appreciate your donation, which will then go towards these families. Visit the link in the article for more information.
Mary