Poor do not value education, claims principal

Parents who are poor are to blame for their children's low educational achievement because they do not "value education" or "help children with their education", a local school principal has claimed in a school newsletter.

St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School principal Mr Frank Cohen wrote: "It is no surprise that in Australia our education system is fast becoming a system of the haves and have nots.

"Australia at the top end of the educational measuring scale is basically close to the top among world rankings.

"But the flip side to this is that at the other end we are also well down the bottom on educational measure.

"There are many reasons for this but there is a direct relationship between socio-economic status and educational attainment.

"In other words, parents who value education and help children with their education do better than those who don't.

"Put simply a school can't do it all.

"The message for all parents is that for optimum success for a child will depend on you as the parent in relationship with the school to get the best results," said Mr Cohen.

Mr Cohen said the school had grown "considerably" over the last five years.

"With that, there are growing pains in how we deliver education that continues to provide the best of opportunities for all.

"We are seen in the general community in a positive light for the progress we are making on so many levels.

"One challenge with growing in size is catering for more needs and doing so without compromising the good work that has been established.

"The common and agreed aims for a successful school are the ability to cater and provide for all.

"Schools can't do this in a vacuum.

"By this I mean that schools, and in particular teachers, rely on parents to work in partnership for the whole education of each child."

Newsletters, 13 Mar 2013

Frank Cohen, St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School