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No. 1996. PERTH, THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1976
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ope" for schools
The report of the Australian Schools Commission for the rolling triennium released last week, offers more hope than immediate comfort to Catholic schools, according to Father J. Nestor, chairman of the W.A. Catholic Education Commission. In the stringent economic revival of past disputes be"Schools can make a situation the Commonweal- tween them over State aid. more serious contribution to th Government deserved developing those capacities credit for the decision to PRIMARY SECTOR that enable a child to break maintain the current level the constraints that arise "But regrettably, the Caof expenditure on education from family, social and cul(6.3 percent of the G.N.P.), tholic primary sector, with tural background." 88 percent of all primary he said. If a reduction had been children in non-Government "LIMITATIONS" made Catholic schools could schools, will receive no significant increase for 1977, "It admits readily the linot have endured it. The Schools Commission, and its allocation as per- mitations of schools, especof government ially their inability to effestablished in 1972, deser- centage Adding to Brother REDMOND'S celebration ved recognition as it had school costs will fall below ect greater social equality," last week of 70 years in Religious life, 55 of levels of earlier recommenFather Nestor said. proved itself a force for the them in W.A. and his presence at Aquinas advancement of primary and dations. "The report calls for new "The marginal increase methods to deliver school College for 37 years was the arrival for the secondary schooling, and the national government in the secondary sector will outcomes to a wider and event of Brother V. I. MURPHY (right) on his first return to W.A. since he finished 20 years should retain and strengthen be swallowed in the normal demanding social clientele. cost escalations. ago as headmaster of Aquinas, having previit. "There is no evidence that "The report emphasises educational standards have ously been teacher and headmaster at C.B.C., Its contribution to Catholic schools lay more in the the critical importance of fallen," it says, and "the St. George's Terrace. The part of the Aquinas hope it generated that the full and undelayed indexa- necessary first step to eff- building pictured behind him is known as the immediate relief it offered tion of all grants. Murphy Wing in his honour. ective action is the disposal in its latest report. "If the Commonwealth of the illusion that a return Treasurer does not grant to old patterns and repressLONG-TERM SECURITY this, and without long de- ive discipline is required. "The commission has re- lays Catholic schools will be converted recurrent grants in a difficult position in 'SEEMS INCONSISTENT' to a percentage of govern- 1977." "It is not true, as some ment school costs, and this papers have said, that the PERSPECTIVES gives long-term security." report criticises the GovernFather Nestor said. The report, he added, con- ment's guidelines for educa"The grants for 1977 are tained a splendid chapter tion. The Church "is not a rubber stamp for the about the same as for 1976, on perspectives in Australian "Occasionally, the report conferring of sacraments," Father P. G. J. education. as might be expected. The seems inconsistent, as when O'Reilly, the Archbishop's secretary, said this commission was not able to Catholic school authorities it urges non-government week. meet the demands of the would be encouraged by the schools to enrol more childgovernment's own directions degree of consensus between "A spate of letters in the in their children and an acto it because the funds avail- the educational expectations ren of lower-income families to develop greater 'soc- daily Press about alleged ceptance of marriage as a able were insufficient. set out in the Report, and ial comprehensiveness' — refusal of baptism and more life long commitment is tin"En the circumstances, the their own. without clearly admitting recently refusal of Catholic der attack. commission performed a The report argued convin- their need of much greater marriage concerns me a "The renewed rites of the difficult task very capably. cingly for a continuing ex- government assistance to do lot," he said. sacraments of baptism and "It preserved the delicate penditure on schools. "Wel- this." "It reflects a lack of un- marriage have re-emphasis• balance between the major fare policies are not a subderstanding of what com- ed the responsibility of the Father Nestor said that interests competing for stitute for a good schoolthe first report of the com- mitment to handing on fai- priest to see that people are f unds, and prevented any ing," it said. mission set a target of ex- th and what life-long love properly prepared. "Equally people have to penditure which would in- for each other entails." Father O'Reilly said that realise their responsibility in crease primary school resources by forty percent these were two important undertaking the religious and secondary by thirty-five. areas,of concern to all cler- commitment of their children or of married life toThis progress had been halt- gy. "In our grandparents' day gether. ed, at least temporarily. "Airing frustrations pubthey did not appear to call GOVT. AND NON-GOVT for much scrutiny, although licly does nothing to come Priests were always obliged to grips with the problems Maintenance of standards to satisfy themselves on the that face the Church, both could not be measured exquality of the persons ask- priests and people. in toactly by measuring expendi- ing for baptism or approach- day's times." tures. marriage," he said. Nevertheless, Catholic "In those days people obON INSIDE PAGES schools rightly did not want viously taught their childto put at risk any of the ren how to pray and to Calendar 4 educational gains of the last love Jesus Christ and the Classified decade. Church. Marriage as a lifeA dvertising 10 The report indicated that long partnership was taken Letters 1 1 a greater level of assistance for granted. ASK FOR GEOFF CHURACK, Musit 8 past the "In society supwould be needed in the near PETER FENNESSY OR PAT MURPHY. News In Pars 4 future to bridge the gap be- ported the practice of relig- Sister _Phi lomeno and fidelity ion in marriage. tween government and nonEarle "Today, however, many government school resourcfamilies Sport appear to have CS. abandoned to others their Theatre CANNINGTON: 1308 Albany H/VVay. 68 1826 MELVILLE: Canning H/Way. 39 1711 tic 0891 (• CONTINUED PAGE 3) responsibility to inspire faith T.V. & Radic
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