There's a strange trend in Australia where parents who choose independent schools for their children are made to feel guilty, as though they should apologise for making the best decision for their family.

Login or signup to continue reading

Why? Because critics, ranging from politicians and activist unions to think tanks and lobbyists, have decided that school choice is something to attack rather than respect.

This narrative paints independent school families as privileged and undeserving of support while conveniently ignoring the sacrifices many make to afford school fees.

It's a calculated effort to divide families and frame education as a zero-sum game, where the success of one student supposedly comes at the expense of another.

That's simply not true.

I know this firsthand. My family wasn't wealthy. My mum didn't finish high school and sometimes had to live in a tent. My dad started as a bank teller and worked incredibly hard to build a better future for us. Neither of them went to university.

I proudly attended a public school until year 7, but my parents, who weren't well-off, made the tough decision to send my brother and me to Rockhampton Grammar School.

They weren't alone in making that choice.

More than 60 per cent of students in independent schools come from low- and middle-income families.

Some parents stretch their budgets, cut back on essentials like groceries, medicine and transport, rent out a room in their house, and work extra hours to make school fees work.

Others choose independent schools because they align with their values, offer strong pastoral care, or provide specialised support for children with additional learning needs. Whatever the reason, no family should be vilified for wanting the best education for their child.

Across Australia, I've sat in rooms with parents, teachers and school leaders who pour their hearts into........

© Canberra Times