Sample Letter to Your State Member of Parliament from Teachers

Sample letter to your State Member of Parliament from Teachers

<Date>

As at teacher at <school name>, I am writing to state my opposition to the NSW Government’s decision to cut $1.7 billion in school education funding.

There is no more important investment in society than the one in education. The Liberal state government’s plan to reduce education funding to all schools in New South Wales by 3% and cap the level of funding to non-government schools over the next four years is poor educational policy.

I am one of over 4,500 teachers and staff employed by Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta, working at the forefront to improve learning and teaching for the children and young people in our care. This plan will disadvantage our students and our school communities and will mean less support for teachers at a time where more demands are being placed on our work.

The teaching profession is complex and challenging. As teachers, we not only have to be skilled in providing the best learning opportunities for our students individually tailored to their needs, we are increasingly catering to a more diverse set of emotional, academic and physical needs. Today’s world demands that we continue to review and build on our practice to ensure that we are delivering an experience of schooling that is relevant to a rapidly changing world. This requires greater support from both state and federal governments to ensure the profession is developing new skillsets for teachers and building the quality and capacity of teachers across the board.

We have already seen 1800 jobs earmarked to go from the Department of Education. More than just bureaucratic roles, many of these positions provide teacher and student support to schools across New South Wales. I am deeply concerned that support for teachers working directly with students will be further eroded.

The NSW Government is shortsighted in taking funding away from our children, particularly in light of the Gonski review into education that states we need to invest more, not less, in education. If these funding cuts come into effect, it will put increased financial pressure on Catholic schools who are already resourced at around 10% less than government schools and rely on the ongoing and increased financial support from our governments.

Further, I am concerned that the current funding model which links state education expenditure to federal funding will result in a greater resource gap for Catholic schools and impact our ability to continue delivering quality schooling for all families who desire a Catholic education for their children.

As it currently stands, for every $1 of state funding lost, Catholic schools stand to lose $3 in federal funding.

This is a huge hit to our schools who directly rely on the ongoing financial support of both the state and federal governments.

I am extremely disappointed that such a decision has been proposed without any consultation with schools as to the impacts it would have on our communities and I urge you to take our concerns to Premier Barry O’Farrell and Education Minister, Adrian Piccoli to overturn this decision.

Yours sincerely