FREEDOM OF CHOICE: FOR WHOM? A POINT OF VIEW
| Pages | 261-268 |
| Published date | 01 February 1976 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb009759 |
| Date | 01 February 1976 |
| Author | A.J. WATT |
| Subject Matter | Education |
THE JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION
VOLUME XIV, NUMBER 2 OCTOBER, 1976
FREEDOM OF CHOICE: FOR WHOM?
A POINT OF VIEW
A. J. WATT
This paper is an examination of the rationale for the policy of supplying public funds for the
support of schools run by private organizations. The example of the policy chosen for dis-
cussion is a current proposal of
the
Australian Schools Commission. It is noted that policies
of this sort are generally defended by reference to a principle of freedom of
choice.
However
there can be a conflict between freedom of choice for parents and freedom of choice for
children in that parents sometimes exercise their freedom to choose schools which will rein-
force their own influence and help to bring up their children in a predetermined mould with
the same ideological beliefs and personal values as themselves. Public funding of private
schools, it is argued, extends the freedom of parents to choose from a range of
schools,
but
the effect is often to limit the opportunity of children to grow up free to make their own
ideological and life-style decisions. It is suggested that if one values this latter type of
freedom one ought consistently to support pluralist public schools in which a wider variety
of values and points of view are represented.
This paper is a defence of an opinion which has not been fashionable
lately: that there should be narrow limits to the freedom to choose among
different types of schooling with public support. I want to outline an argu-
ment for this restriction of choice based on the value of individual
freedom—a paradoxical position it might seem, but I hope to show that it
makes good sense. The argument takes the form of a commentary on
some recent developments in public educational policy in Australia—
developments flowing from the tide against which this paper swims.
However it is not intended to be relevant only to this country. Similar
policy options present themselves in many other places, and the general
considerations on which the argument rests, if they have any force at all,
have force in any social setting.
Let's indulge in a quick superficial survey of the background to the pre-
sent Australian situation. During the last hundred years the Australian
educational scene has been characterized by the parallel existence of state
government systems and independent schools both single and systemic.
Public policy has embodied two principles: firstly that it is a state respon-
sibility to provide public schooling financed out of public funds, and
secondly that those who don't like this public schooling have the right to
A.J. WATT is Senior Lecturer in Education at Monash University. Dr. Watt holds the
degrees of B.Ed., M.A.(U. of W.A.) and Ph.D. (A.N.U.). Formerly a secondary teacher in
Western Australia, Dr. Watt has published a number of articles in the field of educational
philosophy.
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