Ok I might get flamed for this, but anyway....

My parents are both teachers. They are wonderful people, and have worked in public schools, private schools and Catholic schools. I have so much respect for them as people, and as educators.

My family has always put a high degree of emphasis on education. My three siblings and myself all went to the local Catholic primary school (we are Catholic). I hated every minute of that primary school, as I was tormented and bullied the whole way through. It was one of the most awful experiences of my life. Most of those girls went to the local Catholic girls' secondary school, which is one of the "elite" two Catholic girls' schools in Melbourne with fees about $20K for Year 12 (currently). I didn't want to go to that school, so ended up sitting for scholarships to various different independent schools. I ended up at a wonderful independent girls' school, and have the most marvellous friends, memories and experiences from that school. I would, without a thought, send my daughter there (were I to have one). My brothers both went to the elite Catholic boys' school, again with fees of over $20K per year (currently). My younger sister also attended the school I attended.

My parents paid for us to attend these schools, on teacher's salaries. My mother was a SAHM for 13 years, so it was just my Dad at work. They went into debt, increased their mortgage, sacrificed family holidays and their own needs, just to pay for our private school education.

And my local high school is one of the top 3 in Victoria. We could have gone there for free.

Why did my parents do all they can to send us to private high schools? Because they believe that we obtain a better education in a private high school. The fees that are paid by parents are utilised to improve facilities, pay higher teacher salaries, offer more and varied extra curricular activities, and so on. When parents pay significant sums for their children to attend a private school, this tends to "weed out" those who are attending school because they have to, rather than because they are expected to learn. The parents place a high value on education, and generally the children do too.

Certainly, in Melbourne, the high school you attend is a vital point when looking for employment. I got my first job (at Target) pretty much because I attended the high school I attended. One of the first questions you are asked at university is "what high school did you go to?" It is also emphasised at job interviews. I know of places who will give someone who attended a private school a job, over those who attended a high school.

So, is this elitist? Yes it is.

Is it fair? No it's not.

However, it is how it is. My sons attend a local primary school. It is an absolutely wonderful school. Most of the children there will go on to a private high school.

Even though I will be living near one of the best public high schools in Victoria, I will sacrifice everything, work three jobs, cash in my super, sell my house, and do anything necessary to ensure that I can afford for my children to attend a private high school. This is the value that I place on my children's education. And I will be doing it on my own - I very much doubt that my XH will provide any contribution to the school fees. I anticipate that by the time my boys attend high school, the fees will be $30K a year, each. This is something I will have to budget for - I will go without, I know that, but to me it will be worth it.

I believe in free education. I believe that the teachers in the public system are fantastic, and do the best they can with the budgets that they are allowed. I particularly admire those teachers who work extremely hard in low socio-economic areas to improve the children who live there and to increase their chances of achieving all that they can.

However it will be my choice to educate my children at a private high school. I will pay for this. Gladly.