My children are able to attend a progressive democratic school which opts out of NAPLAN and has a wonderful learning environment (no tests at all, multi-aged classrooms with small class sizes, lots of free play, art and music, plenty of tree climbing, bare feet, lots of excursions, no busy work for the sake of it). But all children should be able to attend schools like this, and there is no high school available like this in Sydney. And I too despair when I look at the antiquated HSC and its ridiculous focus on rote learning and spewing out facts to pass exams. This is not learning, it is just memorising.

Thanks for responding, Filip, and thanks for causing me to go back and reread my posts. You are, after all, a human being - and my references to you weren't as respectful as they should have been. I apologise for that.

Now that you are a part of the discussion as well as an article writer, could you please explain why it is that you feel it is right to point the finger at Gillard who, in your byline, you blame (or thank) for the 'turbulent mess' that is school education. When you dig below the 'vitriol' in my posts, that is the fundamental question. What was it that prevented you from fixing the mess (or progressing towards fixing the mess) when you were director of primary education, and how was the federal minister responsible for this? GAJ indicates that you were responsible for some innovative practices - what happened to these? Why did they never take off, and why were they never given an opportunity to get education back on track?

Even if nobody else is, this vitriolic serial commentator is interested to know.

Deborah L.,
Thank you for your gracious comment. While I fear for the future of our kids, Deborah, I reckon that standing up for them is futile. The ballott box is the only place to encourage politicians to think squarely, but Public Schooling, mankind's greatest invention, is shockingly ignored. Heard 'SCHOOLING'or 'NAPLAN'or 'KLEIN METHOD' mentioned in the electioneering skits yet ?
I am aghast that the government and the alternative governments care little to nothing about children at school. I can't see any alternative for me but to vote informal this year after having voted mostly Labor for over fifty years. I used to think that such a course was cowardly; that one should join a party and fight for democratic action. I tried that. Also, I used to think that principals and teachers would never let their kids down on major professional issues. I'm tired of waiting. The silence is too deafening, and, sometimes, I hope that Dante was right when he wrote :"THE HOTTEST PLACES IN HELL ARE RESERVED FOR THOSE WHO, IN TIMES OF MORAL CRISIS, MAINTAIN THEIR NEUTRALITY." Maybe we can form a party called The Informal Party for the Reps and vote Carers Alliance for the Senate.
Yes, Deborah, I still have a vision as expressed on http://primaryschooling.net It's not well understood, so I shall need to tidy it up. Please keep in touch through venues such as this.

Vanna,
I wish that I had been paid the way that you suggest. Wow. We will use any measure that you approve.
By the way, your uni studes must have spent a long time in high school. I retired 22 years ago.
Onya

Having voted with our feet out the school door - I'm also planning to vote informal in this election, Filip. Like you, I'm a long time Labor voter.

Flip,
"We will use any measure that you approve"

Then go through the Master report, and find even one area of education in QLD schools that shows any improvement.

http://education.qld.gov.au/mastersreview/pdfs/final-report-masters.pdf

The QLD education system is a system in free fall, with major declines not only in maths and science, but possibly in English also.

It became a system whereby teachers did whatever they wanted and called it “education”, while at the same time calling for more and more public funding (most of which they spent on equipment, software and textbooks imported from other countries).

An absolute mess indeed.

Vanna,
There was no Master report that I recall, even in the early nineties, when things started to go pear-shaped. Geoff Masters from ACER, the Melbourne measuring business, wrote one a couple of years ago. I have it here. Check your maths. I don't disagree with the point that you are making, at all...that pupils need to be taught certain essentials... how to do it is the issue. Not sure about the origin of your Queensland reference. It was meant to be personal in some way or other, wasn't it? Have fun.
Vanna, I love confrontation. Sam Thaiday is my role model.I try to run at the mindless politicians throwing their weight around carelessly. I'm not doing too well.
Sorry Sam. It's the late tackles and listless support. I'm heading for the bench.
P.S.for Poirot. "Why vote normal ? VOTE INFORMAL." Agree?