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Public schools deserve support now more than ever : Comments
By Michael Kirby, published 22/5/2014Public education remains one of our greatest achievements, so I would like to outline my 10 commandments for its supporters in 2014.
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“A place that did not depend on parental wealth…” Fair enough, but vouchers can accommodate that.
“…and the differences that can bring” If govt funded vouchers can pay for a reasonable education that can offer the student life and vocational skills, then is that not enough? If wealthy parents can afford exceptional education for their children why is it somehow a wrong that the kids from the other side of the tracks don’t also get that? To follow that petty, spiteful argument, is it also a wrong that the poor folks can’t afford to live in the mansions of Toorak and Vaucluse or enjoy regular overseas holidays, or drive flash cars?
“…the aspirations of public education were togetherness,” Don’t private school kids also get together for sport and social events, or is it the govt, who should dictate whom children mix with?
”… helping one another [and] imbibing the principles of the ''fair go''” Yes, but vouchers can do that.
“…and aiming for excellence”, Private schools don’t do that?
“but never forgetting the communitarian values of a place when the mind and heart were still fresh and open” Err…yeah, whatever that means.
“Public education remains one of our greatest achievements” really? Then why the need for the Gonski review last year?