I don't believe many posters above have actually read The Stupid Country by Jane and Chris. It is a clear articulation of the need to properly support Govt schools and the effect federal policies are having on Australia's education system. I don't however believe many of the parents shifting to Private schools will be persuaded. As Jane contends there is most likey already a split in parents between those that have faith in a liberal education and morally support the idea of a free public eduaction and parents who via incolucation from the commercial media and its stories of values, fear and free market rhetoric hanker for authoritarian private and religious school conformity. As a parent of a son in an inner city a Melbourne school however I see a trend against this swing to the private sector especially where there is govt scools with high concentrations of middle class kids-in fact there is long waiting lists for these govt high schools. The problems lie in less well off suburbs where high concentrations of poor kids from low SES families have the aspirational middle class scurrying to the closest usually catholic high school. Fearful parents of which there are many are the drivers of this shift-the same people the Liberal party has been successful in frightening into submission with interest rate rises and threats from terrorisim for the last decade.

I went to the launch of The Stupid Country at Gleebooks. It says it is not a one sided debate on the cover, but the THEM and US mentality of the speakers last night was frightening. One teacher in the audience was asking advice about whether she should remain friends with people who sends their kids to private schools! I dared not breath my disdain, especially when the Speaker starting calling the audience, COMRADES! Another speaker reckons she has the best job in the best school as its principal. I thought you wanted all public schools to be equal COMRADES? So how come you think Merrylands High is the best? Because you have faith in your abilities as a leader and you perform. Not everyone reaches for the top and it shows up in a system of tenure. PS teachers are the only public service left with tenure and boy does it show!
We private school parents are just everyday people seeking the best possible outcomes for our kids. Stop blaming the private schools who take in 360000 NSW students. Where do you propose to put them if you shut down the privates? Start blaming the governments. I spent 3 years in the Public system. My child has major gaps in learning, due to ineffective teachers over 3 years in the public system. In just 2 terms at a private school, my child is now engaged and happy learning. It's about the teachers stupid! A message to those underperforming teachers: Start performing and see where it lands you. You are pretty much the only public service left with tenure and boy does it show! Not all teachers are good and not all are bad. But 3 yrs of ineffective teachers was enough for me. My younger child is still there as it is working fine for him. There are individual reasons we parents give up on the Public system. One speaker got up and said it was the teachers fault that they are in the mess they are in, and he was absolutely right

I think that until schools address the issue of Education bullies - nothing will change.

Here is some interesting information in relation to bullying and victimisation of children by adults employed by Education Departments. This might not be in Australia, but from my families experiences things here are exactly the same

http://www.stopbullyingnow.com/teachers%20who%20bully%20students%20McEvoy.pdf

Education - Keeping them Honest
http://jolandachallita.typepad.com/education/
Our children deserve better