I was all fire and aflame to write a post on a subject close to my heart as a parent of 3 children until I read Keith's post. He wrote basically exactly what I would have written.

The issues have NOTHING to do with left wing conspiracy theories or the superior backgrounds of parents of private school children.

It ALL and I mean ALL hinges on the principal of the school AND the heads of departments. The teachers are all basically the same, educated in the same universities following the same curriculum.

My children have been students at excellent private schools and public schools, but also mediocre and poor public schools.

The reason why a private school is never mediocre is because a principal would not last in a school where parents see themselves as clients paying for a service. He/she would get the sack.

The entire public school system would get a big kick up the backside with a similar selection process of principals as they have for private schools. In fact, why not have the boards of successful private schools interview and select principals as a service to their community for the state schools in their districts?

These principals should then also have a similar leeway to determine how and where money is spent and be part in selecting at least the heads of departments, as they do in private schools. The principal should be held accountable for the overall success or otherwise of the school, providing s/he has similar independence as a private school principal has.

Let's also make assumptions that there are fewer parents interested in their children than in fee paying schools and so much 'power' could go 'to the head' resulting in bullying tactics of working teachers when results are not good, so let these selection boards also determine if the principal is delivering what s/he was employed for, creating the environment where teachers are supported to teach and students achieve and if not remove her/him. A confidential report card from all teachers and interested parents would greatly assist the board.

No, no, no Yvonne, I simply cannot let your assumptions pass without really strong objections.
I chose public schools for my kids, the private schools in my area make my gorge rise. I simply refuse to accept the assumption - made by only private school parents - that private school parents care more for their kids and their kids education than public school kid's parents do. I recently saw a 5 year old who attended some ghastly high expectation private prep school literally dragging his back pack to the car - it was so weighed down by his parents expectations that the poor little mite could not lift it!
I also know many, many, many families who - having paid enormous sums of money for their children's private school educations are quietly but bitterly disappointed about what they got for their money, but they do not openly criticise because that would mean putting down their own kids.
My own daughter, who has gone from an ordinary public co-ed comprehensive high school to Sydney Uni ( I was called "brave" for sending her) recently said this to me, "You know mum, I'm seeing at Subski parties all the kids I went to primary school with who went off to those expensive private schools. But its funny, $100,000 later they look like me, they talk like me, they dress like me, they're doing the same courses as me. What exactly did their parents get for their money?"

ena, I take on board your comments about the assumptions re 'caring' parents. I actually agree with you. There are as many neglected children in private schools as there are in public schools. They only look scruffier in a public school.

But, you have to admit that there is this prevailing attitude that a great part of the problem is attributed to uncaring, unsupportive parents. If they were interested they would pay and send their children to a private school. So the public school is a good place to keep no-hope kids off the streets for as long as is legally possible. 'Throwing' money at these schools is only going to benefit left wing teachers who need a reality check. Or maybe the local sunshade maker.

Then there is this experience that if you give some principals too much unchecked power managing their schools, they become uncontrolled tyrants. Which can happen. I saw this, it resulted in a disgraceful staff turn-over with dreadful results for many primary school children who were still automatically progressed to the next year level. Some never 'catch up'.

Hence, I thought to kill two birds with one stone and address those assumptions straight away.

My youngest daughter is going to a State High School. An excellent school with excellent educational outcomes. I choose this school because of the educational programme it offers.

Xoddam:
The public schools in Australia used to be very good …until the Left wing teachers and their unions managed to get them by the throat, and turn them into ‘sites of political struggle’
It’s all documented, because the Left wing academics who were responsible for the changes, like the late Garth Boomer, Dale Spender, Brian Cambourne and others….. all proudly wrote books about it….replete with all the Marxist jargon and propaganda.
Contrary to your assertions, the only hope for education in Australia is the Howard/Costello government.
They’ve tried to make the changes needed , so that Australian children will not continue to leave school semi-literate and innumerate, after 12 (or 10) years of ‘education’.
Anyone who’s being honest and real, will remember that the Labor states had to be dragged kicking and screaming to testing for literacy and numeracy……to begin teaching grammar again after the Left had it banished….to teach reading by the phonics system instead of the disastrous ‘whole language’ method of the Left…….but only after a whole generation of children had had their life chances damaged by Left wing ideology….which had the system in its grip, even when the Coalition was in power in the states.
And now, Labor has the hide and the dishonesty to pretend that the return to sanity was all its own idea…and Labor’s media gives them the credit and all the credibility on education.
Jane Caro: what your post really does is prove that the Coalition funding system allows parents who aren’t wealthy, to choose to make sacrifices in order to send their children to private schools…and ensures that they are not stripped of all federal funding because they make that choice……the funding ( a lesser amount, but some) goes with the child…..nothing could be more equitable.
You want it to be ideological….and I’m sure your forthcoming book will just be toxic electioneering.
What dumbs the public schools down is the anti-Australian Left wing ideological curriculum, implemented by Left wing ( not all ) teachers…not funding…….crazy Left wing schemes like Alan Luke’s New Basics and ‘rich tasks’….not fundamental education…..subversion of Australia.

Leigh....;ach! forget it.What's the point..

"......most thinking parents would prefer not to send their kids to state schools because they are failing their students.It is as simple as that." (Quote:Mickijo)

What a crock!! WHY?...,why are they failing? It is NOT as simple as that.

Likewise I cannot agree that a good Principal and HoD's are the key. They can make the best of a bad lot, agreed; but like the gourmet cook, they cannot make an educational gateau out of a flour and water budget.

In a First World Country, education is a right NOT a privilege. (Spare me the broken record mantra of 'Left-Wing Sociali...zzzzzzzzzzz...)Yawn. Where was I? Ah yes! the right to a decent education.

What has happened here is akin to Thatcher's butchering torture of the Brit. NHS. Once she'd reduced it to a skeletal mess, she then went on to pour vituperative scorn on it's inadequacies, extolling the virtues of Private Health Care, which quite predictably was superior;-if one could afford it.

That's how it's done folks! It IS as simple as that!

(I reckon I'll try something new at this juncture..).

...........when we allow these self absorbed, and utterly self serving Right Wing Neo-Cons to run rampant through an egalitarian society; this is the damage they do....

'Real' duckie; I'm delighted that my post came just after yours.....!!