So John, you expect a new government to fix 12 years of mess in a couple of months.

Might I suggest that you are the one off with the fairies on this occasion?

Indication of where Rudd stands-Rudds are sending their youngest son to the very expensive Canberra Grammar. There was absolute uproar recently when a Labour MP in the UK sent her child to an expensive private school. No uproar in OZ because a large number of Labour MP's State and Federal send their children to private schools- I believe Stephen Smith sent his kids to Catholic schools. Does anyone have figures on State school principals/teachers sending their children to Private schools. How can we expect Labour to properly fund public education when they do not believe it is viable for their own children to attend those same schools!!

I thought the Rudds were sending their son to Radford but we get the point.

How do you change 11 years of education bungling including the failure to address the quality of teaching staff, classroom size and discipline. Australians have moved their children to private schools for all these reasons including better facilites, choices and equipment.

Education is not valued and the corporatisation and dumbing down of our universities, lack of research funding and skills training reflects this attitude.

Even though I voted in the better alternative (the ALP) I fear that the Rudd government will not move radically enough on this issue. When I say radical, I mean a move back to the days when education (at all levels) was valued, free and merit based.

Kevin 07 admits that he is no Democratic Socialist he tells us that he is a Social Democrat. This means that he believes in freedom of Choice and that if you can afford private education then by all means pay for it. Mark Latham said that too much money of the tax payers purse is going towards private education and that he would address the situation we all know what happened to him don't we. People who send their children to private schools felt threatened so they voted against him. You are right in England all religious schools are Government Schools under the 1944 Education act so ther is no such thing as them and us.

Pelican and all teachers that teach in Government Schools I recommend that all teachers join the Labor Party become active and pass motions to bring about the a change in this unequal society and it can only be done by joining the Labor Party to change Society and make this country a better place to live in.

There is not a lot of evidence that private schools have better outcomes (See OECDs PISA) but it is fine if people send their kids there. They will do worse at Uni and if uni is a metaphor for life probably there too.

But there is a point the the state should not spend more than necessary to raise the level of expenditure mecessary to meet the necessary educational requirements to produce educated citizens nor should it allow some kids to have less. Many private schools are gilding the lily with no discernable benefits to either the individual child - (spoiling kids is harmful) and special education for middle class kids has all the draw backs of special education for special needs kids.