"What should be essential in the role, character and provision of public education?"

Surely, the most basic requirement is an end to the politicians undermining public education through constant cuts which have proceeded unabated over the last twenty five years utilising the 'big lie' - "there is no money for public education". Not content, more is on the way in the upcoming horror budget. Which the 20/20 conference was designed as a facade to "tart the cuts up" under the guise of "democratic input".What a fraud! Far from having anything to do with democracy, the 2020 summit is a crafted decitful public relations exercise with proceedings dominated by leading business representatives who chaired the various sessions along with hand-picked academics, media representatives, and celebrities. Along with David Morgan, former CEO of Westpac Bank and current chairman of the Australian Bankers’ Association. The Labor government has given every indication that it intends to meet its commitments to big business, beginning with an austerity budget that will slash billions of dollars in social spending. Enormous cuts have been demanded by the financial markets and "big money" who are licking their chops at the thought of another big payday. This never ending 'dumbing down' and stultifying of children must have long term consequences not only for their own lives and others but society must suffer as well.
Behind it all, is a plan (privatisation) to turn everything into a commodity for sale where the public pays over and over for an ever-diminishing return. But how do the politicians keep getting away with it?

I agree with the concept of the 2020 conference, and believe it should be a biannual or triennial event, regardless of the political party in power at the time. If managed well enough, such conferences would be a part of the democratic process.

However the education system is becoming less democratic in time, with parents having almost no say regards what happens in the public schools at least.

Student marks have not improved in 30 years, while more money is now being spent per student than 30 years ago. So obviously money is not the answer.

If academics at the conference could not think of ways to improve student marks, then perhaps the next step is to invite students and parents.

Because of the bloody frustrating post limit I am unable to post in response to Marilyn Shepherd on the post below this.

AND I CAN'T WAIT.

Just who in the hell do you think you're talking to MS?

We both post on a local forum where your support for the Taliban is sickening! I'll be damned if I'll be judged by you!

Your 'whining' crap wouldn't have anything to do with your ties to the Oz Dems would it?

(Sorry Chris Bonner; take it up with the site owner. Articles are published here daily. To have a two post per 24 hour limit on them is ludicrous!!)

Just a few quick thoughts on education. The first is my amazement that the obvious requirement of parents that their childrens education should be funded out of their taxes should not be the overriding principle. After all, the parents fill out their own ballot papers, don't they?

As for the main problem with the drift to private schools, I think it is largely due to the principle of neither expelling nor punishing disruptive students in government schools. The disruptive types know that nothing can be done to them, and thus many parents flee to private schools that can , at least, expel students. If I had a free hand I consider I could solve the problem overnight, by establishing a new government borstal school, with the first lesson being the meaning of the term "Botany Bay Dozen". Until something like this is done, the drift to private schools will continue, and government schools will increasingly become remainder schools.

Chris, there's no winners with you is there? You say "... our current framework of public and private schools actually undermines social inclusion. The report from this group flagged the idea of perks for private schools which enrolled students from low income families, but missed the potentially regressive impact of this on the communities they are supposed to be strengthening."

Firstly, there is no evidence that private schooling undermines social inclusion. This is an assertion that you make time and time again without producing any evidence. It's your own spin with no basis in fact. Private schools actually reflect our society with its various communities, including faith-based and secular. If private schooling was to undermine our society it would have done so well before now since private schooling has been in existence in Australia since schools were established in this country (by the Catholics and Protestants). The fact is that private schooling contributes a huge amount to Australian society through the provision of high quality education.

Secondly, you routinely complain about private schools not doing 'their share of the heavy lifting' (to quote one of your favourite expressions). So now you're saying that (the idea of 'perks' aside, which is not something actually sought by the schools, even if it was mentioned by someone at the 2020 Summit), when a private school does offer full-fee scholarships or similar to students from low income families, they will be responsible for "a regressive impact on those communities" that the student is from. So they can't win can they? If they don't enrol kids who can't otherwise afford the fees, they're damned. If they do, they're equally damned and responsible for some (unnamed and unevidenced) regressive impact on the community.

Malcs, you have bought the private school line on scholarships hook, line and sinker. The scholarship system is now one of skimming high potential children from the system with the expectation that they will boost the schools' VCE/HSC numbers- a purley market driven cynical exercise. What amazes me is how fee paying parents at these schools agree to to this practice.
Chris Bonnor is correct in asserting that the weird system of private(govt supported)/public education we have created in Australia amplifies socio economic inequities and results in serious wasting of human potential. Are private school supporters unable to grasp this situation or do they not care? The current Labour Govt should not be expected to make fundamental change-most Labour MPs send thier children to fee paying schools-K Rudd included. Provision of quality education to ALL Australian children should be the only driver of policy. On the basis of anecdotal evidence I'm seeing incresaing support for govt secondary schools in Melb especially inner city where many high schools are full and their dissappointed parents are having to pay fees at privates chools because they can not get their kids in.

pdev, I'm simply asking for evidence of something that Chris (and you it seems) continually states is occurring. No evidence of this societal decline as a result of private schooling has been provided at any stage. All of these claims made by public school lobbyists about what a disaster private schooling is for 'the community' (of which the private schools are a part), yet never any evidence. Surely that's not too much to ask?

As for what you refer to as skimming, in case you hadn't noticed it's parents who choose the school their children attend, not the other way around. Clearly, you've 'bought' the public lobby rhetoric. As is so often the case, any community-minded actions taken by the private sector are dismissed or twisted by the public lobbyists as being a selfish activity when in actual fact they are being good citizens. You've just done it yourself in your own post. No matter what the private schools do, they can't win with the likes of you and Chris. Have you ever actually sat down and talked to the 'evil private school types' about their educational and social philosophies? Try it, you might be surprised. Despite what you may think about them, private schools are run by dedicated educators who are simply trying to provide the best possible education to anyone who comes through their doors, just like the thousands of dedicated public school principals and teachers.

Issue missed.

To me an obvious inclusion in the school ciriculum of nutrition throughout school years is a no brainer.

Rising health costs/issues, obesity and binge drinking are frontline news items regularly thesedays. Binge drinking was raised at the summut and the "smart" response - a blatant tax grab rather than adressing the issue.

Teaching children about nutrition/health through their school years can only help address the big 2000's issue of health and obesity and address the imbalance of corparate marketing of the well known problem
foodstuffs.

The average parent is certainly struggling to compete with these in the education of their children. Addittionally cost would be minimal.

Malcs - the reality is that neither Catholic schools nor independent schools "reflect our society". While there are considerable differences between private schools the evidence is there for the picking. What do you want? ABS data on enrolment of indigenous, newly arrived, kids with disabilities? Maybe you should see what Cardinal Pell had to say about his schools disproportionately NOT serving the poor! Do you want census data on enrolment of kids by parents' occupation?

Why not save time and go to http://www.aeufederal.org.au/Debates/bprestonsch.pdf There is ample research available on the social divides between our schools.

Your history lesson is a bit short on reality. Public schooling was partly established because private schools would not serve all kids in all places....think about it!!

Of course you are right about scholarships - they have both advantages and social costs...it does work both ways. Unfortunately it seems that such compexities were not recognised by those at the Summit.

Malcs I can imagine one reason why the article doesn't include much evidence is because we are deluged with evidence that non-government schools disproportionately enrol advantaged kids. What would you like to measure? Indigenous, newly arrived, disabled, parental income. Go to the ABS or to save time go to http://www.aeufederal.org.au/Debates/bprestonsch.pdf

As far as scholarships are concerned of course it works both ways. That is the point being made in the article.

Malcs, I know many people who have gone to private schools and many parents whose children go to private schools. I am not saying private schools are bad schools or do not provide a good education. What I am saying is that private schools by their very nature are not inclusive. They screen out students on the basis of ability to pay,religion and academic ability. Many expensive private schools in Melb are known for discouraging students from sitting VCE at their schools because it will negatively affect the schools results. Parents are told their child probably is not best suited to the school after 5/11 years of paying fees!! Apparently the IB is a great option pushed on less able kids because the reuslts are not published in league tables. A private school in Melb poached a whole girls' volley ball team with full scholarships from the local high schoo!! That private school parents can condone and agree with these practices in supposedly Christian private schools makes me incredibly sad these parents, mostly well off and educated can be so corrupt in their world view. By the way we send our two children to a melbourne non selective high school where they are receiving an excellent education- we make over $250k as a household and both my partner and I hold several degrees.

Have to agree with pdev that Haileybury's Berwick campus got a lot of bad publicity over providing scholarships to the whole of a state high school girls sporting team. The difference in physical buildings and facilities between Haileybury Berwick and the local state high schools is immediately obvious. Private schools can and do expel troublesome children unless their parents are very well connected.

Camberwell Girls Grammar is renown for telling girls in years 9 and 10 that they will not be able to complete year 12 at that school. There is a big influx of Malaysian girls for the last years of high school and a real skippy vs chinese bullying culture.

Can you imagine Meadowbank Education Trust, the NSW Brethren school system admitting children from outside the community?

Private schools are about providing a better education for those children whose parents can pay for it. These schools only have to be a little bit better than government schools to attract students. If government schools have a strong academic and cultural standing then private schools will have to be better to attract students. The converse of strengthening private schools will not ripple through to government schools.

I would like to see all school children provided with a nutritious school lunch. At the moment 49% of children in single parent families are growing up in poverty and overall 25% of Australian children live in poverty. If food prices continue to rise there will be more children going to school on an empty stomach. Even in good times 25% of children in middle class suburbs go to school without breakfast and the Red Cross runs breakfast clubs in poor areas.