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.