Hey, Miz Caro, good to hear from you again.
This is an interesting and novel approach to a problem; looking at empirical evidence, instead of relying on ideology.
One of the key markers of human intelligence is to notice patterns, and make accurate predictions through analysis of those patterns.
If you can see a trend, and it is not to your liking, the intelligent thing to do is change direction.
I would have thought the pragmatic reason for studying history in schools, was to enable us to avoid making the same mistakes.
If there has been a period in our recent history which achieved better results for the majority of Australians, should we not take heed?
It seems to me, that in the last three decades of our increasing reliance on market driven answers to every problem, we have seen a massive increase in the gap between haves and have nots. We have seen an erosion in real service levels, and we have seen a restriction of opportunities for the lower paid, adults and children.
In an era of such technological advances, these trends defy logic.

Dear Grim,

Careful! Reliance on evidence, pragmatism and the use of reliable data makes one an object of suspicion to those who rely on supernatural revelation.

The existence of private schooling seems to arise from the broken nature of our public system. One could seek to fix that which is broke, but rather we have this bypass approach. This is good for those with the means to pursue the latter, but for the remaining stragglers it means another high hurdle in the life race.

Add that classism is alive and flourishing in Australia, it exists in straight white teeth, your home suburb, your speech, your dress, your schooling. Do you really think a banking executive on a few million a year will allow his kids to mix with the offspring of blue collars? Private schools are often youth branches of the Melbourne Club, it's who you know not what you know. That's why we need private schools, so the well to do can give their genetically challenged kids the necessary boost up.

Take control over childrens' education away from the parents? How is that fair?
Private schools are better because they have to compete. They can choose their teachers and can pay them what they want. The best education system in the world is in sweden and it is a full voucher system. No public schools, No (or low) school fees and a very well educated population. Why Jane Caro wants to give government bureaucrats more control over education is beyond me.

I have a question. If we were to phase out independent schools in Australia over, say, 10 years and implement an entirely public system of primary and secondary education, what would be the cost to government? Less than it is now with the existing multi-sectoral education system (public, independent, Catholic)?

I wonder.

Stickman,

It is clear that you have not bothered to read the above posts.

Assuming that the schools and buildings came for free the cost to the state would increase dramatically.

However;

Considering that the tiny subsection of the old Enmore public school on Metropolitan road sold for $2.8m, the cost of land and buildings to "phase out" independent schools would probably exceed $100bn in NSW alone.

This exercise would consume the entire state education budget ($8.7bn) for the next 12 years to be able to provide