This is just another of Kevin's distractions.Intelligent children will learn come what ever.Our education system has failed because of the breakdown of the family unit,too many rights,the interference of the state in family life,lack of discipline,a unionised profession that focuses on the teacher,the legal disease and no real consequences for poor behaviour.Having a few highly paid role models will change nothing.

Unless the above issues are addressed,pumping more money into teacher's pockets will change nothing.

Arjay thanks for your one sided slant.
I almost feel my words should come from your side of the political fence.
But like it or not teachers for too long have tried to say what they will teach.
How they will teach it and when.
What employer would allow this?
In this case it is far to important to leave it in their hands.
I am confident we will get better outcomes from Rudd.
However I have a question for you.
No defense the policy is very like your fallen party's.
Would you be as cynical if it was your party implementing it?

Schools in NSW already have a ranking/comparison scale. Schools are divided into 3 groups- Rural, Metro high socio-economic and Metro low, and ranked against each other within these groups. The publication of these rankings is illegal under NSW legislation. Rudd needs the state govt. onside, the same mob who opposed Lib. attempts in this area.

Graham, how can Kevin sack non-performing principals if the principals don't first get hire and fire rights over their staff? The current rules re getting rid of bad teachers make it a long and troublesome process.

Talk of sackings, closures and kicking parents of truants off welfare is just populist rubbish.

What's all the fuss about...

Give the man a chance and judge him after
he's been in office for at least a few years.

It seems to me that what the PM is proposing
is a very reasonable education agenda.

It makes sense to have additional funding conditional
on schools providing performance reporting. It makes
sense to strive for and reward excellence among teachers
and principals, as well as have targeted bonus
payments for disadvantaged schools.

The PM is at least trying to do something for the
good of the country. Things don't happen over night.
Look at the previous
government - they had twelve years. The PM hasn't even
had one year.

Why is there this phobia to tear someone down,
before they have a chance to get a foot up?
Obviously, the PM's agenda and process must be
achieving something, otherwise there'd be no criticism.
(Tall poppy syndrome... a national trait).