davidf,
From your four points I would take it that you see no purpose for a whole of world view other than mere survival; as you state. 1. "Equip students with sufficient background to make a living or get additional training". Life has more meaning than the 40 hours work contribution.

2. "Give students an appreciation of learning and the arts and sciences so their lives will be full". Religion is based in the arts, in asthetic appreciation of the seen and imagined, in song and music, graphics and acting.

3. Socialise students to live in Australian society as adults. From my obsevation and experience with children over 70 years the Church does the best job of making responsible citizens as the basis of Christianity is charity and giving selflessly.

4. "Encourage students to think independently and question". The benifits of cultural changes to Western society has come from religious people who have done just that.

Religious schools in Australia do not segregate and accomodate students of all faiths. In that regard private schools do a disservice to Australia.
Could you please identify how private schools do a disservice to Australia?

In case you hadn't noticed private school parents contribute heavily to their children's education and take the burden of these children's education off the State. It costs my daughter $8,000 each year to send my grandson to a private school. I suggest you begin to advocate all taxpayers increase their contributions to ecucate State student. Remember parents of Private schools are also taxpayers, they could have exemption from increased taxes equilavent to their fees contribution.

4. "Encourage students to think independently and question". The benifits of cultural changes to Western society has come from religious people who have done just that.

Dear Philo,

That is a great distortion of history. In general Christianity has discouraged questioning. Galileo, Darwin and other great thinkers have met opposition from religious authorities. After 400 years the Vatican has agreed that Galileo might have some good points. The dead hand of various branches of Christianity has been an impediment to progress in science and the arts.

The Inquisition and creationism are two of the many obstacles that Christianity has set up to reason and behaving with humanity.

Please cite Christians who have encouraged independent thinking and questioning. There are some like Bishop Spong, but they are mighty thin on the ground.

davidf,
The very fact that these people were within a religion originally and challenged traditional thinking or practise did not deter their critical thought. Read up on people like Jesus Christ, Martin Luther, Wilberforce, Luther King, etc the list is endless. True religion is about a search for meaning and truth and not thoughtlessly parroting off others ideas.

I am not into inquisition practises or six day creationism, so try to be honest about where faith is today. It seems you are parroting off others regurgitated objections without genuine research.

Dear davidf,

You wrote “Please explain how I have fairness trumping achievement. With adequate funding of the public schools there will be both greater fairness and greater achievement.”

but had said previously;
“I recommend completely ending funding for non-public schools and giving sufficient support for public schools so that there is no gap in student's performance between the two systems.”

Simple question if I may. Would the stripping of government funds to private schools have any effect on the marks students at those schools will be capable of achieving?

I suppose I could allow your argument on Utilitarian grounds i.e. taking funds from private schools and spreading it through the state system would probably raise the achievement levels of that sector thus raising the average greater than the probable drop from a funding deprived private sector.

If the fruits to our society come disproportionally from private schools then shouldn’t they be given a disproportionally greater amount of funding? An example might be the argument for the Victorian Philharmonic Orchestra receiving generous government support.

Possibly it comes down to ones definition of achievement. Are the achievements of a society to be measured on the collective or on the peaks reached by its most talented?

I should say I am actually in furious agreement with you about funding but we seem to differ about why we should do it. I see fairness in a society as a great achievement of itself, one to be continually striven for and to be able to recognise and be comfortable with what we need to do to attain it I feel is essential.

Dear Philo,

I’m wondering why your daughter sent your grandson to an $8000 per annum private school?

Was the reason to access a government subsidised university place for him?

My daughter sends her son to a private school because his mates will be respected leaders of community and business in the future and she wants him to have them among his friends when he leaves school. His achievements intellectually are among the top 5% in the country according to national tests.

I have no doubt he will graduate from university with distinctions because of his natural apptidudes to think critically and analise situations. He is currently doing his confrmation of faith. He is very social and perceptive of other's needs so will make good in those fields.