Graeme,

I agree that chucking money at education is not a panacea, and never has been.

I also agree that there are many variables which dictate how well a child imbibes an education - not the least being parental influence.

Whether you call it mediocrity or one-size-fits-all, some parents vote with their feet and march away from institutions.

Poirot, whether you like it or not, many at schools today are not there to learn.

The first step would be to have a complete ban on mobiles/tablets at schools, as well as a very strict Internet content rule, if not already in.

Then, once the sudents that actually wish to learn are identified, and they need not be brain surgeons, it would make more sense to provide tutoring for small groups, ratherbthan just throw more money in to the missing bowl.

Education in my view is as much the responsibility of the parents, as it is of the schools, as schools simply provide the scope, albeit with their hands tied behind their backs.

Unfortunately, these days, many parents see schools as a free day care facility, so it's little wonder our standards are slipping, when many parents either don't care about their kids education, or won't make time for homework etc.

You know there's a problem when parents can opt out of homework for their kids.

Now while I acknowledge that there are many great sudents and parents out there,most in fact, it's the dead beats that the likes of this type of funding will be wasted on, and waste is what's got us in the mess we are now.

If Gonski had more insight into reality he would have suggested a national service as the final stage of education.
Ah and, push for a flat tax as a sign of his commitment to bettering our sad, derelict morale & mentality.

Working in the education sector I can tell you two things.

1. Parents have the most influence over a student's success. We often say as soon as you meet the parents you understand why. This doesn't always mean they are alcoholics or illiterate or worse. It usually means they are unwilling to set boundaries at home that make education number one. They don't put any limitations around tv, computer, phone, iPods, iPads etc. all the studies would tell you kids should not have any technology in their rooms. They did a study of the top 100 hsc students a few years ago and 99 had one thing in common. No social media for year 12.
They also need to publically support the school in front of their kids. It's fine to disagree with school and teachers in a private meeting, but never in front of kids at school or at home. And parents need to spend lots of time working with students on their education.

2. Students have been getting lazier and less motivated as a rule. There is a view is that young people are given everything and live such a great lifestyle, even many kids from lower income families have expensive mobile phones, laptops, computers in rooms, TVs in rooms. They are also used to being entertained 24/7, at times unwilling to knuckle down and focus.

So the premise of gonski good or bad. With a doubt the concept of giving extra funding to schools with disadvantage is a good one. Because schools are making up for the shortcomings students face in their outside school environment. This could be for a wide range of issues. Kids who come from homes with good or great parenting, with no learning disadvantages , and middle class or above need very little assistance. They will generally achieve success.

Northernoutlook, I fully agree your views, however, don't you think it would be wise to invest extra resources into the kids that want to learn, (tutoring as an example) rather than throw money in the pit, hoping some of it reaches these kids.

Now your statement about I'll disciplined kids is also a major problem in the workforce.

When I get a kid wanting to start an apprenticeship, 8 out of 10 are from a broken home, and of those 99.9% live with their mum.

Now that's fine, until they reach about 17, then they start to rule the roost at home and they bring that attitude into the workplace.

As I say, education is the job of parents, backed up by schools and teachers.

As I say, education is the job of parents, backed up by schools and teachers.
rehctub,
I'd agree with that, the only problem being that parents aren't ALLOWED to instil discipline by order of our Governments.