AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL

FOR THE DEFENCE OF GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS - D.O.G.S.

PRESS RELEASE 229 #.

22 NOVEMBER    2007

 

FEDERAL ELECTION 2007

PUBLIC EDUCATION SUPPORTERS CANNOT VOTE FOR ALP

RUDD AND SMITH DEADLY COMBINATION

 

 

The following are the major reasons why public school supporters cannot vote for the ALP in the Federal election next Saturday:

  • Public Education has been ignored by the Rudd/Smith ALP

  • The Rudd/Smith combination have kow-towed to the private church school interest

  • There have been secret meetings with private school interests against the public school interest.

  • There has been a failure to consult with public education interest groups

  • Rudd and Smith, without consultation have abolished the 35 year old Needs Policy, the basis of their funding policy

  • Rudd and Smith have behaved like the Papacy, not an Australian democratic political party

  • Rudd and Smith have proved incapable of referring to the expression 'public education' in their policy.

  • Rudd and Smith have divided opportunities for trade education according to religious divisions

  • Rudd and Smith have also divided opportunities for trade education according to the ability of parents to pay for entrance into private schools.

  • Rudd and Smith are  supporting even further division of our community on the basis of class and creed.

  • Rudd and Smith are promoting the most dangerous concept for public education, worse than State Aid itself, namely, the concept of shared facilities. Such a concept debases the very concept of public education. It amounts to a policy of poisoning, takeover and privatisation  of public schools by the private sector.

For all of the above reasons no public school supporter could give the Australian Labor Party their effective first preference.

 

In relation to the ideas expressed above, DOGS have produced ten relevant Press Releases .

See Press Release 185 ( www.adogs.info/pr185.htm ) Press Release 201 ( www.adogs.info/pr201.htm);

Press Release 202 (www.adogs.info/pr202.htm ); Press Release 203 ( www.adogs.info/pr203.htm);

Press Release 204 (www.adogs.info/pr204.htm ); Press Release 208 ( www.adogs.info/pr208.htm);

Press Release 209 (www.adogs.info/pr209.htm);  Press Release 223 ( www.adogs.info/pr223.htm);

Press Release 224 ( www.adogs.info/pr224.htm); Press  Release 226 ( www.adogs.info/pr226.htm).

 

CLEAR MESSAGE: RUDD AND SMITH DETERMINED TO IGNORE PUBLIC EDUCATION

DOGS warned readers of the determination of Rudd and Smith to ignore the very concept of public education as early as 27 March 2007, in our Press Release 202 ( www.adogs.info/pr202.htm). Their failure to recognise the concept of the public education has continued unabated.

We provide just two recent examples:

ALP Media Statement 14 November 2007: Á School Computer for Every Student... This Media Statement of approximately one thousand words contained not one word in relation to the concept of public education.

Kevin Rudd's campaign speech 14 November 2007. This speech contained at least 1300 words in relation to education. Rudd did not use the concept of public education once. In this speech Rudd could not even acknowledge the public school system, his own public school and its public school teachers, even though he admitted that he 'would not be standing here before you today were it not for the encouragement, instruction and opportunity provided to me by the teachers who shaped my life. They made it possible for a kid like me from country Queensland to finish school, go to university, become a diplomat and stand here today seeking to lead our nation into the future"'

Note that Kevin Rudd did not reflect on the fact that, if there was not a public education system in Queensland when he was a boy( and because of the Roman Catholic Church in Queensland there was not a secondary system throughout Queensland until 1961!) as a child from a financially impoverished family, he would not have had a snowflakes chance in hell. He should at least have acknowledged the battle for public education in that State waged against the church interests later than anywhere else in Australia.  He should have admitted to his education in a public school and a public university.

Like his private school mates.  Stephen Smith and Cardinal Pell, Kevin Rudd seems to choke on the word 'public'. Public school supporters should understand that they are in the middle of a battle for survival. Like John Howard, Rudd has long since left his public school origins. He is now a user, supporter and promoter of the private church school system.

DOGS note that the Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations of NSW,  the Federal AEU and the NSW Teachers Federation have all expressed concerned at the failure of Rudd and Smith to recognise the very existence of public as opposed to private education.

 Rudd and Smith Out of Control on Education Policy

Public education supporters must heed the warning signs. In years gone past, when the ALP was in power federally, there was a semblance of checks and balances on the ALP school funding policy. Even the arrogant Gough Whitlam gave recognition and support of the Needs Policy as supported by the party Conference. There is no such check on Rudd and Smith. Together, with only consultation with the church school interest, within a couple of months of the Conference supporting the 35 year old Needs policy Rudd and Smith cast it aside.

Electors cannot trust or vote for such people.

Kow-Towing to Religious Schools and Church Hierarchies

The Labour leaders are frightened of offending the 'established' religions in any way. The Church is now ruling the State in educational funding policy.

Tax rebate: One of the later policy decisions favouring private schools related to tax rebates. On November 14, 2007, readers should note the following quote from the Sydney Daily Telegraph: 'Yesterday Mr Rudd cleared the air on his critical appeal to voters and hinted at a policy change by declaring he had no ideological objections to private school fees being tax deductible. labor traditionally has fought the idea of tax rebates for education at non-government schools but Mr,. Rudd had to face the issue after Mr. Howard proposed tax deduction in his election launch on Monday. He risked upsetting thousands of parents with children in private schools by rejecting any tax breaks for them.

'I have no ideologically problem whatsoever.' Mr Rudd said yesterday.'

AFTER THE ELECTION WATCH OUR WEB SITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE DANGER  OF SHARED FACILITIES FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION

AFTER THE EXPERIENCE OF THE SCHOOLS COMMISSION AND THE GROSS MANIPULATION OF THE NEEDS POLICY BY THE CHURCH SCHOOL INTEREST THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPPORTERS MUST BE ALERT TO THE MANIPULATION OF THE NEXT PROBLEM:

THE TAKE OVER OF THE PUBLIC SYSTEM BY CHURCH SCHOOL OPERATORS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LISTEN TO THE DOGS RADIO PROGRAM

3CR 855 ON THE AM DIAL

12.30 p.m. ON Saturdays.

 
 
 
 

AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF GOVERNMENT  SCHOOLS

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Last modified:Wednesday, 21 November 2007