WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PROMOTION OF

PUBLIC EDUCATION IN

EDUCATION WEEK IN VICTORIA

Next week 11-17 May 2003 has been declared by the Victorian Education  Minister Kosky as "Education Week". In all the media material that DOGS have perused there is no mention of the virtues and benefits of "public" education. Neither have we discovered any promotion of Public Education by the two new top appointees to positions of power Kim Bannikoff and Jennifer Westacott. 

This neglect continues an appalling record of Ministers of Education and Bureaucratic heads of Education in Victoria stretching back to the 1960s at least. We have yet to find any strong promotion of public education over all these years. This is a disgrace.

It stands in stark contrast to the strong statements and positions taken by NSW teachers, Directors and Ministers in recent years.

For instance, DOGS contrast the strong support of public education by Dr. Ken Boston when he was Director of the NSW public education system. We also note the statements made by Minister Watkins.

We also note that the Labor party governments in both NSW and Victoria are there on the public school vote.

Minister Kosky ,Steve Bracks, and Mr Brumby appear to be slow learners on their best interests in the ballot box on the education question.

The first test for any positions in public education should be a commitment to public education in both word and deed.

We urge all supporters of public education in Victoria and Australia to follow the NSW teachers federation who, with others , are celebrating public education day on 22 May 2003 

For details see the NSW Teachers Federation Media Centre on

http://www.nswtf.org.au