AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
PRESS RELEASE 628#
Privatisation of Public Education, IBAC, the Auditor General, - and Corruption
Back to basics- DOGS note that a democracy, as opposed to an oligarchy, or a plutocracy has
‘ The application of any public interest test would see a strong case to remove competition as a guiding or organising principle for the provision of education.’ AEU Submission to the Harper Committee
AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
PRESS RELEASE 626#
THE HARPER REPORT, THE GST AND PRIVATISATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION
The night before this year’s VCE English exam, one Xavier College student called state school students "povo f---s" on a popular VCE discussion page on Facebook. The 18-year-old said he was "eternally grateful" that his parents had sent him to a good, private school instead of a "poverty stricken s---hole in Pakenham". and
"Remember to say hi to me when I'm your boss one day."
In his 2007 maiden speech SImon Birmingham trotted out the voucher privatisation rhetoric, weeping crocodile tears for ‘needy’ parents as follows:
It is time that at least one state, in at least one region, trialled the implementation of school vouchers – affording all families the opportunity of choice, the opportunity to allocate the government funding for their child to pay the fees to the school of their choice…The neediest should not be the ones to miss out on choice.
In 2012 he also expressed support for US-style charter schools (privately managed public schools).
Australian parents and taxpayers are entitled to, indeed they are owed, a genuinely free, secular and universal public school system!
But Principals of underfunded public schools are now desperate enough to undermine the very concept of a free public education. As governments press forward with the privatization of public education, isolated principals imitate their more fortunate private school counterparts and charge fees for essentials.
It is highly questionable whether public schools can be blamed for the actions of radicalised teenagers. Blame for violence lies with the perpetrators and those who corrupt them.
However, as DOGS have argued, religious radicalisation of teenagers in a public school coud be one of the unintended consequences of ANY religious group, however genuine and well-meaning, obtaining the right to enter public schools for the purpose of promoting ANY religious beliefs This is why our public schools must be free, universal and SECULAR.
Public School supporters have found Bill Shorten falls short as a Labor leader when it comes to promoting public education. He claims that penalty rates are the difference for some people being able to afford to send their children to a private school or not.
"For people on 40 and 50 and 60,000 dollars a year, penalty rates are the difference as to whether they can afford to send their kids to a private school, whether or not they can afford to pay the mortgage," he said on Monday.
Archibishop Hart of Melbourne demands religious freedom for Catholics and Catholic school teachings on sexuality. He also argues against those questioning Catholic discrimination in employment in Catholic institutions. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/extend-tolerance-to-catholic-tea...
Strangely, Hart does not fall back on the religious freedom clause – Section 116 – of the Australian Constitution. But then, the Catholic Church is not about ‘freedom of conscience’ or freedom ‘from’ religion. He starts his article, ‘Extend tolerance to Catholic teachings too’, in The Australian of 1 October 2015 with that very odd, selfish freedom, namely ‘freedom of choice’.
AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
PRESS RELEASE 619#
SOCIAL SEGREGATION INCREASING
AS RESULT OF STATE AID TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS