School Reform
The Age Friday, August 29, 2008
The Editor,
It is impressive that the PM and the deputy PM have come out and boldly promised more equal opportunity for the children of Australia – by making the school industry accountable.
A public relations camouflage job has long kept the inequities hidden. The teacher unions have always paraded as the champions of the underdog. But it is they who have constantly opposed any hope of getting better schooling for the less advantaged children.
Only external testing, merit promotion of staff and public knowledge of schools’ student-improvement rates can deliver a fair go. As in all fields of service delivery, the key to quality schooling is the right of the parent to know what’s going on and to vote with their feet.
Philip O'Carroll