Fighting for Equity in Education
//A groundbreaking new book demonstrates that increasing inequalities in education outcomes are associated with growing income inequality. It shows that rising economic inequality is undermining one of the most important goals of public education—the ability of schools to provide children with an equal chance at academic and economic success.
Continue reading “Economic Inequality is the Root Cause of Education Inequality”
//Save Our Schools today called on the Gonski Review of School Funding to use its commissioned research reports as the foundation for a new school funding model. In releasing its submission on the reports, the national convenor of SOS, Trevor Cobbold, said that Review Committee should disregard the hysterical reaction of private school organisations to the reports. Continue reading “Gonski Review Should Disregard Private School Hysterics”
//Inequity and injustice continue to pervade Australian education under Labor. Data published on the My School website show shockingly large achievement and income gaps between the richest and poorest schools while millions in government funding is wasted on the wealthiest private schools. Continue reading “Inequity, Disadvantage and Education Outcomes”
//The My School website reveals shockingly large achievement and income gaps between the richest and poorest metropolitan schools in Australia. However, there is little difference between the results of well-off government and private schools, even though total private school income is about double that of government schools.
This suggests that nearly $400 million in annual government funding for wealthy private schools is being wasted and would be better spent on the most disadvantaged schools to improve student outcomes. Continue reading “Public Education and the Disadvantaged Let Down by Labor”
//New school census figures for the ACT earlier this year provoked national publicity because they showed that Territory had become the first state or territory with most students in private schools at any level. The figures showed that there are more ACT students in private high schools (years 7 to 10 in the ACT) than in public schools.
An analysis of enrolment trends by the researcher Barbara Preston shows that there are several reasons for the higher share of enrolments by the private sector in the ACT compared to Australia.
Continue reading “An Analysis of Trends in Enrolment Shares in ACT Schools”//The ultimate in the logic of applying market principles to education is revealed in an English state school which colour codes its students by ability. It portends the future under a market driven education system. Continue reading “The Logic of the Education Market Revealed in English State School”
//Save Our Schools USA has organised a march on Washington DC on 30 July and a national call for action against market-based policies which are destroying public education. The following is a statement by the organising committee. Continue reading “Save Our Schools March On Washington DC”
//The ACT school system is under-performing. It has very high quality outcomes, but results have declined over the period of the Labor Government and there is extensive social inequity with a large achievement gap between students from low and high income families. Social segregation is also increasing.
Continue reading “The ACT School System is Under-Performing”//The consultation on school closures by the Tasmanian Greens Minister for Education, Nick McKim, is a sham. It is restricted to only four weeks, which is not nearly enough time for school communities to prepare their case. The impact statements prepared by the Minister amount to a list of benefits of closing schools and fail to spell out the full effect on families and communities.
Continue reading “ACT Legislation Is A Model for Consultation on School Closures”
//Save Our Schools Tasmania is holding a rally against school closures on the 7th of July in Hobart, from 11am at Parliament House.
A Facebook site for Save Our Schools has been set up to co-ordinate the campaign against 20 proposed school closures announced by the Greens Minister for Education, Nick McKim.
Many of the schools facing closure have also set up their own individual Facebook page as well.
Join in the campaign. Contact Save Our Schools Tasmania.