PUBLIC EDUCATION SUPPORTERS SHOULD VOTE TO THROW THE KENNET GOVERNMENT OUT

Mr Ray Nilsen, president of the D.O.G.S. said today that Supporters of Public Education and the Public Good should vote to throw the Kennett Government out next Saturday, 18 September 1999. The Kennett Government personifies evil for both Public Education and the Public Good.

As well as  vital statistics which reveal a deliberate and manufactured decline in public education by the Coalition, Kennett  has also embarked on the "Schools of the Future" and "Self Governing Schools " programs. These are designed by Kennett's political and administrative functionaries for the debacle, destruction and demise of the public school system in this State. Overt and coveryt supporters of church school interests dominate such functionaries.

The Self Governing Schools program is not a "Brave New World " of education, but a variant of schemes that were tried, found wanting and rejected in Australia over 120 years ago. Local involvement in employment, recruitment, hiring, payment and firing of teachers; local tax collection; and local maintenance of schools; have all been tried and abandoned.

After seven years in Government, with public education is at its lowest ebb since 1872, in terms of percentage share of pupil population. (See Statistics Page)   Since 1992,D.O.G.S. have not discovered one word of support and promotion of the public school system from either Kennett or his lackeys. They have failed to promote a public system  which is PUBLIC IN PURPOSE, BENEFIT,ACCESS, ACCOUNTABILIY, OWNERSHIP AND FUNDING - the crucial indicia of a free secular and universal system of public education.

In a dangerous political and educational environment for public education, it is utter folly to introduce self-government schools. This involves   deliberate fractionising of the public education system.

If public schools do not hang together, they will surely hang separately.

All public minded citizens should be concerned by what has happened and is on the drawing boards for  public education. The public education system is central to the making and maintaining of a free, liberal, harmonious, heterogeneous and democratic state. It is the most important communal activity in a civil society and is the reason why Australia is as peaceful as it is.