Public schools and public education have been the cornerstone of Australia's  peaceful, harmonious and liberal democratic state. Public schools and public education have, since the nineteenth century, been responsible for the education of over 70% of its citizens.

But where does public education and the public school fit in the education policy, schemes and rhetoric of Rudd and Smith?

If anyone needs convincing that Rudd and Smith are backing private schools forgetting public schools in the process, just review five major ALP Education Statements since January 2007.

Rudd and Smith combined in two such presentations: "New Directions for Our Schools" 28 February 2007 and " No Hit List"  19 March 2007. On 8 occasions "education" was used as a noun. Not once was it prefaced by the word "Public".

On 19 occasions, "schools" was referred to as a noun. Not once was it prefaced by the word "public"

On 23 January 2007, Rudd presented Australia's "Future Growth Challenge". He used Education as a noun more than 30 times. Not once was it prefaced with the word "public". Smith presented two major Statements. On February 8 2007, Smith made a Statement entitled : " Education: A Matter of Public Importance". He was able to fit the word "public" in the title, but he could not bring himself to refer to "public education" or "public schools" in the body of the address. He used the word "Schools" as a noun on 20 occasions but not once prefaced by the word "public".

When discussing the ALP program: "Local Schools Working Together" 20 March 2007,  Smith used the word "Schools" on four occasions but not once did he preface the word "Schools" with the word "public".

If the contributions of these two ALP leaders are combined we discover that in over 35 pages of key policy education statements these two key persons could not mention the word "public" once even though there were 38 uses of the word "schools"  and 43 uses of the word "education" as a noun.

There is no doubt that public schools and public education are not even on the radar for these ALP leaders. They appear unable to see beyond the private faith school vote and clerical influence to the vote of the majority of Australian parents. It is no wonder that, with leaders with this outlook, public education and schools suffered its worst day from the Federal ALP on March 19, 2007.

Rudd and Smith  are leading the ALP attack on public education and public schools. Unlike any former ALP leader and Minister or shadow minister of education, they have three things in common. They :

•  are "cradle Catholics"

•  attended a school of that particular faith, and

•  have neither an understanding of or commitment to our  public system of education.

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