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Della and his mates buckle under to Howard agenda
Monday 24 September 2007
NSW Education Minister John Della Bosca has joined his state and territory colleagues in giving in-principle support to Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop’s agenda of performance pay for teachers and ranking of schools by test results, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
Dr Kaye said: “It is disappointing to see Minister Della Bosca signing off on the ‘Future of Schooling Report’ which commits the state to performance pay and schools ranking.
“Both of these are bad news for public school students.
“Ranking schools by test results will inevitably damage institutions serving disadvantaged communities. The focus should be helping schools that are doing it tough, not punishing them with public humiliation.
“Teacher performance pay will divide staff rooms and undermine cooperation between teachers.
“This was the time to stand up to the Federal Minister and have the argument about what is best for the students of public education.
“The report squibs the hard questions of funding, support for children with special needs and class sizes and goes for the easy but damaging crowd pleasers.
“Minister Della Bosca knows that this will not work but he is keeping a lid on dissent in the lead up to the federal election.
“That might help Kevin Rudd’s low profile target approach but it is bad news for the students and teachers of public education.
“It is not too late.
“NSW should break ranks and reject this ideologically-driven race to competitive schooling models.
“If one state shows some courage, we can have the debate about lifting outcomes, especially for children from disadvantaged communities. Then the real issues of resourcing public education can take centre stage,” Dr Kaye said.
