[Greens-Media] Stoner’s attack on public schools is wrong and hypocritical

[John Kaye]

Stoner’s attack on public schools is wrong and hypocritical
 
Media Release: 2 July 2007
 
NSW Opposition education spokesperson Andrew Stoner scored an own goal
with his spray against public schools by inadvertently highlighting the
Howard government’s bias to private education, according to Greens NSW
MP John Kaye.
 
Dr Kaye said: “Mr Stoner got the numbers wrong. Public education is
actually increasing its share of students.
 
“In Mr Stoner’s enthusiastic rush to sound off about the failures of
public education, he missed the real story. Far from ‘parents voting
with their feet’, a greater proportion of students are choosing public
education.
 
“If Mr Stoner was concerned about the number of parents sending their
children to private schools, he would get on the phone to his Coalition
colleague Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop and talk to her about
the massive increases in the Howard government’s  funding to private
schools.
 
“Enrolment numbers in public schools would be even greater if it were
not for the huge increases in federal money pouring into private
schools.
 
“Mr Stoner’s attempt to talk down public schools does nothing but
highlight the Howard government’s increasing bias towards the private
sector. 
 
“Federal funding of private schools has increased by more than 94% in
real terms since the Howard government came to power.
 
“Mr Stoner has opened the floodgates for a debate about where the
priorities of federal funding should be.  
 
“I doubt that Julie Bishop or John Howard will thank him for this.
 
“The figures actually reveal a public education success story. Despite
massive increases in funding to private schools, the public system is
able to maintain its share of students. In some parts of NSW, public
education is actually booming.
 
“Mr Stoner should be congratulating the teachers, parents and students
of public education for maintaining their numbers in the face of such
hostility from the his federal Coalition colleagues,” Dr Kaye said. 
 
For more information:John Kaye 0407 195 455
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: John.Kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000