Gillard Misses the Point

Julia Gillard ignores a fundamental point about schools and learning. Learning does not simply take place in the classroom, but in the playground, in the school "community". By all means dispense with the divisive public/private, religious/non-religious, selective/non-selective debates, but do not ignore the wider issue. The real issue is inclusive-versus-exclusive. Schools that are segregated along economic, religious, or academic lines teach appalling lessons. Why can't all of our children just go to school together? Why do we have to corral them into educational ghettoes? We don't need diversity between schools - what good does that do for any child? Each and every school needs diversity within its walls where my child, your child, can benefit from it. Julia, you may be the minister in charge, you may even be the deputy prime minister, but you don't get to dictate what should or should not be debated. Education is about so much more than service delivery, and the Julia Gillard we put into power knows it. You have the rare opportunity to make a difference. Were we so wrong to believe in you?