Letter

In response to Australia’s teachers – undervalued and overburdened

Vast educational inequality

As the parent of a teacher in an underprivileged public school I could not agree more with Allan. One of the fundamental characteristics that distinguishes a civilised and vibrant society is the extent to which it prioritises the education of its children. On that metric Australia is one of the biggest dunces on the planet. We not only deliberately entrench a vast educational inequality by massive funding to private schools, but guarantee a low standard of educational achievement for the bulk of our population by vast under-funding of our most needy public schools.

This has, and continues to create, an under-educated populace in an age where education will be the primary determinant of what societies will lead the future of humanity. It also disincentivises the very people we need to provide the best education – the teachers.

Their burdens are extreme whilst their resources are pitiful. But our elites are happy as an ignorant population is far easier to control!!!

— Les Macdonald from Balmain NSW 2041