“Perhaps a well-ordered classroom where teachers have authority is an old idea. But it is a good idea, a forward-looking idea” — John Howard

The Howard government’s education posturing is now so predictable it’s becoming funny rather than serious. In the latest of his “Dog Whistle Rising”* series of speeches last night, The Man Of Steel ranted hysterically about how schools aren’t tackling bullying effectively and that the way to spend money on education in the 21st century is not to spend money:

TODAY’S education challenge in Australia is about quality rather than money, Prime Minister John Howard has declared.

He said that for a long time, debates in Australia focused almost exclusively on money spent, not results. This was still the territory fiercely defended by many educationalists, state bureaucracies and unions.

“But in the end, money in doesn’t equal quality out. What’s increasingly clear from education debates around the world is that quality demands choice, diversity, specialisation, transparency and competition.”

(source)

So with this new anti-spending philosophy in mind, Johnny has decided that the best way to tackle the scourge of bullying in schools is to have them provide more information about their bullying policies to parents. Take that, bullies!

Of course, ramming religion (in the guise of “values”) down the throats of our kids is far more important than tackling bullying which is why the non-spending Prime Minister recently found $90 million to pay for chaplains in schools.

Imagine the measurable effect that $90 million worth of welfare officers in schools would have on bullying and student wellbeing. Then compare it to the useless symbolism and wedge politics of forcing schools to better communicate their bullying policies to parents.

Must be an election around the corner. Time to bash public schools and rebadge 1950s black-and-white-television worldviews as forward-looking and progressive.

* May not be actual title of speech