BOOK: The Stupid Country
Date: 01 August 2007
The Stupid Country: How Australia is
dismantling public education
Chris
Bonnor ,
Jane
Caro
Published by New South (UNSW
Press)
RRP $29.95
This book casts a clear
and uncompromising spotlight on what is really going on in our public and
private schools. Drawing on a substantial body of knowledge, opinion and
research on schooling in Australia and overseas, the book argues that public education
is being compromised by factors such as government policy, parents, the church
and ideology, and that unless we find policy alternatives, Australia could
indeed become 'the stupid country'.
Unlike other commentators on the subject, the authors rise above the public versus private debate and combine their experience as a parent and school principal to unpack the myths and realities about education. Warning of the catastrophic effects of school growth and government inaction, this book will make it impossible for parents, teachers and general readers to remain complacent about the framework of public and private schooling in Australia.
THE AUTHORS
Chris Bonnor AM is an
education writer with wide experience in teaching, consultancy and school leadership. His interests
and research have spanned geography, gender education and education systems and he has
presented at many conferences in
Australia and overseas. He was most recently the president of the NSW
Secondary Principals Council. He writes on educational issues for a number of publications,
including New Matildo and
Sydney
newspapers.
Jane Caro is an award winning advertising writer with 25 years experience. In recent years, she has broadened her experience into reviews, opinion pieces, regular columns, broadcasting and speaking. She also writes on educational and other issues for a range of publications, including newspapers and New Matilda. Jane is also a product of the NSW public education system, including a free university educacion. She is the parent of two teenage daughters, both educated in NSW public schools.
THE CRITIC
"Education used to be one of the great equalising institutions of a proudly egalitarian nation. Children from well-off and battling families went to school together. Now, school funding is reinforcing and extending socio-economic stratification. In the name of 'choice' we're building a twoclass education system."... Ross Gittins, Foreword
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