Protest against subsidies to private schools

BY GAIL LORD

SYDNEY — A group of pro-public education activists, including members of the Democratic Socialist Party and the Internationalist Socialist Organisation, demonstrated outside the Kings School in North Parramatta on November 2 to protest the recent hikes in private school funding by the Howard government.

The federal government's funding rort will deliver an extra $330,000 every year to the already privileged school. Kings' total funding from state and federal sources will reach over $3 million by 2002.

A speaker from the Promotion of Public Education (POPE) group denounced the Carr state Labor government for reducing public school funding. A teacher from Sir Joseph Banks High School told of how this school will only have $1000 to spend on textbooks next year.

While the response to the protest rally from Kings' students and their parents however was hostile, many drivers passing by on Pennant Hills road signalled their support.

Another action protesting the federal government's subsidies to private schools has been proposed by the Activist Teachers Network. For more information contact John Gauchi on 02-690 1977.

From GLW issue 427