Greens pursue politics of envy in schooling

Ignored is that forcing non-government schools to employ or enrol those unable to accept the spiritual and moral beliefs of a particular school strikes at the very nature of such schools and the reason they exist.

Additional evidence of the Greens desire to enforce a secular agenda on schools and a desire to restrict the role of religion in the public space is its demand that the National School Chaplaincy and School Welfare Program no longer be funded.

In Australia and overseas, the consensus is that one of the more effective ways to raise standards is to promote autonomy, diversity and flexibility in education. Whether the UK example of Free Schools or the US model of charter schools, the evidence is that autonomy is a tide that can lift all boats.

Proving itself both backward looking and a party captured by unions like the Australian Education Union, the Greens' policy argues in favour of "a system-wide transfer system" and against schools and their communities having power over staffing and finances.

Despite evidence to the contrary, the education policy also recommends funding be directed at smaller class sizes on the mistaken belief that such an initiative will lead to "the best educational outcomes for all students".

After receiving the Gonski report on school funding some 12 months ago the Commonwealth government is expected to finally release details about the new funding model, which will take effect at the start of 2014, early next year.

Given the Gillard-led government's reliance on the Greens Party it's understandable that many in the non-government school sector are concerned that the politics of class envy and religious intolerance will prevail.