I write in response to Craig Jory (‘Private schools teacher’s pet for Liberals’, The Border Mail, May 29) in which he alleged the Turnbull government is proposing to slash funding to government schools in favour of private schools.
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He laments the media has overlooked what he sees as largesse extended to independent schools, building a case of haves and have nots, but the debate we have to have is between freedom and control. The federal government is hardly likely to seriously reduce the reach of public education, or unfund the public broadcaster for that matter. They want to stay in power, after all.
The private schools are likely to be the sticking point for the activists because these places have some independence over what they teach. I'm not saying everyone in the public system is tarred with the same brush but if students learn how to think, not what to think they would be equipped to reject political correctness and identity politics.
They would understand the science of climate change is not settled, for example, saving us from a lot of unnecessary propaganda.
Imagine how little we would know about ourselves if our memories only went back a week. The triumph of freedom and reason as the cornerstone of democracy is not a law of physics, but just an idea that has captured our minds relatively recently. It won't continue unless we argue for its value and ensure we pass it on, as it was passed to us.
Mike Burston, Myrrhee
It’s just small change
Why does Albury City Council worry about losing $250,000 to the airline JetGo after losing $3 million at the Lavington Oval, and wasting another $2 million at the tip in the last budget.
Jon Carrodus, Lavington
Dissent ‘not tolerated’
There is growing disillusionment and frustration of residents with Indigo Shire Council, a council that is becoming increasingly aloof, arrogant and arbitrary. It is time that Indigo Shire Councillors were reminded that Indigo Shire is not a province of Putin's Russia or North Korea.
Australia is supposed to be one of the great liberal democracies of the world that puts great value on citizens' rights including the right of free speech.
Instead of upholding these values Indigo Shire Council tries very hard to censure ratepayers, threatening them with ejection from meetings if they ask embarrassing questions.
Political correctness rules. Council meetings and community forums are choreographed. Dissent is not tolerated.
Citizens have every right to publicly question and criticise councillors and bureaucrats and to expect their concerns to be properly acted upon.
If Indigo Shire Councillors are not prepared to uphold our democratic values and govern for all of the community instead of just for the “favoured few” it is time they moved on. Unfortunately they are not listening.
John Harvey, Beechworth
What price silence?
I wonder what it would cost to get Barnaby Joyce to shut up?
If the price of his “exclusive” story was $150,000, I would suggest that most of Australia would be more than happy to chip in and could raise over and above that figure if he would just promise to go away, and say nothing.