Public schools, not corporate schools!

Vanguard
Nick G.

In November 2008, US weapons manufacturer Raytheon entered into a three-year sponsorship deal with a South Australian high school.

The school was one of three hosting a special course for students of high intellectual potential, drawn from all over the state.

Raytheon, one of the largest weapons manufacturers in the world and fourth largest contractor with the Australian Defence Forces, provided $450,000 over three years to “mentor” the students as future employees.

That deal has now run its course.

But under a plan announced by Abbott during his recent visit to the US, the government will promote whole schools to be placed under the control of giant corporations.

He revealed the plan after visiting a New York school funded by the government but effectively run by IBM.

IBM “shapes” the school curriculum and creates a pathway into a two-year tertiary degree in applied science.

The IBM sponsorship guarantees the company a compliant workforce trained to its immediate specifications. 

It means that these students have a narrow curriculum designed to meet the skills demand in information technology.

Australian Education Union researcher Mike Williss said “This is not what education is meant to be.

“Sure we want kids with job-ready skills, but we also want kids with life-ready skills.

“We need more skilled critics of society, more skilled advocates on behalf of the marginalised, more skilled defenders of the common good, more skilled organisers for social progress, more skilled leaders of movements for social justice.”

Abbott has opened the door to corporate devastation of a child’s right to an all-round education.

He has opened the door for Raytheon, BAE Systems, and any one of the big end of town’s major players to run whole schools.

Communities must fight for the right to high quality, comprehensive public education in a local school.

Public school, not corporate schools!
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Further reading:

AEU Federal President slams corporatized education:
http://www.aeufederal.org.au/Media/MediaReleases/2014/1206.pdf