Kevin Donnelly
Dr Kevin Donnelly is one of Australia’s leading education commentators and author of Why Our Schools are Failing (2004), Dumbing Down: outcomes-based and politically correct – the impact of the culture wars on our schools (2007) and Australia’s Education Revolution: How Kevin Rudd Won and Lost the Education Wars (2009).
He taught English for 18 years in Victorian government and non-government secondary schools and has been a member of state and national curriculum bodes, including the Year 12 English Panel of Examiners, the Victorian Board of Studies and the Discovering Democracy Programme.
Kevin is Director of Melbourne-based Education Standards Institute. http://www.edstandards.com.au ESI is a conservative think-tank committed to an education system based on standards, equity, diversity and choice and the values and institutions that promote liberty, democracy, an open and free society and a commitment to Christian beliefs and values.
Articles by Kevin Donnelly
Education revolution? Pah! It’s a bureaucrat bonanza
The Austrian economist Friedrich Hayek, in the Road to Serfdom, warns against centralised planning and control. He also warns of…... Read more
Dogmatic private school haters will never, ever learn
Do Australian schools reinforce disadvantage and fail to promote equity in education? Cultural-left critics, like the Australian Education Union, teacher…... Read more
Competition between schools deserves a sporting chance
The London Olympic Games later this year has focused minds on the place of competition, excellence and winning in sport.…... Read more
Too many strings attached to Federal schools funding
Much of the argument and debate around the Gonski funding review, which is due for release next Monday, relates to…... Read more
Hey! Gillard! Leave them schools alone
The Prime Minister’s decision to throw Peter Garrett, the education minister, a lifeline in the form of Brendan O’Connor to…... Read more
Stop treating private schools like rich snooty cousins
Given today’s national day of action being called by non-government school critics like the Australian Education Union, a recent publication…... Read more
The PC species is full of faeces
There you have it! After 40 years of feminists like Germaine Greer and the sisterhood telling men that it’s wrong…... Read more
The more school options, the better it is for all of us
One of the major criticisms of Catholic and independent schools advanced by those arguing that government funding should be cut…... Read more
Green with class envy and bent on change
Last week’s decision by the Independent Education Union of Australia to split from the Australian Council of Trade Unions because…... Read more
‘Mad as a cut snake’ as insulting as ‘meow’
The argument that much of Australia’s media and associated journalists are cultural-left in their leanings is proven by last week’s…... Read more
Exclusive public schools vs. egalitarian private schools
Vitriolic claims that private schools are elitist ignore the fact that public schools can be even more exclusive. The Wheeler…... Read more
Gillard’s best mate Obama is no rap for NAPLAN
President Obama’s attack on high-stakes, standardised tests, like Australia’s National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), proves once again that…... Read more
Curriculum is substandard, PC, and ignores Christianity
In the lead-up to the 2007 federal election, ALP leader Kevin Rudd staked the middle ground in education by advocating…... Read more
Gillard setting private schools up for a fall
One wonders whether David Gonski, appointed by Julia Gillard when Minister for Education to head the Commonwealth Government’s school funding…... Read more
Hey Julia, you built the halls, now fix the schools
Education, especially school funding, is not only a barbecue stopper; it is also a vote changer. Just ask Mark Latham…... Read more
Increasing opportunity for Australian schools
What is the best way to raise standards, especially amongst disadvantaged groups, and make sure that Australian students are achieving…... Read more
Turning MySchool into a battlefield in a class war
Non-government schools are angry over the way the My School website is about to make public their sources of funding…... Read more
Lesbian prom ban: religious schools can set standards
Given Victoria’s November election and the Greens Party’s policy on sexual orientation and gender identity this week’s controversy about a…... Read more
Backward and destructive, Greens policy discriminates
In an attempt to claim respectability and to convince voters that they are no longer a haven for aged hippies,…... Read more
Can Julia Gillard be believed on school funding?
On face value, Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s decision to extend the current non-government school funding model for an additional year…... Read more
Smashing the myths about private school funding
There’s nothing new in the Australian Education Union’s campaign against the Liberal Party and it’s attack on Tony Abbott. During…... Read more
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Abbott’s crass logic: trash the Parliament in order save it
An email was sent to almost every politician in Australia this week saying that someone should cut off…
Our special forces don’t always need special treatment
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A good holiday is about unrest, not rest
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From: They must pay for one’s bitter disappointments
Michael S says:
"A teacher at Geelong Grammar had criticised her for using words that were too long, which had left her confused and had made her doubt her ability to write essays. She became ''quite distressed'' when her English marks began to fall." I can sympathise. My scholastic mentors conveyed to me a causal relationship… [read more]From: Welfare for breeders is a bonus for everyone
Change Up! says:
I have no problem paying my taxes. As a single, childless person on a very decent income, I can afford it and not have my life severely altered. Plus I understand that my taxes paying for things like schools, childcare and infrastructure is ultimately a good thing. A better community is better for me… [read more]Gentle jabs to the ribs
They must pay for one’s bitter disappointments
A private school girl’s family is sueing her elite, extremely expensive private school for not… Read more
