Blaise Joseph

Education reviews are booming. Shame the same can’t be said about school standards

25 June 2020 7:45 pm

Don’t be fooled by the “back to basics” language from the Berejiklian government — in reality, this NSW curriculum review…

School closures: light at the end of the tunnel – except in Danandrewstan

3 May 2020 1:45 pm

There is light at the end of the tunnel. Parents and policymakers have generally had enough, and schools are now…

School closures hurt disadvantaged families more

23 April 2020 9:53 pm

Schools are one of the most complex parts of the policy response to coronavirus. Policymakers seemingly have to navigate the…

Why school exams matter

13 November 2019 4:02 pm

Undoubtedly, the Higher School Certificate is hard. But final exams are not intended to be easy — to be some…

The climate strike: slacktivism and sloppy thinking

20 September 2019 11:03 am

Would you rather be stuck in school at a maths lesson on a Friday afternoon or be outside stirring with your mates? No prizes for…

No, school choice does not cause ‘segregation’

25 July 2019 1:28 pm

The mental gymnastics displayed by some people in order to blame freedom of school choice for Australia’s education woes never…

We need to do better with teacher training

9 July 2019 3:19 pm

Australian teachers are underprepared for the classroom compared to those in other countries, according to a recent global survey. The…

Why are school standards still falling?

26 June 2019 6:34 pm

Despite all the policy differences in the election, there was little to distinguish between the two major parties on the…

Inequality in education is about more than money

22 November 2018 11:45 am

Opponents of non-government schools often claim Australia’s school system is grossly inequitable. But this is not true. Multiple international OECD…

Fresh foreign threats to free speech on universities

31 October 2018 1:04 pm

The growing concern about academic freedom and free speech on university campuses typically relates to illiberal student activists shutting down…

Catholic schools should trade funds for freedom

26 June 2018 6:01 pm

A centre-right government and the largest non-government school system in Australia should be natural allies. But you wouldn’t think so,…

iPad notes

10 March 2018 9:00 am

Distractions I sat nervously in the waiting area, tensely anticipating a diagnosis. After five minutes that seemed like five years,…

Private schools aren’t only for the rich

6 February 2018 7:49 am

Every time data is released about enrolment numbers in public and private schools, it’s closely followed by a chorus of…

Yes, Gonski

25 November 2017 9:00 am

The current political wisdom in education — or at least, the ‘wisdom’ of the Left — seems to be that…

The kids aren’t alright

3 November 2017 7:41 am

It’s always amusing when you provide extensive evidence of X, then some academics respond only by exclaiming “there is no…

Why should the rich have free public schools?

10 July 2017 12:30 pm

We all know the school stereotype. Government schools are full of disadvantaged students and struggling for money, while overfunded wealthy…

Budget 2017: more unfunded promises and hypocrisy on school spending

10 May 2017 9:04 am

One of the delicious ironies of politics is the tendency for one side to admonish the other side for doing…

Gonski 2.0 or Conski 2.0?

3 May 2017 7:08 pm

In a stunning political move, the government seized the Gonski high-ground yesterday by announcing Gonski 2.0, another review into how…

A new idea for schools that doesn’t involve more money? Outrageous!

1 February 2017 12:13 pm

An education policy that doesn’t include lavishing more money on schools? Outrageous! That’s been the common response to the federal…