Total government spending for each Victorian government school student in 2005-06 was $10,352. Total spending for each non-government school student was almost half that figure — $5614. Independent school parents pick up the difference and in Victoria they are going to have to make an even bigger sacrifice.

Kathy Cox appeared on the third season premiere of Fox’s “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” The Republican superintendent drew criticism for appearing on the show from some who said she had better things to do.

The Rudd Government’s push for greater transparency in the performance of schools has been widely read as copycat politics. Successive Liberal ministers were determined to “out” poorly performing schools. How is Kevin Rudd different?

Federal Education Minister Gillard claims the debate about resourcing is over. She echoes political opponents who haven’t given a damn about educational equity since the Menzies era. The debate, according to Rudd and Gillard, is now about values and tough love — which means tough times for many government schools.

Kevin Rudd fought the election by promising “fresh leadership” that would make our lives better without involving unpopular change. Indeed, he promised to retain vast swathes of John Howard’s policies. In short, he promised change without change. The public’s slowly growing disillusionment with the Rudd Government represents its dawning realisation that change without change isn’t possible.