With an endorsement by David Gonski (AO), the findings are so revealing that it may be worth begging that Class Act be mandatory reading for those who influence education policy.
Uncannily, the first of six schools that McKew uses as case studies is Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Waterloo. She recognises the cultural diversity at the primary school (70 per cent of 127 pupils identify as Indigenous) and attributes “a sense of moral purpose” introduced to OLMC by Principal John Farell, whilst recognising factors of inequality in student life outside school hours. In the classroom, however, current NAPLAN results reflect achievements above those of “statistically similar schools”.
With education comes pride, and with pride there is hope. Class Act articulates vast discrepancies in schools across Australia where funding is not afforded and hope is, hence, denied. Education wars exist; this is a blueprint to end them.
