What’s wrong with schools is pesky parents who want kids to learn something

What’s wrong with schools — striking students? Joe Hinchcliffe, The Age, November 30:

Several thousand Victorian students marched out of the classroom and took to the streets of Melbourne on Friday to demand action on climate change. With chants ranging from elaborate anti-Adani slogans to the more concise “do something, do something” and “ScoMo’s got to go!” students from private, public independent and both primary and high schools converged outside the Old Treasury building …. the Liberal federal government was in the crosshairs of many protesters …

Politicised teachers? Alison Bevege, Daily Mail Australia, November 20:

A teacher has been slammed for vowing on Facebook to “ensure the next generation of voters in my classroom don’t vote Liberal” on the eve of strike action.

Parents who want their children to learn something. Penny Flanagan, The Age, November 30:

Parents who brag about ATARs are the enemy of the state education system … It’s that time of year again when everyone starts talking about ATARs. But parents, we need to stop talking about (Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank) … while parents of high achievers will still demand their bragging rights with a defensive cry of, “They worked hard, they should be rewarded with praise!”, to them I say … It’s not a reflection of your excellent parenting, it’s a ranking, a number, an admin tool for the University Admissions Centre.

Attacking Ms G. Tony Wright, Sydney Morning Herald, November 29:

As the fraught Rudd-Gillard-Rudd years juddered along … Julia Gillard … was tormented by … Kevin Rudd’s subversion.

Heal or heel? Peter Hartcher, Sydney Morning Herald, October 20:

“It’s a time for healing,” (says Kevin Rudd, who) … reserves his harshest judgment for Julia Gillard … (claiming she) spent half a year in cahoots with a cabal of disgruntled “faceless men” … (and) “their action was driven by little more than personal political ambition, dressed up as a higher purpose”.

Time for rewriting history. Kevin Rudd, Sun Herald, November 25:

I met my wife, Therese Rein, at the ANU … I thought she was a bit of all right, so I went to her breakfast table and … (said): “Have you read The Communist Manifesto?” … During her time as prime minister, Julia copped a bucket load of sexism …. Tony Abbott … used to give Therese the creeps. I was in parliament when Julia made the famous misogyny speech, which I thought was fantastic. Julia and I may have massive differences, but I felt really proud of her. What Julia experienced relates to less-talented blokes who feel emasculated by powerful women. I didn’t … The misogyny seen in the Liberal Party’s rejection of Julie Bishop … was appalling … I was proud to have Julia Gillard as deputy prime minister … I appointed Penny Wong — female, Chinese-Australian and gay — as minister for climate change. A few of the boys asked if I knew what I was doing. I replied that I knew precisely what I was doing: appointing the smartest person in the parliament to the role.

A few of the boys objected to Wong? News.com, October 23:

Ms Gillard didn’t like Senator Penny Wong and would only refer to her as “Wong” (Rudd said).

Worst. State political reporter Richard Willingham, ABC News, November 26:

Liberal HQ (in Victoria) is being blasted. (A source said it ran) “the worst campaign I’ve ever seen”.

Worst? Political reporter Lane Calcutt, Nine News, April 10:

Kevin Rudd has launched a blistering assessment of Julia Gillard … (saying) her (2010) campaign was the “worst-run in Labor history”.