Letter to the Editor by Kathy Walker (The Age Newspaper January 14th 2007)

Shame on Grammar principal

I read with great disappointment the recent comments attributed to Melbourne Grammar principal Paul Sheahan ("State primary schools branded second-rate", The Sunday Age, ?/1) claiming that "the consistent quality of teaching in most of the private schools is better than the alternative".

As a former academic and currently a writer and consultant in education, I visit and work with teachers in independent, state and Catholic schools every week. I consider myself privileged to collaborate with such a range of schools and teachers and to witness the diversity and richness of teaching and learning that occurs across all socioeconomic groups.

In my experience, there are high-quality and mediocre teachers in all systems. Great teachers are committed to providing excellence to all students, and do not see education as a commodity to be bought. Many of these teachers choose to teach in the state system. Second, just because some teachers are attracted to independent schools doesn't necessarily mean that such teachers offer higher quality teaching, or that all teachers are motivated by money. Third, the tertiary institutions that all teachers have attended in their preservice days are the same. They learn how to be teachers alongside each other.

It is a shame that someone in a position of authority and leadership in education feels competent to comment upon the quality of teachers in different sectors when he has a vested interest only in one.

Contrary to what Mr Sheahan supposes, there is no objective way for a parent to know the outcomes of the educational black box in advance. The solution is for parents to get close to their child's teachers, and to work with them in ensuring a happy learning experience, irrespective of the amount expended on school fees or the slick generalisations made by various principals.

KATHY WALKER, Brighton