The worst of both worlds: How u.s. and u.k. models are influencing australian education

Abstract

This commentary explores the so-called global ‘crisis’ in education and the corresponding pressures and moves to ‘reform’ education, and in particular, public education. The myths underpinning and driving these developments are examined. Supposed problems with (public) education and proposed solutions are explored. The solutions include government, institutional and corporate support for non-traditional forms of schooling such as government funded independent, for-profit schools, free schools, charter schools, cyber schools and academies. These are proliferating despite a lack of supporting evidence and in some cases in spite of non-supportive evidence. General deregulation of education at a..