New Attorney-General and Member for Enfield John Rau was right when he told a community meeting in his electorate that super schools were not the best possible outcome for Education.

 

“Massive swings in ‘safe’ Labor seats that are to host the super schools should send a clear message to new Education Minister Jay Weatherill”, says Shadow Education Minister David Pisoni,

 

“There is no doubt Kevin Foley won over Jane Lomax Smith in cabinet when she was forced to accept USA style super schools as a cost saving measure over smaller community based schools. We can only hope Jay Weatherill will fight harder for education outcomes for students than his predecessor.

 

“Mike Rann should finally deliver on his promise from opposition all those years ago to be the Education Premier, direct his Treasurer to look for saving elsewhere and drop the discredited super school concept” Mr Pisoni said.

 

On the question of closing local schools to create super schools John Rau was quite clear:

 

 

Overseas experience, particularly in the UK and United States shows a trend away from super schools. Discipline, retention and student alienation all combining to lower educational and social outcomes for students.

 

“South Australian government schools should be returned to their communities”.

 

If the Premier is listening to the people, this should be his first major policy backflip.