Teachers in public schools have delivered on a new HSC despite every group involved in education calling for a delay to allow proper resourcing, literacy across the curriculum in primary and secondary, new syllabuses in primary, individualised outcomes-based assessment and reporting, timetabling of classes outside normal teaching hours, introduction of vocational education courses in secondary, new syllabuses in secondary history studies, organisation of Sing 2001, contributions to the Pan Pacific Games, the Schools Spectacular, myriad mathematics competitions, drama and music productions, art displays, Stock Exchange games, Statewide sporting competitions, ELLA and Basic Skills Tests regardless of the ban on this year's ELLA test for staffing reasons. Every one of these involves a teacher's goodwill and an increase in the normal workload. Give the students in public schools a break and pay their teachers fairly. Neil Jones, Rollands Plains. The claim that HECS charges provide a precedent for such a scheme is nonsense.
Higher education is a privilege and an asset.
Being incarcerated is neither. The closest precedent I can recall for such a policy was Hermann Goering's proposal to fine the Jewish community to cover the payments which German insurance companies had to make following the Kristallnacht program in November 1938. George D'Aran, Nelson Bay. If incorrect, he's still a liar. John Feller, Rose Bay.