Big Ideas Jane Caro — why Australia is failing our school system
Nov 25, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Jane Caro, a passionate author and public school advocate, reveals how Australia's school choice obsession is undermining public education. She critiques neoliberalism for fostering societal division and highlights how funding private schools perpetuates inequality. Caro shares personal anecdotes linking political misinformation to education challenges and emphasizes the importance of community responsibility over individualism. With a hopeful tone, she advocates for reducing anxiety in schools to enhance student outcomes and calls for renewed support for public education.
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Neoliberalism Fuels School Segregation
- Neoliberalism drives segregation by elevating parental choice above collective responsibility in education.
- Jane Caro argues this philosophy prioritises individual market rights and deepens societal divides by design.
Reunion Reveals Radicalised Friend
- Jane Caro recounts meeting a former schoolfriend who embraced QAnon and Trumpism after anti-vax beliefs.
- She uses the reunion to illustrate how abandoning evidence leads to dangerous political shifts.
Australia's Unique Voucher-Like System
- Australia has embraced market-style school choice more intensely than comparable countries.
- Jane Caro warns this has turned public funding into an ersatz voucher system that widens opportunity gaps.
