WHO KILLED PUBLIC EDUCATION?

By Jane Caro

(With apologies to ''Who Killed Cock Robin?'')

''Who killed public education?'' ''I'', said the Feds,
''With my States Education Grants, I killed public education.''
''Who saw it die?'' ''I'', said Bob Carr,
''With my fear of taking action, I saw it die.''
''Who caught its blood?'' ''I'', said the private schools,
''With both hands outstretched, I caught its blood.''
''Who'll make the shroud?'' ''I'' said middle class parents,
''With my income and my paranoia, I'll make the shroud.''
''Who'll dig its grave?'' ''I'', said the public school teachers
Who send their own kids to private schools, ''I'll dig its grave.''
''Who'll be the parson?'' ''I'', said the church schools,
''With my so-called Christian values, I'll be the parson.''
''Who'll be the clerk?'' ''I'', said the media,
''With my shock headlines and superficial analysis, I'll be the clerk.''
''Who'll be chief mourner?'' ''I'', said the poor child,
''With my lost opportunities and wasted talents, I'll be chief mourner.''
''Who'll carry the coffin?'' ''I'', said the time-serving teachers,
''If it's not after 3 or in school holidays, I'll carry the coffin.''
''Who'll bear the pall?'' ''We'', said the mother and father,
''With our dead hopes for our children, we'll bear the pall.''
''Who'll sing the psalm?'' ''I'', said the employers,
''With my under-educated workforce, I'll sing the psalm.''
''Who'll toll the bell?'' ''I'', said the dedicated teachers,
''Because I had no pull, I'll toll the bell.''

But then there fell a-sighing and a-sobbing every person in the nation,
When they finally heard the bell toll for public education.