April 9, 2007 8:29AM 

# National Standards, Aussie Style 

By [Andrew J. Coulson](https://www.cato.org/people/andrew-coulson) 

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If the U.S. does decide to homogenize its education system with uniform national standards and tests, our misery may be lessened by some companionship from the land down under.

Australia is currently toying with the same idea, and [columnist Kevin Donnelly](http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21515020-601,00.html) is trying to keep his country from biting that particular bullet (or rather, the muzzle of the gun housing it).

Donnelly tempts fate, however, by suggesting a federal government role in evaluating national curricula proposed by independent sources. It’s a small political step from evaluation to prescription, and there’s no compelling reason to think that government involvement would help.

##### Related Tags 

[Education](https://www.cato.org/education), [General](https://www.cato.org/general), [Center for Educational Freedom](https://www.cato.org/center-educational-freedom) 

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