BY JINGO

Howard flags new requirement for schools seeking funding

Every Australian school will be required to have a functional flag pole if they are to receive additional funding, under Federal Government legislation to be introduced to Parliament tomorrow.
The flagpole requirement is one of the conditions that will be attached to $31 billion in Commonwealth school funding.
Mr Howard has rejected suggestions that making schools fly the Australian flag is old-fashioned.

[He is right: the western nations are becoming more and more characterized by chauvinistic patriotism. And by a complementary dose of xenophobia.]