EDUCATION - KEEPING THEM HONEST

Problems with Typepad

There appears to be a problem with Typepad and some recent posts and comments are not showing at different times..   They are apparently at present fixing the problem but I dont know when the blog will be back to normal.

If the blog is not up to date you might want to check back later to see if the problem has been fixed.

The Race Card

I really believe that we need to take away the power that the word “racist” gives to certain groups.

Discrimination based on malice and spite should be against the law regardless of who you are or where you are from. 

White Australians don’t have the power of using the race card to get their way and that makes them feel frustrated and as though they don’t have equal rights and protection.

Did you know that it is against the Law to discriminate because of race,   but it’s not against the law to discriminate against someone if they are seen as gifted or superior?

How is that fair?   

Racism

I have a suggestion on how to address these issues at the beach.

Firstly and most importantly we need to deal harshly with bullies as they are growing up regardless of where they come from or who they are.  This softly softly no blame approach to bullying and aggressive behaviour just doesn’t work, all it does is give bullies power and protection.   You only need one bully and the rest will follow.   

Once we deal seriously with bullies and bullying behaviour, that will address a lot of the vilification and harassment that is common amongst our youth that feeds the violence.

Then we need to have some beach rules and that would include swimming costumes to be worn at the beach for swimming.   Surely the Muslim community can come up with some beach attire  for their culture that better fits the Australian Beach Culture.  Aussies need to feel that Muslims understand how they feel and are trying to fit in.   The way it is now Aussies feel that our Government bends over backwards to accommodate the Muslim way without giving consideration to how the Australians feel about it or whether they agree!

Racism

Today the Sydney Morning Herald had this article on racism headed "Lets take back out beach" http://www.smh.com.au/news/editorial/lets-take-back-our-beach/2005/12/09/1134086804756.html

I must say that I don't agree that acceptance is gained by behaving as if they are accepted.  It will make no difference because the fact is that they are not accepted.  You cannot expect people to be act the way you want them to act and become Robots, everybody is different and it is supposed to be a free country.  Its a two way street. The beach belongs to everyone - in-groups and out-groups alike.

I believe that until such time as we address the roots of the racism and come to some sort of understanding and agreement on how to address the issues - nothing will change.   There needs to be acknowledgment on both sides as to their part in the problem as both sides are guilty of racism. Everybody is racist to a degree. 

Aussies have to stop telling Lebanese to go home and to not come to their beach.  There is no Lakemba beach so where exactly do they want them to go........Lebanese need to calm down and to see it from the eyes of the Aussies.  Lebanese do tend to congregate in large groups and the are loud and some do need some lessons in manners.   As do some Aussies. 

We need to learn to get along and understand what it is that causes so much hostility.  I believe that they should hold open televised debates, as many as is necessary and allow these boys an opportunity to express their anger and frustration in a controlled environment so that they don't have to resort to violence. Adults should be setting a good example here, communication is the only thing that is going to make a difference.  We need to hold these debates across Australia so that all of these boys who are angry and have something to say can say their piece, feel that they are being heard and at the end when the boys are tired of talking then some sort of agreements can be made on a compromise so that they can learn to get along. 

We have to teach our youth to be open and honest and to communicate so that there is understanding and hopefully from that will develop compassion and empathy.

Oh and another thing.  We need to make parents responsible.   I know my teenage son commented on how it would be interesting to go to Cronulla on Sunday to see what was going on and my response was "over my dead body".   Parents need to stand up and take some control and responsiblity over their children.  They should forbid their  boys and girls from going to the beach in circumstances like these and help the Police stop the situation from escalating. 

Racism amongst our Youth

Today the daily telegraph  had this story headed call for calm over local revenge http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,17492852-5001021,00.html

The story was about racial tensions in the Sutherland Shire and in particular at Cronulla Beach.  Now we live in the Sutherland Shire and my teenage son frequents Cronulla.  He  goes out to the point to surf with his  friends,  mainly Aussies, and so he doesn't actually hang on the beach so he doesn't seem to see too much of this happening.  Thank God. 

However,  I am now scared for him to go to the Beach.  Racism and negative feelings in the Sutherland shire towards Lebanese and even other ethnics groups are not new.  We came to live in the Shire 11 years ago and found that there were hardly any ethnics living here at that time and in particular Lebanese.   The so called Anglo's here  called it "Gods Country"  and we felt it was said to mean that the Shire was pure and hadn't been infiltrated with ethnics -  ethnics were not warmly welcomed.   

My children are of Lebanese background and we have felt the attitude and the tension in the shire. Its is very hurtful.   My children are mixed so they sit in the middle.  It is a difficult place to be.

Now with the problem at the beach.  I can understand why people get scared when they see a group of Lebanese boys/men walking together.   Let me tell you I also get scared when I see a group of Aussie men/boys walking together.   We have been programed to fear those  in groups and in particular those of Middle Eastern Appearance. 

The difficulty is that  these Lebanese boys have had to deal with so much racism, unfair treatment and hatred and many of them are at a point where they easily explode.   Sure its not a good enough excuse for violence but  then we have the Aussies,  they know that they can pretty much aggravate the ethnics and so long as they keep it just below the line and don't throw the first punch then the ethnics will be blamed if they react or rebel.   It isn't difficult to discredit a person of Lebanese background given the present climate. The Aussies want to get rid of the ethnics and they know just how to go about it whilst coming out looking squeaky clean.

As far as I am concerned this all goes back to the way bullying is dealt with at schools.   This no blame method that is used is causing the problems!   We need to pay more attention to the "Why" things are reaching the levels that they are at and work on addressing that first.  We need to address bullying and tormenting and although it might be that we shouldn't  punish bullies harshly-  to not even place blame tells the bully that what they are doing is acceptable and does not validate the victim of the bully. This causes resentment and anger and resentment and anger leads to aggression and violence.  Bullies thrive in this type of environment and then it spills out into the community.  That is where we are at today.

When issues are not addressed properly and fairly sooner or later things have to explode.

Protecting the Children

Today the Sydney Morning Herald had an article on Children's deaths follow blunders http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/childrens-deaths-follow-blunders/2005/12/07/1133829664232.html

What concerns me about all of this is the apparent ease the system seems  to have in closing matters.    It seems to be a common thing.   Now whilst there is now way that you can compare my families complaints and issues to what happened to these poor children one thing that there seems to be in common is the ability of the System to "Close" matters internally and at will without addressing the issues or without ensuring that children are safe.  They also seem to all follow the same process of not cross checking and having matters independently looked into when there is a problem.

This is a serious flaw in our system and it is designed to protect the systems reputation arising out of their failures.   When they close a matter its often to cover up something.   They use the excuse of lack of funding, overwork etc.,  but that doesn't take away from the fact that the system is failing in their duty of care to the children.   

Something needs to be done. It is no good the Ombudsman saying something after the deaths.  What about the large amount of matters that were referred to the Ombudsman?  Less than 0.1% of those were investigated.  The word of those that closed the matter is often sufficient for those that are looking at it.  There are no avenues to have independent persons assess matters that have been deemed closed, there are no avenues for complainants to have issues addressed impartially and to any level of satisfaction.

The system is set up to cover up and our children are paying the price!

Kids need cuddles.

The Sydney Morning Herald had an article today headed "Depriving babies of cuddles does long term damage', http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/11/22/1132421669263.html .  This doesn't come as a surprise to me!     I want to cut it out and stick it on my mothers fridge.....I don't know how much criticism I received because I held my babies alot.  They were very colicky and had silent reflux and they cried almost non stop.  I  basically carried them for the first few years of their life - all four of them.   Yes my back is killing me....

I just felt that if my baby is crying then my baby  needed me and I had to  hold them.  Grandma was not impressed. Its the only way that babies know how to communicate and if you don't respond then that will have a negative effect on their emotional and psychological development.   I really don't agree with all this leaving your baby cry, although I do realise that there are times that certainly it is necessary.   So long as you don't ignore more than you respond then that's okay.  Babies need to learn that if they seek attention it will be responded to and not ignored, otherwise they can develop attention seeking problems and behavioural issues.

And, before you ask, no they are not spoilt rotten.  They are wonderful kids, although at times they do drive me bannanas......