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It’s not consistent
I have taught in a number of Victorian secondary schools, often teaching Respectful Relationships. It’s a great, interactive and engaging program.
I can only agree with Education Minister James Merlino when he says that “the delivery of the material is inconsistent across the state”. I’ve been in schools that teach it for 90 minutes a week and ones whose attempts are tokenistic at best.
As Respectful Relationships doesn’t feature in schools’ end of semester student reports, it is often squeezed in or sacrificed in an ever-crowded curriculum in favour of reportable subject matter.
Often it is delivered as part of the PE/Health program, thus categorising it as a health concern rather than a social concern. It may be better off delivered as part of the humanities curriculum, as humanities teachers are well versed in the history of social relationships and the nuances of social hierarchy.
It’s an important program that, if delivered consistently and thoroughly, could fundamentally change social relationships over time.
Rohan Wightman, McKenzie Hill
Useful … up to a point
Does anyone remember when the US boycotted the Moscow Olympic Games back in 1980 because the Soviets had invaded Afghanistan?
Presumably the Americans outrage over the Soviets’ behaviour was forgotten when the US itself sent troops to Afghanistan following the Twin Towers attacks in 2001, even though 15 of those 19 terrorists were from Saudi Arabia.
Australia looks on the United States as a useful ally, but that only makes sense if we don’t blindly follow them into yet another pointless war.
Peter Kay, Carlton North
A golden opportunity
Reverend Bill Crews, 76, one of Australia’s “100 Living Treasures” for his extraordinary work with disadvantaged people, sees politics as an illusion of power, where good people get monstered by the system (“Dicey Topics”, Good Weekend, The Age, 17/4).
Right now, a couple of hundred thousand or more other living treasures, Australians at the mercy of the current aged care system, await the federal government’s response to the recommendations of the aged care royal commission.
The opportunity to implement landmark policy change to reform Australia’s aged care system, so that it compares favourably with the world’s best, is real political gold.
Ruth Farr, Blackburn South
It’s not his call
The Australian government is in disarray with many issues, but that does not give Alan Joyce or Qantas shareholders the go-ahead to decide when Australia’s borders will reopen (″Qantas boss warns of hit if opening delayed″, The Age, 16/4).
Closed borders secure the population’s safety from the deadly coronavirus. They must remain closed until this country has gained herd immunity status.
Placing the viability of Qantas above the wellbeing of Australians would be both foolhardy and dangerous.
Sue Bennett, Sunbury
We have a poor record
Stranded overseas Australians hoping that a UN Human Rights Committee ruling that the government must ″facilitate and ensure″ their prompt return, will be waiting a long, long time.
Australia has a history of defying the committee and breaching international law.
Our treatment of genuine refugees and the Biloela family are shining examples of Australia’s sordid values and respect for international law.
Ray Frost, Jan Juc
A study in contrasts
Some Australians carelessly destroy Aboriginal monuments and sites that are thousands of years old, while others are fighting for the preservation of some white man’s imported portable sheds that are less than 200 years old (‴Extraordinary’: Heritage push for the buildings that arrived by ship″, The Age, 16/4).
Go figure.
Evert de Graauw, Wantirna
Understandable anger
Scott Morrison’s behaviour on the floor of Parliament towards former Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate was appalling; his refusal to apologise is deplorable.
Is it any wonder that Australian women are angry to witness yet another demolition job by the Canberra boys’ club?
Christine Holgate joins a long line of bullied women including Julia Gillard, Julie Bishop, inter alia, women who have been targeted because they are competent and powerful.
Janet Upcher, Opossum Bay, Tas.
Welcome relief
Kerri Sackville’s “Tea for two” (Sunday Life, The Sunday Age, 11/4) had me in stitches. A hilarious romp through the troubled waters of sex education with one’s children.
It was such a great way to start my Sunday morning and I’m keeping it to pass on to anyone who hasn’t read it.
Thank you for such a fun article in these very serious times.
Maria Pantling, Tawonga South
I saw a different city
Your correspondent (“Rubbish, we don’t care”, Letters, 17/4) must have gone to a different Vienna (a regular holder of The Economist’s title of the world’s most liveable city) to my husband and me.
On a boat trip down the Danube in 2018, every possible surface was covered with graffiti. We even saw a man, in broad daylight, with a can of paint spraying graffiti on a concrete bridge support.
Win Johnston, Mornington
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