Hard News: The son that got away
144 Responses
First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 Newer→ Last
-
But the alarmingly large proportion of people who assume there's a simple 1:1 relationship between "what's in the paper" and "objective reality" will be spooked.
I remember back when Iraena Asher "disappeared", closely followed by another media-created "disappearance" (a simple murder, really), there were workmates of mine who were scared to leave the building -- at lunchtime; in Newmarket -- because "people were disappearing" and "something spooky" was clearly happening.
-
This report of
bullying of an autistic kid really upsets me because it is so close to home.But - people intervened to help him. And it was worthy of reporting in a way sympathetic to the victim. Neither may have happened previously. Max Call, there was widespread school violence in the past - between students, and teachers beating kids, and bullying of students who were at all different - but it was seem as normal, not worthy of addressing and certainly not newsworthy.
-
And somehow the sky didn't fall in when we got rid of it.
You think? Family First have news for you!
-
oh sure, agreed.
the increase in volume of reporting on school violence that i was referring to was one that i had perceived in the last month or so (referendum era ) -
whoops - i was replying to Hilary.
sorry 'bout that -
Figures from the Ministry of Education show a 88 per cent increase in suspensions of eight-year-olds from 2000 to 2008 ...
..."It is significant that as schools have removed corporal punishment, schools have become more violent," Family First national director Bob McCoskrie said today."
When did the law change re: corporal punishment? I thought it was many years before these figures.
[McCoskrie:] "School yard bullying by pupils on other pupils and staff is now the new form of 'corporal punishment' in schools."
What an ignorant fuckwit.
Auckland Primary Principals Association president Marilyn Gwilliam said schools were struggling to handle the children because by law, they were not allowed to touch children to calm them down, even when they "kick and they bite and they hit."
What the hell? I'm going to be fair to Gwilliam here and assume that that quote is out of context.
-
As far as I'm aware, the rule against touching the kids has been around for a long time. It's one of those ones specifically designed to prevent abuse and is seldom used, on grounds to sheer impracticality. But in cases of abuse it could be used. Although why you'd bother when you could actually bust them for abuse, I don't know.
-
I highly recommend Danyl's condensed and uncanny history of s59 as a conversation between the main players.
Larry Baldock: Because parents have the divinely appointed right to beat their children.
Sue Bradford: Okay, so we disagree on that, but this bill has the support of all the child welfare agencies . . .
Larry Baldock: Beat the sin out of them, that’s what I say. Thrash them within an inch of their life.
Sue Bradford: . . . can cite a number of pertinent cases . . . Wow, I really do hate you. Maybe I do want to ban smacking.
Larry Baldock: Watermelons! Lesbians! Proverbs 13:24!
Sue Bradford: Yeah, you know what? Fuck you, asshole. This bill bans smacking! If you smack your kids it’s child abuse and you’re going to jail. How d’ya like that?
...Customs Officer at La Guardia: Welcome to the United States Ms Clark.
-
When did the law change re: corporal punishment?
1989, apparently, for corporal punishment in schools. And, of course, 2007 for protecting children from corporal punishment in the home.
Words really fail me when I think upon Larry Baldock. Fortunately plenty of others here seem to be on his case.
-
Wow,
That editor from the Metro on the Media 7 show.
2 minutes on why Auckland is grat, and then he has the cheek to say he's not parochial.
Both points valid, but badly mixed.
-
Getting rid of corporal punishment was a big battle, heavily resisted by some entrenched interests, and took many years to fade as an issue. I think finally achieved by Phil Goff? as Minister of Education in 1989. I remember collecting signatures to stop it way back in the early 1970s.
Many male school teachers were given straps as part of their graduation (maybe even beating lessons?). But children these days are incredulous when you tell them that not so long ago teachers could hit the children with leather straps and canes - and even some prefects had that power. -
@LegBreak - I don't see why. I think Auckland is pretty cool myself, but I'm not parochial either. He didn't say Auck is the be-all and end-all or even "the best". As for me, I love Auck, but I think Wellington is better. :-)
-
@ TracyMac. I just thought he flipped pretty quickly from saying Auckland is NZ's most interesting city to saying he was not parochial.
In the space of about a minute.
Metro needs to be proud of Auckland; understandable raison d'etre, but the post-match platitude seemed a bit ... forced.
-
That editor from the Metro on the Media 7 show.
2 minutes on why Auckland is grat, and then he has the cheek to say he's not parochial.
Um, if Bevan Rapson doesn't have access to a complete run of his own magazine he should take founding editor Warwick Roger out to lunch sometime. Roger was utterly in your face about Metro being totally parochial and proud of it, citing New York in its 60's and 70's heyday as a role model for what he wanted to achieve.
-
CR,
Metro should be Auckland, and proudly so. In its heyday (WR) that was its charm (and strangely, more likely to be bought by a Wgtner)
But the "we try not to be parochial" line is a bit shabby.
-
Metro should be Auckland, and proudly so. In its heyday (WR) that was its charm (and strangely, more likely to be bought by a Wgtner)
Indeed -- and I think that was in large part because, love it or hate it, Metro had a very strong editorial POV from the start, and damn good writers that were backing up the attitude and style with considerable substance. As Rapson himself said, back in the day there was nothing else quite like it. And in 2009, well... I certainly don't need another general interest magazine with all the personality of week-dead roadkill.
-
I have a hunch (or sense of foreboding) that a hypothetical referendum on restoring "the right to thrash" in schools would probably pass, and pass handsomely. Especially this week.
"Schools going to hell in handbasket" "Wild students intimidate teachers" "Third school invasion this hour - view the excitement on Youtube" blah blah moral panic blah blah ... and there you have it. A healthy majority.
With a leading question ("To restore good order and discipline to our schools, and to promote effective learning in your children, while protecting them from the wild offspring of the lower classes, should teachers be able to administer physical correction as part of the latest pedagogical method?") you'd have a super majority.
Now to disinter the advocates of school thrashing, like Jack Elder (not the one who comments here - the former Labour and NZF MP). Another advocate in 1989 - Nat MP McClay - went on to become Children's Commissioner, although reportedly changed his views on the matter.
-
In my 30 odd years as a teacher experience showed that corporal punishment really only had an affect on the behaviour of those you would class as "good kids". They were the ones afraid of it and made sure they didn't get into situations where it could be used on them. The rest couldn't care less and some saw it as a badge of honour. Baldock doesn't know shit about what happens in school if he's saying the abandonment of corporal punishment is responsible for the problems we have. There are many reasons-family/socio-economic/health etc but the removal of the strap isn't one of them. If I was to look at the kids in my class the one that presents the biggest challenge comes from a violent family with no moral compass so me giving it to him at school as well isn't going to change his behaviour. Another comes from a gang background with all that brings so strapping her wouldn't help either. Mind you she's also the one who will suddenly give you a big hug with out warning, runny nose and all.
-
@ TracyMac. I just thought he flipped pretty quickly from saying Auckland is NZ's most interesting city to saying he was not parochial.
In the space of about a minute.
Horrors.
Leggy, are you sure that's not a chip on your shoulder, because that really is a tenuous criticism.
-
Speaking of schools and punishment, Lhaws just opined on Morning Report that sending kids to kura kaupapa is child abuse. I'd say it was self-satire if he didn't sound so serious.
-
Speaking of schools and punishment, Lhaws just opined on Morning Report that sending kids to kura kaupapa is child abuse. I'd say it was self-satire if he didn't sound so serious.
I was shaving during that interview so might have misheard, but did Laws express shock and horror at "children being exploited by adults to advance their political agenda"? You know, the guy whose own website front page is full of photos of his children. A media whore/pimp and a hypocrite.
-
Leggy, are you sure that's not a chip on your shoulder, because that really is a tenuous criticism
Possibly; after all, he had just gloated about hosting the (centrally funded) World Cup...
But I just thought there was no need for the last bit.
I still buy Private Eye on a regular basis; and it doesn't attempt to be anything other than very English.
-
I was shaving during that interview so might have misheard, but did Laws express shock and horror at "children being exploited by adults to advance their political agenda"?
You even need to ask?
-
.
Let me start by firstly saying I left home during high school because of the physical abuse and have nothing further to do with my mother other than through countless family court hearings with me trying to get my brothers and sisters removed from her care
The poor bugger. Insult to injury seeing his mother being splashed around the media, and him not wanting to say anything, and why would he? Isn't fighting to get his siblings away from her heroic enough? I wish him the very, very best - and he's another one I just want to hug, and hug, and hug. Sometimes life is a bitch, and sometimes your mother is one.
-
You even need to ask?
Where Laws is concerned, I frequently reach for the comforting possibility that I've had a psychotic break. No such luck.
Post your response…
This topic is closed.