Last week, several news items have been extremely difficult to comprehend.
The conviction of Cardinal George Pell and the lifting of suppression orders, the Lawyer X scandal destroying the credibility of the criminal justice system in Victoria, and bushfires raging across another state, has made explanations to children who consume news with enthusiasm challenging.
Life is tough; the next disaster or catastrophe can feel like it is just around the corner.
Sometimes, it is even difficult to find the good that lives in most of us.
However, the courage shown by people who have experienced the most horrendous circumstances imaginable has been both inspiring and saddening.
Their willingness to speak-up, even though reliving excruciating events of the past, is extraordinarily brave.
In some situations, victims are frozen by fear, unfairly ashamed or, in the most harrowing examples, unable to speak because they are dead.
When I was a young person at school, speaking-up took great courage because parents, committed to seeing their children do well at school, were less inclined to believe the after-school tales of kids.
Injustice and inequity did not go unnoticed, but I felt less empowered and therefore less inclined to act.
Discipline was also much different with the cane still employed as tool for correction when I began high school and was threatened with its whipping in 1988. Ridiculously, corporal punishment was not outlawed in Tasmanian Government and Independent schools until 1999! To think as a young teacher, I could have encouraged the use of the cane for a misdemeanour is abhorrent.
School culture was more centred on compliance; however, we were in the beginnings of making a stand, and even talking to parents at home about what we had experienced or witnessed.
From a personal point of view, and to be fair, my school life was bliss. Sure, there were moments of disappointment when I did not try my best, spoke too much or failed to impress the popular girls, but most days were a pleasure, which I reflect upon with fondness.
Therefore, in the back of my mind, I can hear comments such as: “It was better in my day.” “It wouldn’t have happened in my day.” The kids of today have no respect.” We should bring back the cane.” And my personal favourite: “When I was a boy.”
To swap the Mike & The Mechanics lyric: “Every generation blames the one after.”
There is no way kids should have been hit at school, particularly those who were struck, a long way from smacked, at home.
To be honest, the times weren’t better nor were the kids.
Each generation is more effectively equipped than the next, often brighter, more efficient and more productive.
And although abhorrent crimes will still be committed, I have utmost confidence in our young people and their ability to raise issues and speak-up.
Regularly, I hear of wonderful deeds by students, teammates and friends who rise to the occasion, defying the constant strain of peer pressure to let trusted adults know of harm that has been or has the potential to be caused.
Respect, manners and timing remain incredibly important; a sign of maturity that must be modelled. However, so must kindness, tolerance, creativity, problem solving, disagreeing-agreeably and resilience.
Young people of today are extremely clever. They can manipulate technology with ease; often maximising the functionality of apps, programs, games, remotes, phones and watches.
Technology can create problems, but also provide important tools to learn about the world, to speak-up, and to interact with friends, peers and colleagues.
Social media is not going away anytime soon. The challenge remains to harness its influence for good.
Standing-up to injustice and inequality should not be mistaken for disrespect. It is difficult and there are times where, simply because of their age, young people will express thoughts and feelings inadequately. Rather than simply chastising, we should guide.
Our job is to find the good; harness it and support those who need us most, whether friend, confidant or foe.
Watching, reading or scrolling through news items can be terribly difficult. But there remains much to be learned, discussed and considered. The young people of today can show us how.
The conviction of Cardinal George Pell and the lifting of suppression orders, the Lawyer X scandal destroying the credibility of the criminal justice system in Victoria, and bushfires raging across another state, has made explanations to children who consume news with enthusiasm challenging.
Life is tough; the next disaster or catastrophe can feel like it is just around the corner.
Sometimes, it is even difficult to find the good that lives in most of us.
However, the courage shown by people who have experienced the most horrendous circumstances imaginable has been both inspiring and saddening.
Their willingness to speak-up, even though reliving excruciating events of the past, is extraordinarily brave.
In some situations, victims are frozen by fear, unfairly ashamed or, in the most harrowing examples, unable to speak because they are dead.
When I was a young person at school, speaking-up took great courage because parents, committed to seeing their children do well at school, were less inclined to believe the after-school tales of kids.
Injustice and inequity did not go unnoticed, but I felt less empowered and therefore less inclined to act.
Discipline was also much different with the cane still employed as tool for correction when I began high school and was threatened with its whipping in 1988. Ridiculously, corporal punishment was not outlawed in Tasmanian Government and Independent schools until 1999! To think as a young teacher, I could have encouraged the use of the cane for a misdemeanour is abhorrent.
School culture was more centred on compliance; however, we were in the beginnings of making a stand, and even talking to parents at home about what we had experienced or witnessed.
From a personal point of view, and to be fair, my school life was bliss. Sure, there were moments of disappointment when I did not try my best, spoke too much or failed to impress the popular girls, but most days were a pleasure, which I reflect upon with fondness.
Therefore, in the back of my mind, I can hear comments such as: “It was better in my day.” “It wouldn’t have happened in my day.” The kids of today have no respect.” We should bring back the cane.” And my personal favourite: “When I was a boy.”
To swap the Mike & The Mechanics lyric: “Every generation blames the one after.”
There is no way kids should have been hit at school, particularly those who were struck, a long way from smacked, at home.
To be honest, the times weren’t better nor were the kids.
Each generation is more effectively equipped than the next, often brighter, more efficient and more productive.
And although abhorrent crimes will still be committed, I have utmost confidence in our young people and their ability to raise issues and speak-up.
Regularly, I hear of wonderful deeds by students, teammates and friends who rise to the occasion, defying the constant strain of peer pressure to let trusted adults know of harm that has been or has the potential to be caused.
Respect, manners and timing remain incredibly important; a sign of maturity that must be modelled. However, so must kindness, tolerance, creativity, problem solving, disagreeing-agreeably and resilience.
Young people of today are extremely clever. They can manipulate technology with ease; often maximising the functionality of apps, programs, games, remotes, phones and watches.
Technology can create problems, but also provide important tools to learn about the world, to speak-up, and to interact with friends, peers and colleagues.
Social media is not going away anytime soon. The challenge remains to harness its influence for good.
Standing-up to injustice and inequality should not be mistaken for disrespect. It is difficult and there are times where, simply because of their age, young people will express thoughts and feelings inadequately. Rather than simply chastising, we should guide.
Our job is to find the good; harness it and support those who need us most, whether friend, confidant or foe.
Watching, reading or scrolling through news items can be terribly difficult. But there remains much to be learned, discussed and considered. The young people of today can show us how.
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