As you probably have noticed, my article contributions have dropped of late. Amongst the minor "fire-fighting" efforts I took on as moderator, my work load recently increased which has reduced my "free time" somewhat. Along with the successful purchase, move, and fixing up of my new home. However, sometimes a story comes up I just have to comment on. It would appear that "bad publicity" is shutting down the Aussie branch of Mercy Ministries... and personally I'm cheering.
Now, I will acknowledge that there has been some good come from the organisation in Australia. Some young women have been helped through troubling times and have, in some cases, had their afflictions cured or at least alleviated to a large extent. That said, there have been some very troubling stories coming from the Aussie branch of this Christian charity (and yes, the Christian part is important, see after fold for why).
Ms Gillard is refusing to rule out taking action against teachers if they go through with their threat to boycott the tests and one option is to get Fair Work Australia to intervene on the grounds that industrial action outside the enterprise bargaining period is unlawful.
Gillard said on ABC Radio:
"The worst thing in the world is for a child to be at an underperforming school and for no one to know that, and no one to do anything about it."
I am not sure where I stand on the tests, and releasing the information to the public. On one hand - yes, parents deserve to know how their school is doing. But is it fair to denigrate schools where students are from disadvantaged backgrounds, where the scores may be low but the teachers are doing amazing things for the students.
I think it is best for parents to be more involved in their children's school, and to get more hands-on information than relying on a national test ranking.
Rumours have emerged that the former prime minister has been nominated by the governing cricket bodies in Australia and New Zealand to take the leadership of the International Cricket Council when the job becomes vacant in 2012.
The SMH (Peter Roebuck) says (in a very restrained piece):
Cricket Australia's decision to nominate John Howard as its candidate for the top job at the International Cricket Council is as pitiful as it is disrespectful. Howard's knowledge of cricket is more characterised by enthusiasm than depth or imagination. Plain and simple, he is not qualified for the job.
Come now, Peter, tell us what you really think.
I dunno, I reckon it could be a good move. The guy certainly loves his cricket, and isn't passion a good asset?
And anytime is a good time to post this youtube clip again:
“Everyone is telling Malcolm to quit federal politics and they think that’s the right thing to do. Everyone is telling him to have a go in state politics,” a Liberal supporter told The Australian Online.
I reckon it would be damn good for NSW to have someone of his calibre running the state.
A few days ago we heard the news that JD Salinger had died. He was most famous for his novel "Catcher in the Rye". I only got around to reading the novel a few years ago, and my only thought was "grow up, kid, and stop whining". Now, don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the novel but just could not identify with Holden at all. Perhaps because I was not a teenager when I read it.
I wonder, was the term "Cheer up, emo-kid" coined for Holden Caufield?
