Something is rotten with the state of education in the "Education State". Henrietta Cook exposed the gruelling conditions under which state school principals (and teachers) labour (Extra, 23/10). No amount of "working smarter, not harder", or "resilience training" will remedy a workload that crushes those beneath it. One line in the article holds the key: "Crushed by the volume of administrative tasks that were previously handled by the Education Department regions." Under the euphemisms "devolution", "greater autonomy" and the misleading term "distributive leadership", a range of responsibilities and tasks have passed from the department to region to principals, with a flow-on to teaching staff. Responsibilities and roles once facilitated by time and/or payment allowances, in recognition of the skills required and the extra workload, are increasingly being "distributed" without time (or money) on top of already unforgiving workloads. No wonder stress is destroying not just the careers of dedicated and skilled teachers, but literally costing others their lives.
Deborah Morrison, Malvern East
Burnt-out, I am changing careers
I am a passionate teacher and my next logical career move is assistant principal. But stress and mental health issues have led me to rethink my path. I have been hospitalised for attempting suicide. I self-harm regularly and have to counsel students who self-harm and are depressed – if they only knew. I used to find teaching exciting and enjoyable; now I just hope to get through the day. I'm disillusioned, burnt out and had to drop my teaching load just to see out the year, leaving me with financial stress. Teachers are caring professionals who support the young people in their charge with compassion. The reality is that most teachers feel undervalued, resulting in a thankless career. I will be changing my path after more than 13 years; I do not want my family to go through what Mark Thompson's is. How many of us need to die before the government acts?
Name and address withheld
Stigmatised if you ask for help
It is said you can pay a teacher to teach, but you can't pay a teacher to care. Mark Thompson was a principal who cared. In education, the wear and tear is far greater than society realises. Statistics on WorkCover stress claims are unreliable due to under-reporting. Education employees are not only stigmatised if they reach out, the stressors can be intensified "to get rid of them" by forced resignation or fake redundancy. WorkSafe and the government use adversarial tactics and dirty tricks to block access to vital health support and justice. Politicians ignore requests for help and the Ombudsman refuses to investigate despite obvious breaches of policy. All roads are blocked. Earlier this year, when I wrote to Education Minister James Merlino requesting an inquiry into stress and bullying in education workplaces, a perfunctory response stated there was no need. Meanwhile the crisis remains hidden, risking people's health, livelihoods and lives. An open inquiry to establish the facts and install integrity and humanity is imperative to prevent further tragedies.
Barbara Chapman, Hawthorn
Civil protest ignored
The inhumanity of Australia's border protection policies has had a damaging impact beyond the men, women and children condemned to detention: it has alienated the many people who oppose the policies. Like many others, I've made phone calls, written emails to my state and federal MPs and protested at their offices. I've marched on the streets; and have "liked" and "shared" on social media.
These civil protests have had no impact; the main parties simply continue with their "stop the boats" chant. As a result, I am left feeling that my opinion is being ignored, my voice unheard and my sense of participation in government decisions denied.
There are solutions to the impasse if you separate the issue of people smuggling from due process of claims for protection according to international conventions. Politicians, however, hold fast to their entrenched views, causing the marginalisation of once-engaged citizens.
Jennifer Nathan, Thornbury
Right back at you, PM
Malcolm Turnbull is surprised that Steve Herbert still has his job. Equally surprised are the rest of us that George Brandis remains Attorney-General and that Malcolm remains silent at how deeply immersed in the public trough is Joe Hockey's snout.
Sharron Brown, Mitcham
Gone to the dogs
A federal MP has a dog on a leash. A state politician has his dogs chauffeured to the country house. Australian parliaments are characterised by dog-whistle politics. Have our systems of government finally gone to the dogs?
Graham Cadd, Surrey Hills
Offensive practice
Are other Australians also disturbed by the portrayal on our $2 coin of an anonymous "traditional Aboriginal man"? Tourist shops in Darwin and elsewhere still sell bizarre little dolls of Aboriginal babies, women or warriors, reminiscent of caricatured African-American slave figurines, which are now considered offensive. It seems Australians happily accept this portrayal of Indigenous people as quirky Aussie icons like kookaburras and platypuses. We wouldn't dream of embellishing our money with a generic "modern white woman" or a "typical white infant".
Jenny Zimmerman, Woodend
Public picks up tab
Some years ago Barnaby Joyce admitted to being an agrarian socialist. "Is there a problem with being an agrarian socialist? They denigrate you with it, like you're a leper. If that's what I am, that's what I am ..."
An agrarian socialist is defined as one who socialises the costs of farming but privatises profits. So at least he is being consistent when he last week labelled as communist guidelines introduced by the COAG Standing Council on Environment and Water to manage the clearing of native vegetation.
On Planet Barnaby, farmers should be free to continue land management practices that have led to a massive decline in biodiversity, river and wetland health, ecosystem resilience, and water quality and quantity, have increased erosion and greenhouse gas emissions, and have affected cultural and spiritual identity. All to ensure the inalienable right of individual landholders to privatise their profits while the rest of us continue to pick up the costs.
Craig Horne, Fitzroy North
Unfit to ever build again
The cowboy developers behind The Corkman hotel demolition have been hit with new fines of $15,000 for failing to adequately cover asbestos debris at the site. These fines are depressingly inadequate. Mr Kutlesovski and Mr Shaqiri should face criminal charges for the massive health risk they have exposed the public to as well as an enormous fine for causing irreparable damage to Victoria's heritage.
They should also be disqualified from being company directors, not just of Cairnlea Pty Ltd but of any company. They have forfeited any right to exercise company ownership through their blatant disregard for planning laws, public safety and Victoria's heritage. Good on Trades Hall, which has taken such a strong stance on this issue by imposing a green ban.
Pauline Hopkins, Beaconsfield
Preserve fertile land
The government's simplistic response to the housing affordability crisis is to release more land to developers: land that is essential for our food security. The rich soils of Tyabb, Clyde, Pearcedale, Devon Meadows, Cranbourne, Werribee South and Koo Wee Rup make up the fertile crescent of farming land that surrounds Melbourne, providing for nearly all our local vegetable consumption as well as being a valuable part of the export trade.
There are continual tensions between developers, farmers and politicians. Some want a planning strategy to protect the food bowl, while others think government has no right to tell people what to do with their land. All countries need a planning strategy to preserve food production areas. A ministry of food wouldn't be a bad idea either. Retaining an agriculture belt around major cities provides economic, social and environmental benefits.
Elizabeth Grgacic, Fitzroy North
Some home truths
Just 13 per cent of new loans now go to first home buyers. Compare this with 1991, when lending to investors comprised just 10 per cent of all loans. One in six taxpayers are speculators and investors (landlords).
People who don't own their home upon retirement will soon find that what savings/superannuation they have will be eaten up by unaffordable rent. How much money is it going to cost future governments in rent assistance to keep a roof over the heads of many hundreds of thousands of people?
We need to add this rent assistance to the other subsidies of negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions that taxpayers give investors. The cost of it will continue to blow out as more and more people in the "middle class" find they can't afford to buy a home. This tax rort must be stopped. Consider this: over the past 16 years $72 billion has been stripped from the tax system through these subsidies.
Craig Batty, East Brunswick
Legal ... but ethical?
While working on my computer at home, I heard a female voice call out "hello" from the other side of the mesh security door. When I got to the door, she introduced herself as a real estate agent who had recently sold a local property for a lot of money. I stated that we weren't interested in selling and would prefer if she respected the sign on the door that says, "Do not knock. Sales people please note." Quick as a flash she said, "That's why I didn't knock." She got me on a technicality but lost any chance of ever getting our business.
Steve Fahey, Footscray
Sell it yourself then
I am tired of the constant questioning of the real estate sector's poor service, questionable tactics and overcharging. Despite these complaints, we continue to use agents to buy and sell our biggest asset. To be able to sell property an agent completes a basic 30-hour certificate course that costs $1000. Then you, as the seller, happily and, dare I say it, ignorantly hand them your keys. You rightly expect them to ascertain the correct price, know how to market the property, have a list of possible buyers at their finger tips, have the necessary training and to act ethically at all times. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. There are great DIY alternatives; if you really want to see change then stop whingeing and sell your home yourself.
Julie O'Donohue, Ballarat
Call out the whipping
I watched the Cox Plate and the Caulfield Cup and saw painfully clearly that jockeys are still whipping horses. In the holiday atmosphere of the Melbourne Cup, millions will watch, place bets and excitedly cheer. We will all see the whipping but will block it out. "It doesn't really hurt," we console ourselves. "Aren't the whips padded and aren't there restrictions on their use?" It's precisely because whipping causes such pain that restrictions are in place. Norway doesn't see the need to abuse their horses; jockeys use hands and heels instead to get the best out of them. Our horses are trained the same way and abused only when racing for prizemoney. As the whipping is being done in our name, we are responsible that it continues.
Malcolm Just, East St Kilda
No threat from shotgun
Gary Sayer (Letters, 23/10), asking law-abiding firearm owners to justify owning a lever-action shotgun is silly. Such guns have been around since 1887 without incident in this country. There is no evidence of them being a threat or in demand from criminals. Do you ask lawful car owners why they need a five-litre engine? Do you mock them for being bad drivers and wasting petrol?