Pauline Hanson has said what thousands of teachers know: it is enormously difficult to teach a class, day after day, that contains one or two students who need individual care. After a lifetime in education, I believe it is an impossible ask. Are those teachers given time off to prepare two lessons? Are they paid double for doing this? Yes, the very expensive resource is another teacher in the room. If, as a society we want that, OK. But do not expect a single teacher in a classroom of vastly differing capabilities to teach each child adequately. Only one in 1000 might be able to do so. "What is best for the child" applies equally to each child. And I was so pleased to hear, in the media, some people saying they greatly benefited from, and appreciated, their "segregated" (an unnecessarily derogatory word) education.
Barry Lamb, Heidelberg West
Helping all children to reach their potential
Pauline Hanson's comments were ill-informed and insensitive. I was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome at 32 years of age. I always knew that my brain was wired differently from other people's. Today schools are better equipped to deal with many forms of autism, with the help of psychologists and doctors. Plans are put in place to help children adjust to the challenges that life presents. Families are able to support their children through education, by putting strategies in place to help and understand some of the complexities that turn up. We need to be tolerant as the perfect human being has not been born yet.
Lawrence Raschke, Caroline Springs
Despite the outrage, Hanson has a valid point
Pauline Hanson has found another taboo topic to add to racism, immigration and religion. Yes, if you cannot say something positive about disability, do not say anything at all. There is a veritable minefield of subjects about which any apparently critical comment draws an outraged chorus of righteous indignation. The fact that she has a valid point about the effect of significantly disruptive students in a classroom is drowned out by the defenders of inclusiveness and equality. Yet who but Senator Hanson would dare to question some students' right to be in a mainstream class?
Danny Cole, Sunbury
Senator Hanson, why not isolate the bullies?
Senator Hanson says that children on the autism spectrum have no place at mainstream schools because they stop others from learning. What should happen about the boy who recruited other students to bully and harass my high-functioning autistic son? He had the rest of the class scared and cowed. His behaviour caused immense upset, wasted valuable lesson time and prevented students from learning. It also wasted teacher resources in trying to manage his behaviour. Why shouldn't students like him be isolated in special classes so they do not disturb learning? It would also prevent them from physically and emotionally harming other students. As a community, where do we draw the line?
Name withheld, Greensborough
Disabled students do not always blend in
On the face of it, Pauline Hanson's idea of having specialised schools for the disabled looks unthinking and cruel. I am no fan of hers, yet this now retired teacher believes the scenario is not black or white, with Hanson being in the black. Think of the constantly screaming child, the constantly violent child, the constantly spitting child. Teachers and students, for a very long time, have had classes ruined by such students; pushy parents, though, always got their way – regardless of the consequences. Moreover, disabled students do not always blend in. Isolation is a key life characteristic of disabled students in public schools.
Michael McNeill, Bendigo
THE FORUM
Putting safety first
We have some of the best building safety regulations in the world but apparently some of the poorest monitoring verification and enforcement regimes (The Age, 23/6). There will always be those who cut corners to gain competitive advantage. Where such behaviour goes unchecked, others are faced with an unenviable choice: maintain standards and become uncompetitive or join the race to the bottom.
Those who want to obey the rules want governments to deliver a level playing field through the monitoring verification and enforcement regimes. Also, non-compliance in the building industry is not limited to wall cladding or even fire safety. Saving a few pieces of silver will be little value to those who lose a loved one in a catastrophic fire, nor will redress through the courts after the event offer any consolation. It is time to get that cladding off our buildings and for government to stop abrogating its responsibility to monitor and enforce its regulations.
Robert Foster, Ellinbank
Calculated attacks
As a barrister, I am shocked at the appalling disrespect shown by federal ministers Alan Tudge, Greg Hunt and Michael Sukkar towards the Supreme Court of Victoria (The Age, 23/6). They are also lawyers – officers of the Supreme Court. As such, they understand the doctrine of separation of powers and the importance of the rules of sub judice. It is hard not to view their statements as calculated attacks on the judiciary to score cheap political points. Their culpability is elevated further by their failure to appear personally before the court. Their conduct seriously undermines the integrity of the courts and legal profession. They ought to have their practicing certificates suspended and face charges of contempt of court.
Daniel Cash, Kingsville
Their true priorities
True men of conviction, Ministers Hunt, Tudge and Sukkar; their snivelling apologies no less egregious than their original remarks. But then with their jobs, plus a 2per cent pay rise in the line ...
Garry Brannan, Bendigo
Test our would-be MPs
Perhaps instead of a pointless citizenship test, Peter Dutton should set a separation of powers test for Coalition ministers before they are appointed. I know which is more important, even if Mr Dutton would fear the results.
Margaret Houston, South Yarra
Follow the party line
These politicians should keep to their game plan: only stick the boots into those who cannot defend themselves – like social security recipients or refugees.
Vince Corbett, Glenroy
A real slog of a job
In the last week, there have been an astounding and encouraging two articles that have given me a sense of relief for the first time in my 11years of motherhood ("Motherhood regret doesn't mean you're a bad mum", 22/6, and "Regretting motherhood", 18/6). I found my own feelings being validated with an honesty that is not normally given a voice in mainstream media.
Despite loving my children with all my heart, if motherhood were a normal job, I would have quit long before now. The clients are unceasingly demanding and dissatisfied, the pay is peanuts, the washing basket has magical "refilling" qualities and I have to moonlight in a second "job" to fund it all. Pah!
Nicola Philp, Apollo Bay
Defence Catch 22
I am all for assisting our neighbours with anti-Islamic State support ("RAAF to join spy patrols", 23/6). And when Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte catches the baddies, will the Australian Defence Minister, Marise Payne, wash her hands of any responsibility for assisting with justice Philippines-style?
Tim Durbridge, Brunswick
Fix our ailing roads
The Auditor-General's criticism of VicRoads (The Age, 23/6) seems to be warranted. When you read about the state of our roads, it is deeply concerning. VicRoads' funding has been falling since 2010-2011, including a 60per cent cut to maintenance funding. This does not make sense with an increase in population of 100,000 every year in Victoria and the subsequent increase in road traffic. Are the major parties spending less on roads to appease the Greens?
When it comes to roads and road maintenance, Victorians have been badly let down by the current Labor and the former Coalition governments. Typically, the Roads Minister and the Opposition roads spokesman blame each other's government. Both deserve a political "kick up the behind" and Victorians deserve a better allocation of resources for roads.
Peter Allan, Blackburn
Stop fiddling with rules
I am surprised the AFL is working on introducing a new "product", AFLX – its answer to Twenty20 cricket (The Age, 23/6), so soon after introducing its women's competition. I would have thought it had enough challenges on its plate. I hope the AFL will now be too busy to keep changing the rules of the main game, which spoils rather than enhances the spectacle and excitement of the competition.
Penny Mackieson, Richmond
Affront to a major work
As former director of the public art program at the Melbourne Docklands Authority, I prioritised the integration of public art with its environment. The positioning of Cow Up A Tree by John Kelly (The Age, 23/6) was determined in consultation with him, specifically to ensure the work could be viewed as a silhouette against Victoria Harbour. The site was intended to reflect the work's strong water/flood.
This was the first public artwork for Docklands, which at the time was an industrial wasteland except for an almost completed stadium. Cow Up A Tree was a destination artwork. It was installed in a green base to create the illusion of a real tree. People came specifically to see the work, meet there, sit beneath it, eat their lunch and, on a few unexpected occasions at dusk, to more intimately commune on the grass. The installation of a cafe obscuring views of the work from all angles is an affront and shows a lack of respect for this significant work and to the artist.
Bronwen Colman, Armadale
A more marvellous city
I hope that Melbourne City Council has the wisdom and foresight to look towards beautifying our city once it replaces all these "security" concrete bollards. It is an opportunity to invite artists to submit their sculptures for these locations. The city may then uplift one's spirit with its presence. There are also beautiful, practical seating designs to be found in European cities. Classic designs work well in Melbourne and will enhance the city's "screenscape" appearance for all.
Jurgis Maleckas, Port Melbourne
Beauty and security
Can we make lemonade from lemons? The new protective bollards installed around the city might instead be solid planter boxes with small trees or shrubs, and serve the same purpose in a less brutal way.
Christine Cemm, Mornington
Hewson, telling it as it is
Former Liberal party leader John Hewson has made for excellent, thoughtful and sensible reading over recent months. His most recent article, "Rumblings as leaders locked in race to the bottom" (Comment, 23/6), hits the nail on the head and is exactly how so many voters are feeling.
Elizabeth Gillingham, Mornington
No to more coal use
Wood and other biomass (The Age, 22/6) would best be used as a (very occasional) back up fuel for concentrating solar thermal power stations, which can store energy for days. Wood energy should not be used as a way of perpetuating coal use, or justifying unsustainable forestry.
Rowan White, North Fitzroy
When will we use rail?
Last month on the outskirts of Los Angeles, I stood at a level crossing as a 2km-long freight train lumbered past, with its hundreds of wagons loaded with containers, many double-stacked. Many wagons carried trailers lifted directly from semi-trailers, with their wheels clamped to the base of the wagon, ready to be unloaded at their destination. In Victoria, of course, each container would probably have been "craned" on to the back of a semi-trailer and then hauled on their noisy, stinking, perilous way through Melbourne's inner-west and then on to the Monash or Princes freeways. When will rail become a viable alternative to those behemoths that storm their way across Melbourne's roads, turning highways into killing fields?
Graeme Hammond, Kingsville
An accurate tipster
Congratulations, John Silvester. Only one of the 24 Age's selectors (Sport) who picked Hawthorn to defeat Adelaide.
Rolf Lie, Hawthorn East
And a very loyal Hawk
John Silvester, you are not only a good journalist, but a faithful Hawthorn supporter. I am ashamed that I did not have the same conviction.
Helen Jackson, Lakes Entrance
AND ANOTHER THING
Hanson
I find red-headed Queensland senators an unwanted distraction. Can they work in a special Senate?
Peter Bragge, Blackburn South
If ignorance were bliss, Hanson would be living in Utopia.
Karin Ziemnicki, Tawonga South
The only apparent "strain" is Hanson's strain on intelligent and constructive debate in Parliament.
Cinzia Travaglini, Ivanhoe
Perhaps a separate section of Parliament for those with personality disorders? Would that constitute a majority?
Peter Cook, Essendon
The irony is that Hanson has the most significant disability of all – ignorance.
Jennifer Joseph, South Yarra
Pauline, beware. Malcolm's One Nation Party has you in its sights.
James Inglis, Coburg
Politics
Greens MPs should look up "pragmatism" in the dictionary as they've obviously never heard of it.
Isabel Schofield, Mount Waverley
Maybe we should have needs-based funding of politicians.
David Bishop, Brighton East
Sukkar, Hunt and Tudge – all vying for a Tony Award?
Lesley Hall, Apollo Bay
What is obfuscation, intransigence and myopia, combined with ham acting, worth? A 2 per cent pay rise.
Kevan Porter, Alphington
Hillary labelled Trump's electorate as "deplorables". It's worse here. Our deplorables are our MPs.
Derek Showell, Campbells Creek
Leunig for PM. More sense in one cartoon than in weeks of waffle from politicians.
Lesley Rule, Brighton East
Furthermore
No more Naked Man in EG? I am bereft.
Tris Raouf, Hadfield