In response to your article, "Medical students oppose 'money grab' by universities offering private medical degrees" (The Age, 18/7). As a full-fee-paying domestic medical student, I often worry about my ever-growing debt. Now, however, I feel I got a bargain, as my course is only a fraction of the cost of what some universities are planning on charging, such as $350,000+plus medical degrees.
Studying medicine is an enormous cost to the individual, and students who do work can only do so for limited hours. One must commit to at least four years of study, incurring rent, bills, and living expenses, not to mention costly textbooks, conferences and extracurricular costs. To ask any student to take on $350,000 of debt on top of these financial burdens is cruel and elitist, encouraging only those who can live at home and are financially supported by others. Even the original Hippocratic oath included instruction to teach those willing to learn without fee or contract. Old Hippocrates would be rolling in his grave.
Isabelle Carr, Richmond
Too many young people adrift at university
Tracie Winch's article about lecturers facing empty lecture theatres (Comment, 14/7) brought back some painful memories. As a chair of the academic progress committee of a Victorian university's business faculty over several years, I witnessed the damage, both personal and collateral, of a growing distance between undergraduate students and their educational programs. Given the increasing online alternatives to lectures, tutorials and staff consultation, the limited counselling opportunities for students (local and overseas), and the research imperative for already-stretched teaching staff, I saw many young people adrift from a decent university experience. Hundreds of students would appeal academic sanctions over course progress matters in this one faculty every semester. In many cases, "showing cause" was sadly their first opportunity to deal with their alienation from the course of their dreams.
John Deane, Murrumbeena
Teaching, a stressful and underpaid job
Patricia Parkinson (Letters, 19/7) correctly takes aim at Ross Gittins' claims that teaching is too important to be left to teachers (Comment, 17/7). Well, who should teach? I taught at secondary boys schools for four decades and I do not recall large numbers of aspirants wanting my job. Where does Gittins hope to find better people to place in front of classes?
Certainly not among the well-paid, qualified workers now in jobs where they do not face accountability – every minute of the work day – from students, parents, principals, education critics and government administrators. He is another of the periodical complainants who blame those who provide education for the world's deficiencies. Many highly qualified people will never go into school teaching. It is too difficult and nerve-wrenching, and not extremely lucrative.
Leo Gamble, Mentone
Showing parents that Johnny isn't so perfect
There has been much written about good/bad schools and good/bad teachers. I would like to see more attention paid to good/bad students and, particularly, good/bad parents. Perhaps teachers could wear body cameras which would record students' behaviour and be used to show parents how their little angel Johnny really behaves. Said parents may be woken up to their influence when little Johnny says: "Why should I do maths? My Dad said it never did him any good". In my extensive experience working in schools, home attitude has more effect on students' achievements than either schools or teachers.
Jack Dell, Numurkah
THE FORUM
But where do they go?
Congratulations to street artist CDH on his entry of Stu, a "street father" of other rough sleepers in the city, in the Archibald Prize (The Age, 19/7). Let us hope the portrait is announced as one of the finalists. However, the irony of the rough sleepers being ordered to "now move" when they do not have a home. Where does the state government expect them to go once the "human sidewalk cleaning" is done? We need to find more refuges for those who live in fear on our streets.
John Bastiras, Elsternwick
Another city icon
The Flinders/Swanston streets corner is the gateway to Melbourne. Three iconic buildings are already in place; now there is the chance to complete the quadrant and make this an architectural masterpiece. The old Gas and Fuel building was replaced by the creative, loved and welcoming complex at Federation Square after a competition was held for the best design to represent Melbourne. The mistakes of Docklands, where no such consideration was made, are clear and enduring. It is up to the Premier, Daniel Andrews, to intervene so that an opportunity for an inspirational city focus is not lost.
Alice Bray, Hawthorn
The 'illegal' intruders
Aboriginal people have lived in Australia for 65,000 years, according to a new finding by archaeologists (The Age, 20/7). However, with utter outrageousness, the British arrived, intent on taking over their country and exterminating them in barbarous ways. It is a pity the Aboriginal people did not lock up, indefinitely, the intruders in a compound as they arrived without permission or visas.
Margaret Shaw, Watsonia
A very private affair
Your editorial about the forced resignations of two male AFL executives for workplace affairs with younger women – "People's private lives are their own affair" (The Age, 20/7) – is spot on. The only thing that needed to be added is that it is illegal in Victoria to discriminate against someone in their employment on the basis of legal sexual activity.
Greg Platt, Brunswick
Unfair punishments?
Your editorial may be correct that "history and research show that when workplace trysts sour, it is most commonly the woman involved who is most harmed professionally in the long term". But the reality of the AFL's love quadrangle is this: the women have undergone the inconvenience of being named, while the men are out of work and have to face their female partners. Professionally and privately, I know whose shoes I would rather be in.
John Skaro, Malvern
A fine legal difference
It is obvious that both Scott Ludlum and Larissa Waters believed they held only Australian citizenship. What is most important is whether, as Greens senators, they ever voted in a way that benefited New Zealand or Canada over Australian interests, and whether they did their jobs well. There is a need for another jury – the jury of common sense – to adjudicate on important situations in which the law has been broken, but application of it sometimes produces outcomes that feel wrong.
Howard Tankey, Box Hill North
A very precious gift
Bruce Mapperson asks how can you "owe allegiance to more than one country?" (Letters, 20/7). It is called being a citizen of the world and proudly Australian. I still call Australia home when I fly back from Greece and I have the best of both worlds. I am grateful, and I feel privileged, to be in that situation.
Pamela Papadopoulos, South Yarra
Reflect our diversity
People born overseas, or who have at least one parent born overseas, make up almost half our population. Our multicultural society is not reflected in parliament. One reason is that our constitution prevents MPs from holding dual citizenship. The requirement that they must renounce their foreign ties is outdated in the globalised age. We need our leaders to have an understanding of, and respect for, other cultures. Electing more immigrants to parliament may ensure that policies are more inclusive and less xenophobic. Surely this will benefit us all.
Sarah Russell, Northcote
An odd contradiction
Does anyone else find it bizarre that we have to renounce "citizenship" of a country, where we may have spent only the first few years of our childhood, in order to be a member of parliament, when MPs are required to take the following oath, to the sovereign of what is now considered a foreign country:
"I, AB, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her heirs and successors according to law. So help me God."
Alison Fraser, Ascot Vale
Trust them? No way.
Given politicians' track record when it comes to telling the truth, few of us would believe them when they say they have "checked" that they have complied with with the constitution. It needs a thorough audit by people who are not paid by the public sector.
David Bishop, East Brighton
A leadership reshuffle
Regardless of Richard Di Natale's obvious fears that Sarah Hanson–Young could take the Greens leadership from him pretty much whenever she wants, it now looks like he has no other option than to install her to her rightful place as the party's deputy leader.
Anthony Hitchman, St Andrews
Women of diversity
The average woman is a size 12 to 14, according to model Stefania Ferrario (The Age, 20/7). Actually, I believe the true average is a size 16, although you would never get that impression by studying fashion photos – or when you are trying to buy clothes.
Miranda Jones, Drummond
Give us a smile and ...
Melbourne is a wonderful city. However, the behaviour of Melburnians towards people they do not know is usually unfriendly. Acknowledgement of others is a simple act of common courtesy but Melburnians habitually avoid eye contact with passersby on the footpath and sometimes ignore a greeting from a stranger. This naturally leads to a diminished sense of community. In my travels around Australia and overseas, I have rarely seen anywhere as bad as here on this score.
Martin Moore, Caulfield South
... and show courtesy
There have been letters about road rage over the past few days. What worked well about 50years ago might work today. The RACV, in conjunction with a radio station, launched the "Courtesy is Catching" program. Staff from the station drove around the city and suburbs and issued prizes to courteous drivers. The police also looked for courteous drivers and alerted the radio station. I believe this resulted in more drivers obeying the road rules and fewer speeding. Maybe people are more selfish and self-centred today – but most of us like prizes, no matter how small. It would certainly be worth a try.
Margaret Peachey, Glen Waverley
Dangerous devices
Can someone in the Victorian government explain why GPS equipment and mobile phones are allowed to be attached to cars' windscreens. These are a massive distraction for drivers, when safety and preventable deaths should be a priority.
Michael Hanneberry, Black Rock
Ripe for an explosion
Peter Dutton has been appointed to run the new home affairs ministry and so a dangerous potato has been well and truly planted in Malcolm Turnbull's confused minefield. Step carefully, Prime Minister, as this potato is ready to explode, along with other pieces of destructive ordinance.
Bill Longden, Hampton
It's Aussie Rules, mate
Why are some media outlets billing Friday night's Crows/Cats match as the "top of the table" clash? In our national game, we have a ladder. "Table" is a soccer term, as in the English Premier League table.What next? A "leaderboard"? And why are torpedo punts ("torps") referred to as "barrels"? Can we please retain at least some tradition in our great game?
Paddy Lyons, Melbourne
The Language Ministry
Hear, hear, Rosemary Lithgow (Letters, 20/7). Perhaps the Department of Australian Speak can banish the miscreants and then we could have a ceremoanee to celebrate their removal from our territorey.
Ross Cropley, North Ringwood
The right to equality
Further to your piece on dairy farmer Jason Smith (The Age, 20/7), Victorian federal MPs such as Kelly O'Dwyer see it as being more important to hide behind bad policy on marriage equality than stand up to the conservatives in her party. Better to do nothing, than do what your constituents want. It is likely she will lose Higgins at the election as she will be judged by her actions on marriage equality rather than her hollow words.
Nick Edwards, South Yarra
AND ANOTHER THING
Life matters
Perhaps the AFL should have an extra-marital affairs round.
Garry McIntosh, Macleod
Jodie Whittaker as Doctor Who? Will it be Jill Bond next?
David Sutherland, Hawthorn
A question for the NRA: How do you stop a "good guy" with a gun?
George Houlder, Cambrian Hill
Why is a story about an AFL player allegedly subjected to fraud (19/7) of any significance?
Russell Harrison, Sandringham
Could Bureau of Meteorology staff set it at 23degrees and sunny before they go on strike, please?
Steve Melzer, Hughesdale
Security
It's about keeping you safe, Mr Turnbull. Effective bail laws would keep us safe without your political fix.
Sally Mizrahi, Hawthorn
Start a diversionary war on terrorism. Turnbull's watched too many episodes of House of Cards.
Willemien Cuthbert, Kew
Re "Plum role for Dutton" (18/7). It seems like a fair swap.
Bill Davis, Ballarat
Why are people negative about Dutton? Let's give the new ministry a chance to prove it's a great idea.
Diana Goetz, Mornington
Politics
First Ludlam, now Waters. Prime Minister, we may have a solution to your Abbott problem.
Fiona Cassidy, Kew
Who else has been elected illegally, despite the checks and balances?
Jane Spier, Seaford
"Green's councillor objects to elevated bike path" (18/7). It's not easy being green.
Don Phillips, Fitzroy
Tony Adami (18/7) asks, "why so many angry people?" It's obvious. It's all Abbott's fault.
Greg Hardy, Upper Ferntree Gully